Directed by: Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig
Screenplay by: Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig
Cinematography by: Ben Nott
Editor: Matt Villa
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill
Year: 2009
Watching this film is the cinematic equivalent of being forced into drinking a pint of blood; it's extremely difficult to swallow and when you eventually do, it leaves a really bad taste in your mouth.
The metaphors of the "vampirism" (although at times seem clever and somewhat original) often deteriorate into a heavy-handed and obvious message. It makes me think the director might have taken a more subtle approach by cutting in a big title card that flashes "BLOOD = OIL" etc. over and over again. I mean Jesus, that mutant/vampire Holocaust scene was just downright insulting and offensive.
Plus the "jump scares" are about as frightening as an annoying 3-year-old that pops up from behind you seat, screaming "Boo!!!" directly in your earlobe every 5 seconds.
Well, on the positive side, the art direction and set design of this semi-futuristic vampire world is compelling and at least they saved all the best lines for Willem DaFoe-- they would have been squandered on Ethan "one note" Hawke. Man, he sucks (pun intended).
The metaphors of the "vampirism" (although at times seem clever and somewhat original) often deteriorate into a heavy-handed and obvious message. It makes me think the director might have taken a more subtle approach by cutting in a big title card that flashes "BLOOD = OIL" etc. over and over again. I mean Jesus, that mutant/vampire Holocaust scene was just downright insulting and offensive.
Plus the "jump scares" are about as frightening as an annoying 3-year-old that pops up from behind you seat, screaming "Boo!!!" directly in your earlobe every 5 seconds.
Well, on the positive side, the art direction and set design of this semi-futuristic vampire world is compelling and at least they saved all the best lines for Willem DaFoe-- they would have been squandered on Ethan "one note" Hawke. Man, he sucks (pun intended).
2 out of 3
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