Humanist Vampire Seeking Nosferatu
Issue #4
It’s vampire season, FilmRunners! I’m finally heading to the theater later this week for the first time since my daughter was born, and it directly impacts my pick further down. If you missed last week’s issue, you can catch up here.
Jake’s Pick: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023)
Synopsis
A young woman vampire is unable to kill to meet her need for blood, but may have found a solution in a young man with suicidal tendencies. IMDB
Director
Starring
Sara Montpetit, Félix-Antoine Bénard, Steve Laplante
Runtime
1 hour and 30 minutes.
Trailer
Why
It’s time to rep a little Canadian Content (CanCon for those in the know). I first came across this film through the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). I’m lucky enough to live near a satellite location for TIFF, the incredible Imperial Theatre (check it out here), but unfortunately, this film wasn’t shown there. Since then, I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to watch it, and that time is now. While looking for a good pairing with Nosferatu this week, I realized this film fits the bill perfectly.
This film offers such an excellent take on vampirism. While I don’t expect it to have the same type of humour as What We Do in the Shadows, the concept itself would feel right at home in an episode of it. Back in my late teens and early twenties, I was pretty dismissive of anything that didn’t follow the traditional rules of vampirism. But, really, it only makes sense that our ideas of vampires (and what they represent) should evolve. Like zombies, vampires serve as mirrors to our societies, reflecting our tastes, fears, and values. As society evolves, shouldn’t our interpretations of them evolve alongside it?
HVSCSP has won a number of awards and received overwhelmingly positive reviews. I seriously hope those reading this newsletter take the time to watch it.
Jake’s Other Pick: Nosferatu (2024)
Synopsis
A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake. IMDB
Director
Robert Eggers
Starring
Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult
Runtime
2 hours and 13 minutes.
Trailer
Why
I’m a fan of horror movies, Bill Skarsgård, and Robert Eggers. That makes this a priority to catch in theaters. I’ll forgive Skarsgård for the remake of The Crow earlier this year—the acting wasn’t the issue.
I wasn’t planning on talking about auteurs again so soon, but I kind of stumbled into this one. Eggers began his career as a production designer, and it has a noticeable impact on the aesthetics of his films. He has a penchant for historical horror and leans on that experience to create deep, rich worlds in his work. If you haven’t seen his work already, please try to find the time to.
I have high hopes for this. The cast is good, the director is good, and some of the reviews I’ve seen coming in are good. Now I just need to find time to get out of the house to see it.
🎥 Reviews of Last Week's Picks (Caution, there may be spoilers)
Jake’s Previous Pick: The Crow 1994
Director
Starring
Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, Rochelle Davis
Runtime
1 hours and 42 minutes.
Trailer
Review
⭐⭐⭐✨ (thee and a half stars)
If I had to describe The Crow, I would say it’s the movie equivalent of a barbed wire tattoo—edgy and corny. The only difference is that it’s kind of awesome. I’m not sure how, but it just works. The story doesn’t always make sense, the villains are cartoonishly evil, and everyone just casually accepts that Draven has come back from the dead. Yet, I enjoyed every minute of it.
I feel like a movie like this could only exist as a product of its time. It’s packed with so many elements and influences from the early ’90s that come together in a strange, unique concoction, in a way only superhero movies from that era could. I just don’t think it could find the same success in any other context. The 2024 remake is a great example of this—it flopped hard and has abysmal ratings. I actually watched the remake afterward to see what went wrong. Ignoring the awful writing, it lacked the soul and earnestness of the original. That earnestness lets you overlook the flaws in the original.
I’ve since become a bit obsessed with The Crow. Everything from its source material (a comic book series) to the film’s production is fascinating. The comic series was created by James O'Barr as a way to process the grief of losing his fiancée, who was killed by a drunk driver.
When I started reading about the production, I didn’t immediately realize that Brandon Lee was Bruce Lee’s son. Like his father, Brandon died tragically young. He passed away on set during filming due to an accident involving firearms. At the time of his death, the movie was unfinished, but the decision was made to rework certain parts and use his stunt double to complete the remaining scenes featuring him.
I fully plan on buying The Crow (Author’s Edition) graphic novel as soon as I get the chance.
Jake’s Other Previous Pick: City Of God (2002)
Director
Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund
Starring
Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele
Runtime
2 hours and 10 minutes.
Trailer
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (five stars)
I get it. I’ve been handing out a lot of five stars so far. In my defence, I’m purposely picking movies I’ve wanted to see and am almost certain I’ll enjoy. It’s not very brave of me, but it’s my newsletter, so here we are. This film has a lot to unpack. It is equal parts masterful storytelling and acting. Each act in the movie is punctuated by a different type of heartbreak. The violence, paired with Rocket’s (Rodrigues) matter-of-fact narration, made it even more jarring.
Every moment carries a sense of organized chaos, teetering on the brink of collapse with one wrong move. More than anything, though, City of God just made me sad. I felt sad for the kids. I felt sad for those stuck in the slums. I felt sad for almost everyone in it, and I felt sad for the circumstances that led to it. City of God just left me feeling heavy. That’s not to say there weren’t bright spots, but it was a tough place to inhabit. This one will stick with me for a long time. If you didn’t watch it when it was picked last week, please add it to your watchlist.
🖋 Closing Note
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