Friday 29 January
The featured filmmakers for the week is Michael and Peter Spierig. If you have seen their previous film, Undead don’t let that deter you from seeing Daybreakers. I saw Undead and was confused as to how these two were even able to make a film. Then I saw Daybreakers. It is a million times better and I couldn’t believe it was the same filmmakers. Daybreakers is awesome and a refreshing take on vampires.
Daybreakers (2009)
From Michael and Peter Spierig. You must see this one.
30 Days of Night (2007)
Based on a graphic novel, and directed by David Slade whom I am saddened to say is directing the next Twilight feature How he can go from the scariest of scary vampire in 30 Days of Night to sparkly lameo ones in Twilight I’ll never know. Nevertheless, 30 Days of Night is very entertaining and great all around.
Friday 22 January
This week, the featured filmmaker is Joel Schumacher, director of Lost Boys. He gave us a fun take on vampires, and made it entertaining and only slightly frightening.
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Anne Rice’s popular book get the big screen treatment here with film made when Brad Pitt was on top of his game and could still land a good leading role. This film is great because it focuses on the changes and transformation that Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst’s characters go through becoming vampires. And because Anne Rice herself prefers True Blood (with real vampires) to Twilight (with brooding lameo sparkling vampires) you should see this one.
Blade (1998)
Forget about the sequels to this film. All you need to see is the first one. There are so many films that really don’t deserve or need sequel after sequel and this is one of them. Everything about this film is cool. It really is. And it reminds me of the days when Stephen Dorf was cool, but he was in Public Enemies so perhaps he’s getting back up there.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
I saw this film before I was a teenager, which among other films I saw when I was young, is probably the reason why I am so desensitized nowadays and really don’t find any film as violent or as gory or as warped as a lot of people think. Nothing wrong with that is there? I remember liking this film, and thinking that Gary Oldman has to be the creepiest guy ever, and wondering how on earth they made his shadow move when he wasn’t moving at all. The film is based on the book, and is a fairly good adaptation, and is sort of like a longer version of Nosferatu with sound.
Lost Boys (1987)
Yes, I am recommending Lost Boys. Why? Well it’s only the first vampire movie for teens/tweens that’s why. Starring the most popular kids of the day Corey Feldman and Corey Haim, alongside Jason Patric and super bad guy Kiefer Sutherland it is the 1980s equivalent of Twilight (so I say). It’s not very gory like other vampire films, it doesn’t have too much adult content. And despite it being about vampires it has a comedic/lighter quality to it. So if you wouldn’t dare see Twilight but want something along the lines (without all the heavy handed drama and nearly PG rated pornography) see this film instead. I guarantee you’ll never miss Twilight.
Friday 15 January
The featured filmmaker for the week is, Tomas Alfredson, director of Let the Right One in, which is also based on a novel. He is featured because of the film’s different take on vampires using the relationship between two children as the focus of the story. As well, his melodic and slow moving cinematography make him and the film a good feature for the week.