So I gave this movie a try. I am a big fan of good vampire movies, even if good ones are rarely done.
However, this was one of the worst movies I've seen in the theater in a couple years. Instead of doing a review, I'll argue, based on the above enjoyment of the film (those posting before me), why they are so wrong.
**Some Spoilers Below...Minor though since this movie has no plot anyhow**
First, lets start with the delivering on what it promises. If all it wanted to do was show 2 hours of vampires killing people, then it should have A) Gotten less talented actors to play these boring roles, B) not use a shakecam to hide so much of the killing. Ben Foster is very talented, as well as Josh Hartnett (when put in the right roles). However, their talent is wasted, though admittedly Ben Foster pulled off his role greatly. Its just that it was such a limited role that I don't see the need.
But that's all this film felt like anyhow. An attempt at making a zombie movie, that had vampires. These vampires don't really have too many special abilities. Primarily that of taking a number of bullets, jumping rooftops, and great strength. And of course the ability to puncture the bodies of victims to drink blood. We also know the vampires can be hurt by light. Duh. And we also know they sent a human ahead of them to scout out the camp, this human hopes to be turned into a vampire or something of that nature.
the vampires have big mouths, which is good to chomp down on bodies, and blood drenched clothes soon after their attack starts. I don't know how they lived so long when they are obviously so nearly mindless, and violent. Other than by sheer luck I guess. Violence is plenty in the movie, though as I already stated its done a lot with a shaky cam, which one would hope directors would finalize realize... doesnt' work anymore. Its an annoying effect, and we'd much rather take in the movie. The movie also likes loud music. Even though vampires are moving silently, loud music plays whenever they do. To no effect of course, since loud music and horror movies has been so overdone that it no longer shocks us, unless done very well.
We never find out where these vampires came from. And sure that is fine on a Lovecraft effect of not knowing, but even if we knew we wouldn't be any less scared, since we aren't scared as it is. It would at least be nice to not be sitting through the movie in the dry periods wondering 'how'd they get here, where will they go next why hasn't this happened before..' But the movie is too busy having no real concept other than 'vampires enter remote, cutoff town and kill people.' And we aren't scared because everything happens fast, and we don't care enough about the characters to want to see them through. Another annoyance, is there is one love interest, and they keep hinting at what its about, but all we know is that there was a marriage, and separation and several people of the town can't understand why.
I understand the desire not to have teen romance, or other such things in a vampire flick. But I thought it could have been done much better. The violence could have been more imaginary, the sense of the vampires existing in our world could have been done more convincingly, and the annoying cat hisses could have been just done away with.
So this movie ends up adding nothing new, and you are much better off just watching 28 Days Later or 28 Weeks Later and imagining that they are vampires.
the trailers are absolutely hilarious!
