Xan Cassavetes, daughter of John Cassavetes directs this ambitious low budget, out-there vampire flick and presents it to us as a new stylish erotic thriller. With it's slow pace, stark violence and raw sexuality, it's a nice grim and gritty film that is so different from the super-commercial realm of Twilight.
In the film Paulo (Milo Ventimigilia) is a successful screenwriter who one night meets the pale hauntingly beautiful Djuna (Josephine de la Baume) in a video store. They instantly connect, but she pushes him away citing a skin condition, later she reveals to him her secret; she's a vampire.
After she's shown him what she is, Paulo doesn't mind as he has already fallen madly in love with her. So Djuna immerses Paulo in her world of awesome sex, heightened senses, drinking blood and partying with other vampires. The beautiful Anna Mouglalis stars as one of Djuna's entorage.
Unfortunately their dream life is suddenly interrupted by Djuna's sister Mimi (Roxane Mesquida) who comes to live in their house for a week. Now Mimi is a 'naughty girl', she is impetuous and likes to break the rules. She and Djuna clearly don't get along and things begin to get ugly. Plus there's Paulo's concerned agent who comes knocking.
I really felt a sense of 1960's and 1970's European horror after watching this film. It explores the theme of female empowerment, fear, sex, relationships and sisterly love/rivalry. There's also a vibe and feeling of other early great modern vampire films like 'The Hunger' and 'Interview with the Vampire'. These clearly inspired Xan.
The perfect casting of French actresses Josephine de la Baume, Roxane Mesquida and Anna Mouglalis helps in creating very sensual, sexy, beautiful as well as dangerous female vampires.
The vampires in this film are the typical nocturnal predators who drink and kill their prey. Djuna, chooses to hunt animals instead and her friend Xenia (Anna Mouglalis) has found a blood substitute.
Despite choosing alternative lifestyles, they cannot fight their nature and they give in to their urges just as they should always be. Though they are powerful beings, with wealth, beautiful clothes, houses and the power to kill, they really are fragile creatures. They are incapable of integrating into our world, they are outsiders as they are unable to walk during the day.
Despite the cliches in this film, I still enjoyed it for it's eroticism and violence.
