Another vampire romance movie? Yup. But forget that other vampire romance movie, this one takes the cake.
Oh yes, it's what you would call a "foreign language" film (it's Swedish) and as such would certainly command more credibility than any other horror movie done in English, nevermind if the same old elements are there (think The Orphanage, which would undoubtedly have gotten less acclaim had it not been in Spanish). Yes, sometimes this film feels like 30 Days of Night (the setting is somewhat similar) and while this is an exceptional horror movie, that doesn't say a lot.
So let me add that all important caveat to my reservations. While it does have moments that betray the fact that it's founded on an already cliched theme (cue scary music, although thankfully it's pretty much free from such most of the time) it is beautifully shot and stylized. That alone should distinguish it from the rest of the pack.
A queer romance. Oops...did I give away too much?
I have issues with its pacing. Nothing much happens; it's sometimes pretentious. But oh, this is supposed to be a foreign movie. My apologies. Okay, the leads are good, I have to grant that.
Could have been better, although I am at a loss for words as to how. It would be ambitious of me to state how one ought to improve the horror (and its subset, the vampire movie) genre. How indeed. All I can say is, who says Scandinavians don't know how to do a good horror (and gory) show? And I'm surprised that canes exist in Sweden, heh. Although apparently it is set 20 years ago, but I didn't know that until a certain "Brezhnev" was mentioned.
Oddly enough for a foreign, supposedly arthouse-ish movie, the brief epilogue is so Hollywood. Who, incidentally, is going to remake it next year. But of course.
Oh yes, it's what you would call a "foreign language" film (it's Swedish) and as such would certainly command more credibility than any other horror movie done in English, nevermind if the same old elements are there (think The Orphanage, which would undoubtedly have gotten less acclaim had it not been in Spanish). Yes, sometimes this film feels like 30 Days of Night (the setting is somewhat similar) and while this is an exceptional horror movie, that doesn't say a lot.
So let me add that all important caveat to my reservations. While it does have moments that betray the fact that it's founded on an already cliched theme (cue scary music, although thankfully it's pretty much free from such most of the time) it is beautifully shot and stylized. That alone should distinguish it from the rest of the pack.
A queer romance. Oops...did I give away too much?I have issues with its pacing. Nothing much happens; it's sometimes pretentious. But oh, this is supposed to be a foreign movie. My apologies. Okay, the leads are good, I have to grant that.
Could have been better, although I am at a loss for words as to how. It would be ambitious of me to state how one ought to improve the horror (and its subset, the vampire movie) genre. How indeed. All I can say is, who says Scandinavians don't know how to do a good horror (and gory) show? And I'm surprised that canes exist in Sweden, heh. Although apparently it is set 20 years ago, but I didn't know that until a certain "Brezhnev" was mentioned.
Oddly enough for a foreign, supposedly arthouse-ish movie, the brief epilogue is so Hollywood. Who, incidentally, is going to remake it next year. But of course.
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