INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 1 & 2 is on Netflix, so if you haven’t watched it yet, now is your chance. I definitely preferred Part I to Part II, but both are worth watching. Season 3 is coming up in 2026, so you still have time to catch up. Read our review of Interview With The Vampire Part I & Part II here, and find it on Netflix now!

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 1 & 2 are available to watch on Netflix now. I have been wanting to check it out for the longest time, but just never got around to it. Well, now I did, so I can be ready for season 3, which is titled The Vampire Lestat, which focuses on that character.

This series is, of course, based on the novels by iconic vampire author (as in writer of vampire stories, mind you), Anne Rice. It originally aired with weekly episodes on AMC and AMC+, but has now been released on Netflix as well. It’s not on Netflix globally, but certainly in both the US and the UK at this point in time. And yes, you should definitely watch it!

Continue reading our Interview With The Vampire Part I & Part II review below.

Part I and Part II of Interview With The Vampire

With this AMC series (now on Netflix), we follow a vampire living in Dubai. However, he is a vampire who comes from New Orleans. He was born there as a human being and became a vampire there. His name is Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), and his maker was Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid).

As Interview With The Vampire Season 1 begins, Louis de Pointe du Lac reunites with an ailing reporter, Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian), to once again recount his life story. The two already met many decades ago in San Francisco, but Louis de Point du Lac – honestly, it feels only right to always use his full name – wasn’t quite as honest back then.

Now, in Dubai, he is older and wiser, but obviously looks exactly the same, and he is ready to finally tell the full story. A story of a life filled with bloodlust and a very toxic romance at the center. A romance with the sinister Frenchman who turned him: Lestat du Lioncourt.

A dangerous and intense romance

Unlike the 1994 movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in those iconic roles, this AMC series focuses on their romance. Forget all about subtext; the romantic (and physical) love between Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat du Lioncourt is the main text. And I am loving that!

Honestly, it’s the only way this entire story truly makes sense!

Both Interview With The Vampire Season 1 & Season 2 are about Louis de Pointe du Lac telling his life story to Daniel Molloy. Season 1 (or Part I) is about his life in New Orleans, while Part II is about his life in Europe, after he leaves the United States to look for more vampires. With him is the daughter he made Lestat du Lioncourt create: Claudia.

In Part I, Claudia is portrayed by Bailey Bass, while in Part II, she is replaced by Delainey Hayles. I preferred the original actor, in many ways, but Delainey Hayles definitely grew on me. A very positive development, as we will soon see her again in Mike Flanagan‘s 2026 version of Stephen King’s Carrie.

And yes, Claudia is the child vampire character Kirsten Dunst portrayed in the 1994 movie.

The final key player in The Interview With The Vampire is Armand. In the movie, Antonio Banderas played this character, while in the series, he is portrayed by Assad Zaman. Not my favorite character, but I certainly don’t feel he’s meant to be either, so Assad Zaman delivers what is necessary for the role.

Watch Interview With The Vampire Season 1 and 2 on Netflix

Anne Rice wrote the books this series is based on, and she is also an executive producer (as credit only, as she passed away before it was finished) alongside her son, Christopher Rice. The creator of the Interview With the Vampire series is Rolin Jones (Perry Mason, The Exorcist series), who is also the showrunner and executive producer.

I loved how we’re given so much more time to dive into these characters. From their history to their psyche, it’s a real treat. From the early 20th century to the very modern world of Dubai in 2022, the story of Louis de Pointe du Lac spans decades, which means there is plenty of story to tell.

And yet, with seasons 1 and 2, we’re focusing very much on New Orleans and Paris, so there is much more to delve into. This leaves room for further seasons or spin-offs.

As for this AMC Original series, it will continue to follow the book series from Anne Rice. And that means Season 3 will be “The Vampire Lestat”, which I am very happy about. Not least after having watched the teaser trailer for the upcoming season.

Not since True Blood have I been this excited about a vampire series. I think I knew I would love it, which is why I waited to start watching, so I could binge-watch seasons.

Interview With The Vampire, Part I and Part II, are on Netflix now. Season 3 will be titled The Vampire Lestat and is coming to AMC in 2026.

Details

Creator: Rolin Jones
Cast: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Bailey Bass, Delainey Hayles, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Bally Gill, Ben Daniels, Esme Appleton

Plot

A vampire from New Orleans reunites with an ailing reporter to recount a life of bloodlust and toxic romance with the sinister Frenchman who turned him.

ABRAHAM’S BOYS: A DRACULA STORY is a new horror movie out in theaters. It’s based on a short story by Joe Hill. The runtime is only around 90 minutes, but it still feels too long. Read our full Abraham’s Boys horror movie review here!

ABRAHAM’S BOYS is a new vampire horror movie. However, it’s a different take on a Dracula story. It plays out in California in 1915, so we’re on a farm with just a few characters.

I knew this movie was based on a short story by Joe Hill, and watching this movie did make me curious about that story. This is obviously a good sign. What isn’t very good is the fact that I felt this movie was far too slow-burn. And I usually like slow-burn.

Continue reading our Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story movie review below. Find it In Theaters from July 11, 2025. It will also be on Shudder later this year.

Meet the Van Helsings

In Abraham’s Boys, the title characters are Max and Rudy Van Helsing. Yes, the very same Van Helsing you’ll know from countless vampire stories. For this movie, we meet the two sons of the very strict and overprotective father, Abraham (Titus Welliver).

They have no idea what Abraham Van Helsing has gone through in the past. Nor do they know what their mother, Mina (Jocelin Donahue), has lived through. And is, to be fair, still living under the shadow of.

Especially Max Van Helsing (Brady Hepner) is getting to be old enough to notice the paranoia and very strange behavior of their father. His younger brother Rudy (Judah Mackey) keeps more to himself and escapes via books, so he’s always reading something.

Abraham finally realizes that he needs to let his sons in on what it means to be a Van Helsing. It’s not nearly as dramatic or action-fueled as you might think. In fact, for Max especially, it’s hard to fully grasp whether his dad is being truthful or has lost his mind.

Who is the real monster? And who will be the true hero of this story?!

A strong cast always helps

As soon as I saw Jocelin Donahue as Mina, I felt very safe. Like a treat had been given from the onset of this story. She looks very thin and frail in this role, which I feel confident is very purposeful. Mina is not happy, nor does she feel safe, which Jocelin Donahue exudes.

From Ti West‘s The House of the Devil (2009) to the amazing Holidays segment, and on to I Trapped the Devil and Doctor Sleep (2019), I have always enjoyed Jocelin Donahue. She’s great in Abraham’s Boys as well, but I wish she had played a much bigger role.

Of course, the title of this movie doesn’t include “Mina”, so instead the focus is on Abraham, who is portrayed by Titus Welliver (Bosch), who also produced this movie. The sons are portrayed wonderfully and believably by two strong young actors.

There’s Brady Hepner from The Black Phone and The Waterfront Netflix series as the older brother, and Judah Mackey (What/If, Deadcon) as the younger brother.

Watch Abraham’s Boys in theaters (or on Shudder later)

Abraham’s Boys was written & directed by Natasha Kermani. I was very impressed with her movie Lucky, which was written by (and starred) Brea Grant. Unfortunately, this new movie didn’t hit those same notes that made me enjoy Lucky.

Of course, this new movie is based on the short story by Joe Hill, and since I haven’t read that one, I don’t know just how closely it follows it. I found myself getting annoyed by things that shouldn’t matter – like if stupid details were accurate for its 1915 rural setting.

BONUS INFO: The score comes from Brittany Allen, who is another of my favorite indie horror movie actors. You might recognize her from What Keeps You Alive, which she also composed the score for.

I can’t blame filmmaker Natasha Kermani for this, but something about the execution of the movie allowed room for these thoughts. In other words, I wasn’t completely hooked, which is a real shame. It’s a fascinating story at its core, so maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this particular story and vibe. It did look gorgeous!

Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story is out In Theaters from July 11, 2025. It’s being released by RLJE Films, which means we’ll also be getting a Shudder release later this year.

Details

Director: Natasha Kermani
Script: Natasha Kermani
Starring: Titus Welliver, Jocelin Donahue, Judah Mackey with Aurora Perrineau and Brady Hepner

Plot

Max and Rudy Van Helsing have spent their lives under the strict and overprotective rule of their father, Abraham. Unaware of his dark past, they struggle to understand his paranoia and increasingly erratic behavior. But when they begin to uncover the violent truths behind their father’s history with Dracula, their world unravels, forcing them to confront the terrifying legacy they were never meant to inherit.

SINNERS is a supernatural horror drama that stays with you long after the end credits. But do make sure you stick around for those. Amazing cast, gorgeous visuals, strong story, and brilliant soundtrack. Read our full Sinners movie review here!

SINNERS is finally out on VOD, and this is a horror movie you do not want to miss out on. However, know that you will be getting a lot more than “just” a horror movie. This is a supernatural horror drama set nearly one century ago… with vampires.

The runtime of over two hours didn’t even register with me. I mean that in the sense that I wanted it to just keep going. It’s a movie that you need to just surrender to. The story and world-building are amazing, which makes surrendering very easy.

Continue reading our Sinners movie review below. Find it on PVOD from June 3, 2025.

A different kind of vampire story

With Sinners, we’re getting a new vampire story. This is very different in the build-up, where we’re getting more of a historical drama. Then again, this could be said for plenty of other vampire movies. I just still feel this is different, thanks to the setting and focus on music.

And yes, music plays a big role as it quite literally transcends time. Just give in to it, and you’ll have an amazing experience with Sinners. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was completely mesmerized. Almost like a vampire was glamouring me.

Anyway, what makes Sinners different is both the character-driven story and the fact that (to a point), we’re also meant to understand the vampires. They are villains for sure, but they are also human beings who were underdogs in life and have become top predators in death.

We meet the SmokeStack twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) as they’re trying to leave behind a mess in Chicago. They left the South to find freedom in the North, but after supposedly working for Capone, they’re back home in Mississippi.

They have cash, alcohol, and a desire to build something for themselves and anyone like them. Unfortunately, their timing is awful as a vampire infestation is about to attack their hometown.

As the preacher tries to warn his son, “You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home.” And the day has apparently arrived!

Brilliant casting all across the board

Seeing Michael B. Jordan star in a Ryan Coogler movie is hardly surprising. He usually stars in Coogler’s movies. However, for this one, he’s playing two roles as the twins, Smoke and Stack. These are nicknames, of course, as they’re actually Elias and Elijah.

Michael B. Jordan is brilliant as these two brothers who are very different, but also fiercely loyal and perfect partners in all areas of life. They complement one another perfectly.

Starring as their love interests are Wunmi Mosaku and Hailee Steinfeld. While I’ve always liked both, I must admit that I actually adore Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country, Deadpool & Wolverine). More so after each new role I see her portray.

Seeing her as Annie in Sinners only added even more to this!

Also in a key role is the newcomer Miles Caton. Not only does he have an unforgettable voice, but he is also a strong character actor. I cannot wait to see what comes next for Miles Caton.

Finally, in important parts of the vampire story, we have Jack O’Connell (Eden Lake, Unbroken) and Lola Kirke (Gone Girl, Lost Girls). You also get to enjoy wonderful performances from Li Jun Li, Yao, and Delroy Lindo (Malicious).

Watch Sinners at home now

Ryan Coogler is the writer and director of Sinners. The Academy Award-nominated filmmaker delivers something quite different from his previous movies. Especially as this is ultimately a classic horror movie.

Many know Ryan Coogler from the Creed movies and the Marvel Black Panther universe. However, I will never forget watching his 2013 debut feature film, Fruitvale Station, which also starred Michael B. Jordan. If you haven’t watched this movie, then you should!

For this horror movie, Ryan Coogler designed the Southern-set vampire universe with IMAX in mind. The entire film was lensed on their proprietary IMAX 15/65mm cameras, and the result is a stunning visual experience. With Sinners, everything just comes together.

I can’t wait to watch it again, and now that it’s out on Digital, I’m able to watch it at home… again and again. Also, do not skip the end credits. There is a very important scene early on and an additional one at the very end.

Sinners is out on Digital PVOD from June 3, 2025.

Details

Director: Ryan Coogler
Writer: Ryan Coogler
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo

Plot

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

NOSFERATU by Robert Eggers is a 2024 take on the classic gothic tale about a vampire who demands that one living woman give herself to him. The movie is terrifying and downright disturbing. It’s a masterpiece. Read our full Nosferatu movie review here!

NOSFERATU in this 2024 version by Robert Eggers is based on the 1922 original along with a touch of Bram Stoker’s iconic novel Dracula as well. If you’ve watched the 1922 version, then you will surely be able to recognize that the two are deeply connected.

The runtime of more than two hours may seem daunting, but I assure you, it is not long at all. You will not be checking your watch (unless you want to mentally timestamp any particular moments) nor will you want it to end. Do watch this in a movie theater if at all possible.

Continue reading our Nosferatu movie review below. Find it in US theaters from December 25, 2024.

Brilliant use of color – and lack thereof

The 2024 Nosferatu is a dark fairytale presented as a waking nightmare. You probably know the basics of the story from previous movies about a vampire who sets his sights on a living woman, but let me just do a quick rundown of the plot anyway.

We meet estate agent Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) as he prepares to travel to Transylvania. He needs to go there to close a deal with Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), a vampire who wants to buy property in the town of Wisburg, where Thomas lives and works with his new bride Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp).

MORE VAMPIRE MOVIES STARRING NICHOLAS HOULT

Check out the horror-comedy Renfield with Nicholas Hoult in the title role >

While Thomas is away, Ellen is left under the care of their friends Friedrich and Anna Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin) as she has a very bad feeling about Thomas leaving.

Once on her own, Ellen is (as she was in her younger years) plagued by visions and dread each night. We [the audience] know it’s Count Orlok, who wants only to go to Wisburg to finally have Ellen in his grasp.

Ellen also has a feeling that something is coming, but no one believes her. Least of all Doctor Sievers (Ralph Ineson), at first, anyway. Still, he does feel something is off and asks an old professor for help. Enter Albin Eberhart von Franz (Willem Dafoe), who is key in helping Ellen.

Or, well, they ultimately help each other. He knows the lore and myths, she’s living it.

Is Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu a black-and-white movie?

In Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, we first meet Ellen (Lily-Roes Depp) in an intense and bold opening scene. This is when Count Orlok’s hold on Ellen begins and when she is only a girl, not yet a woman.

The opening scene is in black-and-white, but this movie is not a black-and-white movie. This is revealed in the following scene, which takes place years later. When Ellen meets Thomas, Count Orlok’s hold diminishes but never disappears completely.

Throughout this movie, we see scenes in black-and-white, but overall, this movie is in color.

Scenes are sometimes drained of color, symboling how Count Orlok as a vampire drains the world of life (via blood, as it where) leaving the world grey and colorless. The use of color (and lack thereof) along with shadows makes for a brutally terrifying viewing experience.

Also, the black-and-white scenes suitably highlight the era of the story, which just feels black and white because it takes place almost 200 years ago.

A tale of desire and grooming

In short, most of us probably know the story Nosferatu is that of the vampire who craves a woman, he can sense across time and space. It’s at the heart of both the classic 1922 movie and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

However, it’s also clear that this 2024 version – made more than 100 years after the first Nosferatu movie – has shifted its focus away from Count Orlok or the man who goes to visit him. Don’t get me wrong, these two characters are still key, but they are not at the center.

Instead, the focus is on the human woman, Ellen, who is desired by Count Orlok. It’s a different angle that works perfectly in terms of storytelling and makes it even more terrifying. In many ways, it becomes a very obvious story about grooming.

The first time Count Orlok sets his sights on the woman, she is merely a girl. He haunts her in her nightmares and has a hold on her that follows her into her waking hours as well. It’s intense and scary in all the ways that stalking and grooming is.

It’s also why Lily-Rose Depp (deservedly so) gets top-billing in the credits. After all, we don’t see her with Count Orlok much at all, but we see the effect he has on her.

Watch Nosferatu in theaters!

As mentioned many times already, this 2024 version of Nosferatu comes from Robert Eggers, who both wrote and directed it. He also produced it along with Jeff Robinov, John Graham, Chris Columbus, and Eleanor Columbus.

Robert Eggers has many impressive and already iconic movies on his resume. From his feature film debut The VVitch (2015) to The Lighthouse (2019), and The Northman (2022). He always delivers character-driven stories set in an astounding time and place.

To me, his take on the classic gothic tale about a vampire demanding a woman give herself to him is his best so far. Not least thanks to the many bold choices made. From making Count Orlok essentially a rotting corpse to Ellen portrayed perfectly by Lily-Rose Depp.

It’s a masterpiece and a movie you should ideally watch in a movie theater. At least on your first watch because you should expect that you’ll want to watch this more than once.

Nosferatu (2024) is out in US theaters from Christmas Day, December 25, 2024.

Details

Writer & Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, Willem Dafoe

Plot

Robert Eggers’ NOSFERATU is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.

SALEM’S LOT on Max is a new adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic vampire story. This time as a feature-length movie. It’s entertaining but also very lackluster. Read our full 2024 Salem’s Lot horror movie review here!

SALEM’S LOT is a new Max Original horror movie coming out just in time for Halloween 2024. The movie has been waiting for a release date for quite some time, but that’s not because it’s bad. It isn’t great either, mind you.

It’s a feature film adaptation of the Stephen King vampire story of the same name. While I enjoyed watching this movie, I did feel like it was just moseying along in a strange way. Lackluster is the first word that comes to mind.

Continue reading our 2024 Salem’s Lot horror movie review below. Find it on Max from October 3, 2024.

A town with a vampire problem

Salem’s Lot is essentially the story of a town that ends up having a serious vampire infestation problem. It only takes one vampire to get things going and that’s where the story begins.

However, we follow author Ben Mears. After all, it’s always been a favorite of Stephen King’s to have an author for a main character. Write what you know and all that, so it works.

Full disclosure, I do love Stephen King as an author and read everything he releases, but I’m not a huge fan of his entire back catalogue.

Anyway, author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home searching for inspiration for this next book. The town is Jerusalem’s Lot (or just The Lot or Salem’s Lot).

Shortly after arriving back home – with little to no memory of his childhood there – he discovers that his hometown is the target of a bloodthirsty vampire.

Very nice casting

I know, I know, saying something is “very nice” doesn’t actually sound nice, but I do mean it nicely. The cast of Salem’s Lot is good and each actor does what they can. It’s through no fault of theirs that this movie isn’t as efficient as it could be.

Lewis Pullman (Outer Range) is wonderful as the author Ben Mears. He’s charming in an understated way and comes across as a good guy. As his love interest, we have Makenzie Leigh (The Slap) as Susan Norton, and she’s good too.

Alfre Woodard (Weathering) plays the local doctor, Dr. Cody. And Alfre Woodard is always good, so that goes without saying.

In other key roles, we see Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent, Stephen King’s The Outsider), Spencer Treat Clark (Glass), Pilou Asbæk (Run Sweetheart Run), John Benjamin Hickey, and William Sadler (King’s The Mist, The Unholy, Full Circle).

They all deliver what they’re meant to, as far as I can tell, but there’s just something about the pacing that makes this movie utterly forgettable.

Watch the 2024 adaptation of Salem’s Lot on Max

Gary Dauberman is the writer, director, and executive producer of Salem’s Lot in this latest adaptation. This is only the second time Gary Dauberman directed (Annabelle Comes Home from 2019 was the first), but he has written a lot.

He has written many spin-off movies in The Conjuring franchise, Within, and also the two It movies, so he’s no stranger to Stephen King adaptations. And this new Max Original is an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 bestselling novel.

The producers of Salem’s Lot are also quite impressive with James Wan and Michael Clear producing for Atomic Monster; Roy Lee for Vertigo; and Mark Wolper (Bates Motel).

While I enjoyed watching this new take on Stephen King’s iconic story, I can’t imagine I’ll watch it again. It’s entertaining and “fine”, but just lacks an extra edge. The runtime of around 1 hour and 50 minutes is fine, it’s the vibe that’s lackluster.

Salem’s Lot is out on Max from Thursday, October 3, 2024.

Details

Director: Gary Dauberman
Writer: Gary Dauberman
Cast: Lewis Pullman, Alfre Woodard, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, Spencer Treat Clark, Pilou Asbæk, John Benjamin Hickey

Plot

Author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book only to discover his hometown is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire.

INSANE LIKE ME? is a new vampire movie that clearly had some talent behind it, despite not being one of the best the subgenre has to offer. Read our Insane Like Me? movie review here!

With the sheer abundance of vampire movies on the market these days, it goes without saying that not every film will be a classic. As is the case with Insane Like Me?, a new vampire movie which clearly had some talent behind it, despite not being one of the best the subgenre has to offer.

Director Chip Joslin, who co-wrote the script alongside Britt Bankhead, had the potential to create something truly bold and unique, but some strange creative choices unfortunately held the project back.

The film opens with an exhaustively long prologue in which Afghanistan War veteran Jake Morgan (played by Bankhead) and his friends are attacked by vampires after attending a party at an abandoned mansion. We then learn that Morgan was subsequently blamed for the crimes, and that he was sent to a psychiatric ward as a result.

The opening title was not shown until a full eighteen minutes into the eight-five-minute film, so you would be forgiven for assuming that Insane Like Me? has major issues with its pacing. And the filmmakers also seemed to be aware of the fact that things took a while to get going because the plot rushed towards its conclusion after Morgan was released from the ward.

It would have been preferable to have been given more time to get to know the characters, but the relatively short runtime and the fast pacing sadly did not allow much time for this.

And the subplot involving Morgan’s wrongful conviction and sectioning was largely glossed over instead of being given the attention it deserved, making the eventual payoff less satisfying.

The acting in Insane Like Me?

Bankhead did his best in the role of Morgan, creating a convincing portrait of a man who struggled to re-adjust to civilian life after returning from the war while also fighting his own internal battles.

However, the same cannot be said for the rest of the cast, who were largely wooden and one-note in their performances. This is exemplified by the way in which the character Crystal Davis (Samantha Reddy) flatly shouts, “Where’s my sister?” to a crazed killer. And by the way in which the other actors blandly feign surprise when they see vampires committing superhuman feats. It seems like most of the young actors who comprised the bulk of the supporting cast were not passionate about their roles, and this clearly shows.

Oscar-nominated actor Eric Roberts also shows up, and it was refreshing to see him being given a substantial role instead of just making a cameo, which he has become known for in recent years. Appearing as the hard-boiled Sheriff Davies, Roberts did the best he could with the material he was given, but even he could not save the picture.

While he does a decent enough job playing the tough-as-nails sheriff who believes he can punch his way out of any situation, Roberts was less convincing whenever he needed to display his character’s vulnerable side.

There was a scene where Davies breaks down in tears upon discovering the body of a loved one. Roberts’ delivery throughout this scene seemed so flat and unconvincing that it might as well have been pulled straight from a daytime soap opera.

The vampires were also clearly intended to be intimidating and otherworldly, but the way in which their voices were digitally altered to make them seem more threatening made them impossible to understand in many instances.

We were probably supposed to feel fear when the sinister Doctor Stoker started monologuing about his evil plans. But most viewers will probably be too busy trying to decipher his incomprehensibly deep and reverberating voice to even notice if he was meant to be intimidating. The sound department obviously felt that it would be cool to add demonic sound effects to the vampires’ voices in post-production, without checking if the effects would be easy to understand.

Most of the fight sequences were relatively brief, and the level of gore on display was not particularly strong. It was enjoyable to see the battle-hardened Morgan using all his skills and resources to fight his superhuman opponents whenever he was shown fighting them.

And you will only wish the brief action scenes had lasted for longer. The relatively weak gore was also a drawback, as was the largely unconvincing CGI blood which often sprayed from wounds. The CGI explosion towards the end looked so fake that you really will wonder how it was actually left in.

However, the cinematography does need to be praised, especially since there was a prolonged and uninterrupted shot of the characters exploring an abandoned building, which clearly took a massive amount of planning before it could be filmed.

The shot lasts for several minutes, making it the film’s crowning achievement. You will also wish that more of this kind of creativity had been displayed throughout the picture.

Since there are dozens of other vampire films released every year, Insane Like Me? is ultimately difficult to recommend. The filmmakers clearly had a strong initial idea, but the project lost its way on its journey from script to screen.

If you are a fan of vampire movies, and you feel in the mood for something new and fresh, you should probably look elsewhere.

Insane Like Me? debuted on Cable and Digital VOD on June 4, 2024, including Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, Fandango At Home, Comcast, Dish, and DirecTV.

Details

Director: Chip Joslin
Writers: Britt Bankhead, Chip Joslin
Cast: Britt Bankhead, Grace Patterson, Eric Roberts, Samantha Reddy, Jack Maxwell, Paul Kolker, Meg Hobgood

Plot

Insane Like Me? is a supernatural thriller about a combat veteran who returns home after a tour of duty overseas. He becomes the lead suspect in his girlfriend’s disappearance and is subsequently wrongly convicted and incarcerated. Nine years later he is released from the mental asylum, he returns home to find the truth and settle the score.

ABIGAIL is a new vampire horror movie that packs a real punch. Sure, it’s a bit predictable, but also wildly entertaining. The characters are almost horror-comedy stereotypical, yet it suits the simple plot. Read our Abigail movie review here!

ABIGAIL is a new horror movie out in theaters, and you are in for one wild vampire horror flick. I think we all know vampire movies tend to be “hit or miss” experiences. However, I think most people will be entertained by this movie.

Well, if you surrender to the premise. After all, vampire stories aren’t meant to be too serious or compared to any real-life possibilities. Just think of the wonderful Renfield (2023), which came out in theaters last year.

With vampires, there is almost a built-in kitsch factor perfect for a genre hybrid. A horror heart, but with thriller, action, mystery, drama, and even comedy here and there. In this film, there is a bit of everything, but mostly horror, dark humor, and wild (bloody) action.

Continue reading our Abigail movie review below. Find it in theaters from April 19, 2024.

Children can be such monsters!

Although it is not revealed from the very beginning, we as the audience know very well that the title character is a vampire. It’s both the plot itself and a big part of any trailer. Even the subtitle for Abigail is “Children can be such monsters”.

And in Abigail’s case, this is very literal.

We meet a group of criminals who don’t know each other but are hired by someone they all trust. So far, so good. They “just” have to kidnap and then babysit a 12-year-old girl. Just a short 24-hour stint and then they can share a whopping $50 million ransom.

But, as is so often the case, something that sounds too good to be true is rarely without severe challenges. The little girl they hold captive ends up having the wildest party with her kidnappers. Can the kidnappers stick together and fight back? Or will they just be “picked off and drained” one by one?

Great cast full of familiar faces

First of all, I have to say that young Alisha Weir is absolutely phenomenal as Abigail. She is by no means a normal little girl. Especially not when we’re talking age, so there are some actions and lines from the little girl that make one either smile and giggle or “clutching one’s pearls” in surprise.

It is crucial to the film’s premise that the title character works, and it certainly does via Alisha Weir.

She previously played the title role in the 2022 film Matilda: The Musical and she actually made her feature film debut in the horror film Don’t Leave Home in 2018. She could very well be a future “Final Girl”, that we get to see in horror films already.

And speaking of the final girl character, the main lead role (besides the title role) is played by Melissa Barrera from the new Scream movies. I think Melissa Barrera has been wonderful in everything she has done. So even though there isn’t terribly much to work with here, she plays the character with the most depth and background.

In addition, the newer Scream Queen Kathryn Newton from the horror comedies Freaky and most recently Lisa Frankenstein also stars. She has previously starred in non-comedy horror films such as Paranormal Activity 4 (2012).

The rest of the cast, which is not overwhelmingly large since we are mostly in the same big house, also consists of familiar faces. We get Dan Stevens (Apostle) and Kevin Durand (Swamp Thing, The Strain) in the lead, while also William Catlett (Constellation, Lovecraft Country) and Angus Cloud (Euphoria) play the kidnappers.

Last, but not least, we also see Giancarlo Esposito (The Gentlemen and the upcoming MaXXXine) and Matthew Goode (Silent Night, Stoker) in minor key roles that will not be spoiled here.

Watch Abigail in theaters!

Abigail is directed by Radio Silence, which means the directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. They were also behind horror films such as Ready or Not (2019), Scream (2022), and most recently Scream VI (2023).

Clearly, they are a couple of directors who love the genre and want to focus on solid entertainment and wild sequences!

The screenplay is written by Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground, Hunted) and Guy Busick (the Scream franchise, Castle Rock season 2 and Ready or Not). Guy Busick is also one of the writers behind the upcoming Final Destination: Bloodlines, which revives that franchise – just like he did with Scream – and is expected to come out in 2025.

With all these familiar horror folks both in front of and behind the camera, one can only imagine they had a party making Abigail. And it has also become an entertaining, wildly bloody, and violent vampire film.

Is there anything new or crazy surprising? No, not really.

But is it even a requirement for fun entertainment? Not at all.

Watch it and enjoy the craziness. There are some wild scenes along the way. Not least when we have to find out which vampire rules apply in this movie. Our characters are, of course, familiar with everything from Buffy to Twilight, but that “knowledge” is only theory until they test it in practice.

On a more serious note, this was one of the last films for the actor Angus Cloud, and therefore the movie also ends with a dedication to him.

Abigail is out in US theaters on April 19, 2024.

Details

Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Writers: Stephen Shields, Guy Busick
Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud and Giancarlo Esposito

Plot

After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON is a new vampire horror comedy with bite – and wit. Screening at the Make Believe film festival. Read our full Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant (org. title) movie review here!

HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON is the very long title of the vampire horror comedy with a runtime of 90 minutes. It’s a movie from Canada, and as it was made in Quebec, it’s in French. The original title isn’t much shorter: Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant.

This is a vampire movie with bite, but not from its main character as she refuses to bite. In fact, she can barely get her fangs to come out. This is a problem as she needs to feed and her mother is getting tired of bringing home blood bags for her hungry child.

Continue reading our Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person movie review below. It’s the Closing Night Film at Make Believe Film Festival 2024.

This vampire won’t bite!

In Humanist Vampire (let’s stick with this abbreviated title to not exhaust ourselves), we meet Sasha. She’s a 16-year-old vampire and she needs to start getting her own food. There’s just one problem. Sasha loathes the idea of killing people.

Quick side note: If this sounds a little familiar, it may be because the Netflix series First Kill begins with a similar premise. However, the two stories differ wildly after this initial detail.

Sasha (Sara Montpetit) is forced to find a solution when her blood bag supply – complete with easily accessible slurpy straw built-in – is cut off by her parents. Well, her mother mostly as dad (Steve Laplante) is quite the softie when it comes to his daughter.

Actually, so is her aunt (Marie Brassard), which doesn’t help when Sasha’s mother (Sophie Cadieux) is trying to get her daughter ready for life as a vampire.

Paul to the rescue

Everything starts looking up for Sasha when she meets Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard). He is not a happy person and has decided to end things. As in his life. Being a suicidal boy, Paul agrees to be Sasha’s victim.

He just has one simple last wish: Sasha must spend the night helping him accomplish everything he wants to do before he dies. And just like that, Humanist Vampire turns into a quirky hybrid of being a dark coming-of-age story about a vampire girl and a suicidal boy.

Vampires are humanized in a very simple way. One you’ll recognize from What We Do in the Shadows to the earlier mentioned (far too short-lived) First Kill. Even Buffy the Vampire Slayer did this, but via supporting characters rather than the leads.

For Sasha, the suicidal Paul is an obvious solution as she wants to be humane in her actions as a vampire. After all, it is called Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person. This is, in essence, both the title and plot description.

Watch this vampire tale when you get the chance!

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person was directed by Ariane Louis-Seize. As far as I can tell, this is a feature film debut. She previously directed short films and music videos, which is always a great background. Especially for genre movie directors.

She also co-wrote the screenplay with screenwriter Christine Doyon, who previously created the Germain s’éteint mini-series.

This genre-bending vampire story is at the Make Believe Film Festival 2024, where it’s the Closing Night film. Quite an honor and definitely not a bad choice as this should be a crowd-pleaser. Especially at a film festival that caters to fans of genre films.

We’ll update this review with wider release information for Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person when available.

Details

Director: Ariane Louis-Seize
Screenwriters: Ariane Louis-Seize, Christine Doyon
Cast: Sara Montpetit, Félix-Antoine Bénard, Steve Laplante, Sophie Cadieux, Noémie O’Farrell, Lilas-Rose Cantin, Marie Brassard

Plot

A young female vampire is unable to kill to meet her need for blood, but may have found a solution in a young man with suicidal tendencies.

SLAY (2024) on Tubi is a new LGBTQ+ horror comedy with drag queens and vampires. It’s even better than I ever dared hope. To me, this is a new classic and one I could easily watch again. Read our full 2024 Slay movie review here!

SLAY (2024) is a new Tubi Original and one I would passionately recommend all horror-comedy fans to check out. If you also like drag queens, this movie is a treat beyond words. I mean, it stars RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise alumni Heidi N Closet, Cara Melle, Trinity the Tuck, and Crystal Methyd.

Admittedly, I haven’t watched much of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Not because I don’t enjoy it, but we just always have a genre movie or series we need to review. Maybe that’s why I felt this movie hit all the right spots for me. Even the runtime of almost 100 minutes isn’t too long and that speaks volumes!

Continue reading our 2024 Slay movie review below. Find it on Tubi from March 22, 2024.

Drag Queens (and bikers) versus Vampires

In Slay (2024) on Tubi, the plot really is all about drag queens and vampires. However, it’s also just a truly solid horror comedy with LGBTQ+ characters. And bikers!

The story begins in a fabulous and rainbow-filled Camper Van where four drag queens are on their way to their next booking. Unfortunately, a booking mistake (the Bold Buck instead of Bold Tuck) leads to the drag queens performing for a very different kind of crowd.

They end up in a bar full of bikers and are about to leave when both the owner and what could be the only two (out!) queer people in the small town show up. These two are clearly thrilled to see the drag queens, and they are getting paid, so the show must go on.

Not for long though, as vampires show up to ruin the show. Suddenly, the bikers are quick to look to the queens to save the day. And they oblige, of course. There really isn’t an alternative if they want to survive.

The way the budget is used for the many special effects is brilliant. We’re talking a lot of practical effects and having things happen off-screen. Also, whenever something seems a bit strange, you can be sure that one of the characters will comment on it.

That is how you make a horror comedy work with the budget you have!

To Wong Foo, Queen of the Desert from Dusk Till Dawn

There are so many easy comparisons to iconic movies, and in terms of cult vampyre movies, many of them are directly mentioned in Slay (2024). And make no mistake, this is very much both a horror and a comedy.

The way I think it’s best described is by saying this is The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) meets From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). However, the actual characters also felt very inspired by To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995).

In case you’re not familiar with the two Drag Queen movies, I can tell you that the casts are full of some of the biggest names. They are very much worth checking out!

As always, you have to love the drag queen names, and Slay (2024) is pulling out some great ones. There’s “Mama Sue Flay” (Trinity The Tuck), “Robin Banks” (Heidi N Closet), “Bella Da Boys” (Crystal Methyd), and “Olive Wood” (Cara Melle). Hint: You may want to say them out loud to get the full effect.

Blade is a horror movie mentioned in terms of what outfit, you’ll want to fight vampires in. And Twilight is, of course, also mentioned in Slay as the vampires aren’t as pretty as in that vampire franchise. Disappointing to our drag queens who are already upset that they’re in the wrong place.

Most of the vampires are bikers who are neither young nor fit. However, as it turns out, quite a few of them are more open-minded than you might think. To a point, but still.

With the history of bikers supporting the LGBTQ+ community whenever the Westboro Baptist Church protested in grossly inappropriate ways, it makes a lot more sense than you might think.

Watch the 2024 horror comedy Slay on Tubi now!

The writer and director of Slay on Tubi is Jem Garrard, and I am so happy this movie was made. In fact, I also want to include a statement from writer-director Jem Garrard about why this story was chosen for the horror comedy.

“At a time when hate and intolerance towards the LGBTQ+ community is on the rise, I wanted to write a horror comedy with heart that showcased drag queens and queers as the heroes” and Jem Garrard continued to state that “Drag queens have always been a symbol of resistance and resilience, so seeing them kick-ass against a bunch of blood-sucking vampires felt like a comical, yet pointed allegory.”

All very true, but this doesn’t mean the movie will be good, so I didn’t know what to expect. Fortunately, it is good. In fact, the camp and kitsch style is second only to the gorgeous production quality and awesome one-liners.

Who am I kidding, the fabulous camp and kitsch in Slay is second to nothing! Do not miss out on it.

SLAY is premiering on Tubi on March 22, 2024.

Details

Director: Jem Garrard
Writer: Jem Garrard
Cast: Trinity the Tuck, Heidi N Closet, Crystal Methyd, Cara Melle, Neil Sandilands, Donia Kash, Daniel Janks, Robyn Scott, Richard Wright-Firth, Joe Vaz

Plot

After a booking mistake, four drag queens find themselves performing for a mostly unwelcoming crowd, but when vampires attack, the crowd looks to the queens to save the day.

YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE LET ME IN on TUBI is a new Vampire Horror Movie. One where a vampire is invited to join a bachelorette party after hooking up with one of the girls. Read our full You Shouldn’t Have Let Me In movie review here!

YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE LET ME IN is a new TUBI horror movie. This time it’s a vampire movie, which the title already hints at. It essentially refers to fact that a vampire can’t enter a home without being invited in. If there’s one thing we learned from True Blood, it’s that you never ever invite a vampire in!

However, this story plays out at a bachelorette party and everyone’s a little tipsy and easily falls prey to the charms of a vampire. Except for the gay man, who hooks up with a Van Helsing type. With a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes, it manages to hit the sweet spot for many horror movies.

Continue reading our You Shouldn’t Have Let Me In movie review below. Find it on TUBI from March 15, 2024.

Vampire wants Wife

Set during a bachelorette party in Italy, we meet a group of girls who end up inviting a handsome stranger into their home. Or rather, it’s actually his home. They already know they’re renting from a man named Victor, so when they meet him at a club (and one of them hooks up with him), he comes back with them.

And instead of a child vampire saying “Let Me In” like in the 2010 remake of the iconic Swedish vampire movie Let the Right One In (2008) by Tomas Alfredson, they’re getting a hungry adult vampire.

Well, along with some creepy friends. What none of them realize at first is that he’s a vampire looking for a bride. In fact, it’s the classic Dracula story, where he sees a woman who looks exactly like a previous love of his.

Slay Queens!

There is also LGBTQ+ representation as one of the four people in the bachelorette group is a gay man. He’s a good representation and never does anything too stupid. In fact, hooking up with a man who comes from a family that fights vampires is a good thing for everyone.

And yes, we do get a “Slay Queens” line once the fighting begins.

This isn’t even the only LGBTQ+ representation as there’s also some Sapphic energy going on among some of the other three women in the bachelorette party. It should be said that the opening scene shows a fifth member of the party, who is the first to encounter a vampire.

Also, minor spoiler, I want to mention that I actually enjoyed the kitsch element of having the title of this movie being the last line spoken.

Watch You Shouldn’t Have Let Me In on TUBI now!

The director of You Shouldn’t Have Let Me In is Dave Parker. He previously directed the 2000 zombie horror comedy The Dead Hate the Living! and the 2016 movie It Watches which I was not a fan of. In fact, it’s one of the movies, we’ve given a 1 out of 5 rating.

The screenplay for this new TUBI vampire horror movie was written by Michael Lucid and Mary O’Neil. I don’t believe I’ve watched anything written by either of them. However, I have seen Mary O’Neil act in Malum (2023). Both of them have experience in front of and behind the camera.

Look, this is a vampire horror movie that plays out during a bachelorette party set in idyllic Italy. The setting is gorgeous and the Dracula-like story familiar. Is it brilliant or innovative? No. But does it entertain and have a good production quality? Yes. MarVista once again delivers on entertainment!

You Shouldn’t Have Let Me In is on TUBI from March 15, 2023.

Details

Director: Dave Parker
Writers: Michael Lucid, Mary O’Neil
Cast: Diana Gardner, Nathaniel Ansbach, Riccardo Angelini, Fabián Castro, Isabella Egizi, Giulia Nunnari

Plot

During a bachelorette party in Italy, a group of girls invite a handsome stranger into their home, not realizing he’s a vampire looking for a bride.