movie: The Hunger
starring: Catherine Denuve, David Bowie
genre: Romance
year: 1983
format: VHS
plot: A centuries old vampire has begun to age rapidly, and searches out a doctor who specializes in genetics. But, with only 48 hours to find a cure, he ends up having to be entombed in a box, left to live out eternity in strange state of continuing to mummify and still be aware of it. Meanwhile, his lover who is a vampire who's been around since the beginning of creation, has begun to find a replacement for him, in the form of the female doctor who was trying to help cure him. The doctor, is then made into a vampire against her will, with little hope to save herself.
This is based on the novel by Whitley Strieber and spawned the short lived television series, which also starred David Bowie.
Cult classic. This movie is one of the most enduring vampire movies around. It's themes are addiction, illusion, lust, greed, desperation, time, and co-dependence.
The lead character of Miriam is cold in her approach to humans, but simply unable to spend time without them. It's not even about the feeding or even the sex as much as it is about the idea that she just can not seem to deal with the thought of being alone. Of not having someone worship her.
The flash backs are short and confusing at times. We learn that she originally met her husband John (if the mummy count is right, he's lover #7) during the 1700's-1800's, and it seems has told him about the possibility (as we learn the certainty) that he might being to age at some point and becoming a mummified living corpse. You almost get the feeling that the previous lovers were unaware of the fact till it was too late.
This sort of rewrites the myths of vampirism up to that point, dropping the cinema's rules and pulling a bit from folklore (they can be out in the day, they have reflections and can be seen in photos and on video)
what do i think i learned from this film?
Seduction can sometimes come with a price all it's own, just because you are looking to be seduced does not mean that you need to be. Love, as much as we want to believe is forever, it too will fade.
Energy does not die, but it can be displaced with the idea of time.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
365 Days- Day 50
movie: Stay Alive
starring: Jon Foster, Jimmi Simpson
genre: Horror
year: 2006
format: DVD
plot: A video gamer tester and his roommates die in the same way that their characters did in the game, and the game ends up being passed on to one of his buddies, Hutch. One of Hutch's friends decides to have a group game night in honor of their dead buddy. It's a game based on the legend of Countess Bathory, a woman accused of draining young girls of their blood. Soon, members of the group end up dead, in the same way their characters in the game die. Hutch and the others need to find a way to stop the vampire's killing before it's too late.
What I love about this film, is that it mixes elements of real folklore, from use of roses and coffin nails as weapons, (the kids have to nail the ghost to the vampire's body) to the actual history of Bathory. I also love that the game is a metaphor itself for vampirism.
The idea that they unwittingly hold a seance when they start the game, allowing the vampire to awake and send it's astral self through the game is genius. The mood of this movie is dark, and plays well with the shadows always having something just out of the corner of your eye.
My version is the director's cut, which has about 12 minutes of extra footage and an added character than the theatrical version.
what do I think I learned from this film? This deals with the idea of perceptive reality. What you know to be solid and real is only one version of the truth, and you can control the outcome if you are willing to believe in something else.
starring: Jon Foster, Jimmi Simpson
genre: Horror
year: 2006
format: DVD
What I love about this film, is that it mixes elements of real folklore, from use of roses and coffin nails as weapons, (the kids have to nail the ghost to the vampire's body) to the actual history of Bathory. I also love that the game is a metaphor itself for vampirism.
The idea that they unwittingly hold a seance when they start the game, allowing the vampire to awake and send it's astral self through the game is genius. The mood of this movie is dark, and plays well with the shadows always having something just out of the corner of your eye.
My version is the director's cut, which has about 12 minutes of extra footage and an added character than the theatrical version.
what do I think I learned from this film? This deals with the idea of perceptive reality. What you know to be solid and real is only one version of the truth, and you can control the outcome if you are willing to believe in something else.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
365 Days-Day 49
Dracula the Series- Episode 10 Mind over Matter
We open with the kids searching old ruins looking to hunt vampires. They end up stumbling upon a coffin that says Vlad Tepes, which is Dracula's (Lucard) tomb.
We then go to a rehearsal for a tv talk show, where Gustav and a couple of psychics are the day's guests. We learn that they are pretty much the typical con artists.
Back at the house, the kids research proves that Dracula still needs to rest in the tomb every so often, and they plot to go there and stake the tomb.
Dracula's place, and we see him making popcorn and getting ready to watch the talk show that Gustav is on. We see Dracula sending telepathic messages to the psychic, which freaks Gustav out.
We then see the kids roaming around the ruins, at night and find the tomb open suddenly.
The next morning, back at the house, we see the kids packing all the vampire hunting tools they can into a pack and getting ready to go back to the tomb.
Max heads to the tomb for first watch. He ends up seeing someone running around with a flaming torch, thinking it's Dracula. Chris and Sophie show up as back up, but are spooked when they see a woman coming out of the tunnels under the tomb. It ends up being the psychic from the talk show. She tells them she was drawn there by a voice in her head, just as Dracula shows up. He empties their weapon pack, cornering them. The psychic tries to leave but gets caught by Dracula.
Back at the house, Gustav is writing a letter to someone, and then we're taken right back to the tomb and Max brings up the question of who's in the coffin if Dracula was not there a few minutes before? Dracula tells them that it's empty, just a decoy for people like them and movie fans. But the coffin opens and we see the psychic send a telepathic message to Gustav which he ends up writing in the middle of his letter.
Meanwhile, back in the tomb, we learn that the psychic's husband has been hiding in the coffin, and claims it's his powers that brought her to the tomb. He's been turned into a vampire, and claims that he's the most powerful vampire ever. Which of course gets on Dracula's last nerve and he is about to stake the husband, but he turns himself into a rabbit. Dracula then turns his attention back to the psychic, about to bite her when Gustav shows up with weapons. Dracula then disappears laughing.
Gustav and the psychic then take the kids home, leaving the husband who is now a rabbit in the tomb.
The next morning, back at the house, Gustav tells the kids he knows all about all of Dracula's extra coffins, that they are placed all over the world to fool those who shouldn't be trying to hunt him.
We open with the kids searching old ruins looking to hunt vampires. They end up stumbling upon a coffin that says Vlad Tepes, which is Dracula's (Lucard) tomb.
We then go to a rehearsal for a tv talk show, where Gustav and a couple of psychics are the day's guests. We learn that they are pretty much the typical con artists.
Back at the house, the kids research proves that Dracula still needs to rest in the tomb every so often, and they plot to go there and stake the tomb.
Dracula's place, and we see him making popcorn and getting ready to watch the talk show that Gustav is on. We see Dracula sending telepathic messages to the psychic, which freaks Gustav out.
We then see the kids roaming around the ruins, at night and find the tomb open suddenly.
The next morning, back at the house, we see the kids packing all the vampire hunting tools they can into a pack and getting ready to go back to the tomb.
Max heads to the tomb for first watch. He ends up seeing someone running around with a flaming torch, thinking it's Dracula. Chris and Sophie show up as back up, but are spooked when they see a woman coming out of the tunnels under the tomb. It ends up being the psychic from the talk show. She tells them she was drawn there by a voice in her head, just as Dracula shows up. He empties their weapon pack, cornering them. The psychic tries to leave but gets caught by Dracula.
Back at the house, Gustav is writing a letter to someone, and then we're taken right back to the tomb and Max brings up the question of who's in the coffin if Dracula was not there a few minutes before? Dracula tells them that it's empty, just a decoy for people like them and movie fans. But the coffin opens and we see the psychic send a telepathic message to Gustav which he ends up writing in the middle of his letter.
Meanwhile, back in the tomb, we learn that the psychic's husband has been hiding in the coffin, and claims it's his powers that brought her to the tomb. He's been turned into a vampire, and claims that he's the most powerful vampire ever. Which of course gets on Dracula's last nerve and he is about to stake the husband, but he turns himself into a rabbit. Dracula then turns his attention back to the psychic, about to bite her when Gustav shows up with weapons. Dracula then disappears laughing.
Gustav and the psychic then take the kids home, leaving the husband who is now a rabbit in the tomb.
The next morning, back at the house, Gustav tells the kids he knows all about all of Dracula's extra coffins, that they are placed all over the world to fool those who shouldn't be trying to hunt him.
Friday, March 22, 2013
365 Days- Day 48
Dracula the Series- Episode 9 Damsel in Distress
We open with Max making a mess while trying to create a surprise for his mom. She then comes into the room and tells him that she's unable to keep their plans, which she does in a very robotic way.
We then see her in a meeting, representing Lucard Industries. The business manager makes a pass at her, and is unnerved when she suggests Lucard join them.
Back at the house, Gustav consoles the kids about how they were brushed off by their mom. He calls her at work and is mystified when she tells him to leave her alone. We then see her with Lucard in his office.
Meanwhile, the kids return from the park for dinner to find that their mother never came home and never bothered to call. Then the man she'd had the meeting with shows up with flowers for her. Gustav takes the message and the flowers, reading the note they realize that their mom is working with Lucard.
The kids decide to rescue their mom from the castle on their own.
Back at the castle, their mom and Lucard are on a business date, where he shows off an original painting of himself by van Gogh. Just then the kids arrive to save her, not knowing that she's already turned into a vampire.
Gustav then shows up at the company of the man who had shown up at the house earlier, and we find out that he's a vampire as well.
Back at the house, the kids try to figure out what to do about everything, and then learn that Gustav has been baited into a trap. We then see Gustav at the castle being put into the basement. We learn that Lucard is planning a massive worldwide business take over, putting as many vampires into as many CEO positions as possible.
The kids then show up at the castle to try to rescue both Gustav and their mom. They get caught have to kill a few vampires. They rescue Gustav and decide that the best way to save their mom is to seal her up in a tomb. Meanwhile, Lucard is trying to convince their mom that she needs to turn the kids in order to fully enjoy being a vampire. They end up in a battle but their mom is unable to turn her own family, and it seems to break the spell Lucard has over her. Gustav then makes a final statement by staking the painting which burns when the wooden stake hits it. (sort of a nod to Dorian Grey)
The next morning, Gustav and the kids try to piece everything together, and realize that their mom doesn't remember anything.
We open with Max making a mess while trying to create a surprise for his mom. She then comes into the room and tells him that she's unable to keep their plans, which she does in a very robotic way.
We then see her in a meeting, representing Lucard Industries. The business manager makes a pass at her, and is unnerved when she suggests Lucard join them.
Back at the house, Gustav consoles the kids about how they were brushed off by their mom. He calls her at work and is mystified when she tells him to leave her alone. We then see her with Lucard in his office.
Meanwhile, the kids return from the park for dinner to find that their mother never came home and never bothered to call. Then the man she'd had the meeting with shows up with flowers for her. Gustav takes the message and the flowers, reading the note they realize that their mom is working with Lucard.
The kids decide to rescue their mom from the castle on their own.
Back at the castle, their mom and Lucard are on a business date, where he shows off an original painting of himself by van Gogh. Just then the kids arrive to save her, not knowing that she's already turned into a vampire.
Gustav then shows up at the company of the man who had shown up at the house earlier, and we find out that he's a vampire as well.
Back at the house, the kids try to figure out what to do about everything, and then learn that Gustav has been baited into a trap. We then see Gustav at the castle being put into the basement. We learn that Lucard is planning a massive worldwide business take over, putting as many vampires into as many CEO positions as possible.
The kids then show up at the castle to try to rescue both Gustav and their mom. They get caught have to kill a few vampires. They rescue Gustav and decide that the best way to save their mom is to seal her up in a tomb. Meanwhile, Lucard is trying to convince their mom that she needs to turn the kids in order to fully enjoy being a vampire. They end up in a battle but their mom is unable to turn her own family, and it seems to break the spell Lucard has over her. Gustav then makes a final statement by staking the painting which burns when the wooden stake hits it. (sort of a nod to Dorian Grey)
The next morning, Gustav and the kids try to piece everything together, and realize that their mom doesn't remember anything.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
365 Days- Day 47
movie: Roger Corman Presents Dracula Rising
starring: Doug Wert, Christopher Atkins
genre: Horror
year: 1993
format: VHS
plot: At an art gallery fundraiser, a young female artist meets Vlad, who she's instantly attracted to. Soon, she starts to have odd dreams about him. Within days, she's offered a job in Romania restoring a painting from the 1400's. She arrives to find herself face to face with Vlad, and learns that the dreams are actually memories from a past life they shared when he was a monk. Meanwhile, the two lovers are being tormented by another person from their shared past, whom just happens to be another vampire.
This movie was done back in the early 1990's when few movies were being produced in Transylvania. The plot is thin, but the locations are breathtaking.
The movie is told mostly in flash backs, more so then even the modern half. I sometimes wonder if this wouldn't have worked better having been strictly set in the middle ages and only given the modern scenes a tale end, instead of being cut back and forth between them.
I also, can't help but think of Star Wars during parts of this movie. We learn that Vlad is the son of Vlad the Impaler, and in one of the flashbacks, he's being "tempted from the light to the dark side" by his father - who is wearing a long black outfit, cape and mask- and the final scene has the main character dressed in a tanned colour outfit that just seems like it's right out of Luke Skywalker's wardrobe.
There are a lot of really cheesy one liners, which are all delivered by Doug Wert who plays Alec the evil vampire, but it's what gives this film it's punch.
what do i think i learned from this film?
"Hunger makes beasts of men, and demons of beasts" (quote from the last scene in the film)
starring: Doug Wert, Christopher Atkins
genre: Horror
year: 1993
format: VHS
plot: At an art gallery fundraiser, a young female artist meets Vlad, who she's instantly attracted to. Soon, she starts to have odd dreams about him. Within days, she's offered a job in Romania restoring a painting from the 1400's. She arrives to find herself face to face with Vlad, and learns that the dreams are actually memories from a past life they shared when he was a monk. Meanwhile, the two lovers are being tormented by another person from their shared past, whom just happens to be another vampire.
This movie was done back in the early 1990's when few movies were being produced in Transylvania. The plot is thin, but the locations are breathtaking.
The movie is told mostly in flash backs, more so then even the modern half. I sometimes wonder if this wouldn't have worked better having been strictly set in the middle ages and only given the modern scenes a tale end, instead of being cut back and forth between them.
I also, can't help but think of Star Wars during parts of this movie. We learn that Vlad is the son of Vlad the Impaler, and in one of the flashbacks, he's being "tempted from the light to the dark side" by his father - who is wearing a long black outfit, cape and mask- and the final scene has the main character dressed in a tanned colour outfit that just seems like it's right out of Luke Skywalker's wardrobe.
There are a lot of really cheesy one liners, which are all delivered by Doug Wert who plays Alec the evil vampire, but it's what gives this film it's punch.
what do i think i learned from this film?
"Hunger makes beasts of men, and demons of beasts" (quote from the last scene in the film)
Saturday, March 16, 2013
365 Days- Day 46
Dracula the Series- Episode 8 What A Pleasant Surprise
We open with a black and white movie that Gustav and Max are watching, it's an old vampire movie. Gustav is gushing about the actor, and ends up hurting himself as he does an impression of the character. As the cinema empties, we see Lucard standing in the lobby.
Back at the house, the kids are having breakfast, talking about sports. Gustav finds out that Lucard Industry is buying the old cinema, and thinks there is a vampire related reason for it, he tells the kids to start doing research on the building while he goes to city hall.
Meanwhile, at Dracula's office, he finds out about the issue with Gustav and pays someone off to keep Gustav from interfering.
Gustav then goes back to the house to get his hunter's kit, believing something personal about the cinema is the real reason Lucard Industries is buying it. He then goes to the cinema to search for answers.
Meanwhile, Max puts an ad in the newspaper saying that he's looking for information on the cinema, and for anyone who might have any to come there that night and ask for him. Unknown to him, Max has just put out a public invitation to all the vampires in the town.
Back at the cinema, Gustav discovers that the actor from the movie they had been watching earlier, is in fact a vampire and has been hiding in the cinema basement all these years.
Back at the house, the kids hear a knock on the door and find their mom has arrived for a visit.
Back at the cinema, Gustav is star struck by his favourite actor, who is planning his return to movies, and telling Gustav why he became a vampire to begin with. He tries to bite him, but is unable to stomach the idea which is why he's been hiding for all these years. They end up talking about all the movies he did before becoming a vampire, and he tells Gustav about how he met Dracula back in the 1930's, and if he'd known back then that "real vampires" could not show up on film/photos he would never have become one.
Dracula then shows up and we learn that he but a curse on the cinema, trapping the vampire movie star in the basement, but that now the curse has worn off. This is the reason he bought the cinema, so that he could tear it down and build something new, which would destroy the vampire movie star's resting place. The two vampires then fight, and the vampire movie star grabs a stake from Gustav's hunter's kit, forcing Dracula to flee. He then turns the stake on himself and fades into nothing, the sound of a movie reel flickering behind him.
The next day, back at the house, the kids find out that Max's ad in the paper was what tipped him off the night before, and why he showed up at the cinema. We then see Dracula in his office in a business meeting with the kid's mom.
This episode guest stars Kim Coats (Innocent Blood, Red Blooded American Girl) as the movie star vampire. It also starts a small arch in which Dracula starts to turn his attention to the women of the show. (giving a slight nod to Lost Boys)
We open with a black and white movie that Gustav and Max are watching, it's an old vampire movie. Gustav is gushing about the actor, and ends up hurting himself as he does an impression of the character. As the cinema empties, we see Lucard standing in the lobby.
Back at the house, the kids are having breakfast, talking about sports. Gustav finds out that Lucard Industry is buying the old cinema, and thinks there is a vampire related reason for it, he tells the kids to start doing research on the building while he goes to city hall.
Meanwhile, at Dracula's office, he finds out about the issue with Gustav and pays someone off to keep Gustav from interfering.
Gustav then goes back to the house to get his hunter's kit, believing something personal about the cinema is the real reason Lucard Industries is buying it. He then goes to the cinema to search for answers.
Meanwhile, Max puts an ad in the newspaper saying that he's looking for information on the cinema, and for anyone who might have any to come there that night and ask for him. Unknown to him, Max has just put out a public invitation to all the vampires in the town.
Back at the cinema, Gustav discovers that the actor from the movie they had been watching earlier, is in fact a vampire and has been hiding in the cinema basement all these years.
Back at the house, the kids hear a knock on the door and find their mom has arrived for a visit.
Back at the cinema, Gustav is star struck by his favourite actor, who is planning his return to movies, and telling Gustav why he became a vampire to begin with. He tries to bite him, but is unable to stomach the idea which is why he's been hiding for all these years. They end up talking about all the movies he did before becoming a vampire, and he tells Gustav about how he met Dracula back in the 1930's, and if he'd known back then that "real vampires" could not show up on film/photos he would never have become one.
Dracula then shows up and we learn that he but a curse on the cinema, trapping the vampire movie star in the basement, but that now the curse has worn off. This is the reason he bought the cinema, so that he could tear it down and build something new, which would destroy the vampire movie star's resting place. The two vampires then fight, and the vampire movie star grabs a stake from Gustav's hunter's kit, forcing Dracula to flee. He then turns the stake on himself and fades into nothing, the sound of a movie reel flickering behind him.
The next day, back at the house, the kids find out that Max's ad in the paper was what tipped him off the night before, and why he showed up at the cinema. We then see Dracula in his office in a business meeting with the kid's mom.
This episode guest stars Kim Coats (Innocent Blood, Red Blooded American Girl) as the movie star vampire. It also starts a small arch in which Dracula starts to turn his attention to the women of the show. (giving a slight nod to Lost Boys)
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
365 Days- Day 45
Dracula the Series- Episode 7 A Little Nightmare Music
We open with Lucard as a bat flying over the city, then see a woman painting, whom he stumbles upon and asks him if he wants his painting done? She takes his photograph to study from, but he doesn't have an image in it. He then bites her.
Back at the house, Chris is hanging out playing the guitar, Max and Gustav pretending to listen, teasing him about his lack of talent. Sophie then runs in telling them that a socialite came to her music class. She informs them that she's been picked to be the personal assistant for her.
We then see Sophie and the socialite walking around the city, talking about classical music. We then see Lucard and the socialite back at his office having a drink, talking about having known each other before.
Back at the house, we see the kids all talking about music again, both Sophie and Max referring to the socialite and how cool they think she is.
Back at Dracula's castle, the socialite and Dracula are having a private dinner to set up a charity event. He then gets a message and leaves one of his co-workers (vampires) there and we learn she's a vampire as well.
The next morning, once again we see Sophie and the socialite having coffee and talking about all the charity work she has to do. And Sophie learns that the socialite is staying at the castle.
Back at the house, Chris is trying to impress uncle Gustav with a song he wrote, when Sophie arrives back and starts to collect up a bunch of vampire hunting tools. She runs out of the house again, just as Max arrives back there. They discover the missing hunter's tools and figure out that Sophie has headed to the castle.
Back at the castle, we see the socialite and Sophie trying to warn her, not knowing that she's a vampire as well. Gustav and the two boys show up at the castle just as Sophie is fighting off the vampire. Dracula shows up and learns that the socialite is not what he thought.(it's hinted that she might be the Countess Bathory) The two vampires battle, and he gives her the choice of leaving or being staked. Sophie at first wonders why Dracula saved her, only to find out its because he wants to kill her himself to punish Gustav. The others arrive before Dracula can bit Sophie, saving her.
We are then at a bar where Chris is suppose to be having a gig, but the place is empty, the only ones there being Max, Sophie, Gustav and the bartender. Outside, we see the socialite trying to convince another young girl to become her personal assistant.
We open with Lucard as a bat flying over the city, then see a woman painting, whom he stumbles upon and asks him if he wants his painting done? She takes his photograph to study from, but he doesn't have an image in it. He then bites her.
Back at the house, Chris is hanging out playing the guitar, Max and Gustav pretending to listen, teasing him about his lack of talent. Sophie then runs in telling them that a socialite came to her music class. She informs them that she's been picked to be the personal assistant for her.
We then see Sophie and the socialite walking around the city, talking about classical music. We then see Lucard and the socialite back at his office having a drink, talking about having known each other before.
Back at the house, we see the kids all talking about music again, both Sophie and Max referring to the socialite and how cool they think she is.
Back at Dracula's castle, the socialite and Dracula are having a private dinner to set up a charity event. He then gets a message and leaves one of his co-workers (vampires) there and we learn she's a vampire as well.
The next morning, once again we see Sophie and the socialite having coffee and talking about all the charity work she has to do. And Sophie learns that the socialite is staying at the castle.
Back at the house, Chris is trying to impress uncle Gustav with a song he wrote, when Sophie arrives back and starts to collect up a bunch of vampire hunting tools. She runs out of the house again, just as Max arrives back there. They discover the missing hunter's tools and figure out that Sophie has headed to the castle.
Back at the castle, we see the socialite and Sophie trying to warn her, not knowing that she's a vampire as well. Gustav and the two boys show up at the castle just as Sophie is fighting off the vampire. Dracula shows up and learns that the socialite is not what he thought.(it's hinted that she might be the Countess Bathory) The two vampires battle, and he gives her the choice of leaving or being staked. Sophie at first wonders why Dracula saved her, only to find out its because he wants to kill her himself to punish Gustav. The others arrive before Dracula can bit Sophie, saving her.
We are then at a bar where Chris is suppose to be having a gig, but the place is empty, the only ones there being Max, Sophie, Gustav and the bartender. Outside, we see the socialite trying to convince another young girl to become her personal assistant.
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