by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What can filmmakers do nowadays to make their vampire movies not feel boring and completely derivative? There have been so many vampire tales brought to films and television over the years that it is hard to feel something is interesting and unique. You can try to twist the traditional vampire story and abilities, but that might upset people who appreciate the traditional elements. You can shake up the world they inhabit. Maybe trade-in that gothic setting for something modern (but that has certainly been done too). To come up with something fresh for vampires, you just might have to shake up the themes and messaging behind them.
Is that what writer-director Alice Maio Mackay is able to do with this new Shudder film, So Vam? This is one queer movie from start to finish. The symbolism and how they shake up what vampirism can represent is something special. This is a film filled with gay people, trans people, and drag queens. There are whole scenes from drag shows which are honestly some of the best moments in the whole film. There is also a purpose to our gang of vampires as they do good by taking out bullies and homophobes (including from people from Conversion Programs). This is a fresh take.
But what is the most unfortunate thing? Those elements are really the only positions in this film. This is one hot mess. From technical perspectives, the low budget is so clear due to the clunky and awkward filmmaking. Terrible shaky camera shots at times make for a nauseating experience. The sound is not of high quality, as each line of dialogue sounds like it is echoing out of a can. The effects are terrible with plenty of CGI puffs of blood in the air that stand out in an atrocious way. There isn’t even enough awareness to make this a cheeky experience (despite some of the characters and their sassiness). There are random scenes that feel so overly serious in a sea of silly sequences.
Could the writing be any better? Not really. Honestly… it just might be worse. The dialogue is awkward and full of weird and out of place pop culture references. I will get to the acting later, but it sure doesn’t help either. The story completely falls to pieces due to awkward pacing and strange structure. The third act especially is messy, and it starts and goes. The “final” confrontation comes so quickly that you can barely get satisfaction out of it. Then you have a false sequel-tease ending that is tonally so off, and then it ends without obvious resolution. Then it ended, right? Nope. There is a great scene that follows, but it feels so weird where it is placed. But then it finally ends. Wait… it didn’t? NOPE! One extra scene that is worthless and tacked on for no apparent reason. Messy… like I said.
But the actors, though? This film is filled with amateur performers who just don’t have the skills yet to make up for this bad script. Some are awkward and struggle to make their lines sound genuine. There are others who seem to be sleepwalking through the whole affair. Either way you look at it… this is just bad and will not do.
Will Shudder have a new must-see vampire flick when So Vam drops? There is so much great content on this streaming platform that I cannot see why you need to spend 70 minutes watching this one. The intentions were so good… but those were the only good things when it comes to this awkward and messy horror romp.
Score: 2/10
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