Midnight Son (2011)
April 13th 2011 02:42
Midnight Son is a visually stunning new offering from first time feature director Scott Lebercht. A stylish neo-noir vamp love story that recalls genre classics such as George Romero's 'Martin' and Kathryn Bigelow's 'Near Dark.' The story revolves around Jacob (Zak Kilberg), a young recluse who has developed a taste for blood and a skin disorder that prevents him from going out during sunlight. Life for Jacob revolves around working a night shift security job, bar hopping the gritty streets of Los Angeles, whilst coming to terms with his worsening condition. His situation becomes increasingly complex when he begins a relationship with a sassy but sensitive cocktail waitress Mary (Maya Parish), whilst finding himself as a suspect in a murder case.
Lebercht has many visual effects/art direction credits, so it is no suprise that the film looks good. Refreshingly though, it is not an effects driven film but rather an engaging character study and an original riff on the genre. The script is tight, the direction assured and the performances are impressive.
The dreary world of the main protagonist is captured beautifully, with the nighttime streets of downtown L.A given a suitably dark and opressive quality. As you'd hope for a vampire film with real bite, there is blood-a-plenty, but the horror elements are handled with a sense of despair and genuine realism which helps make the film such a suprising and memorable experience. 4/5
Currently playing in festivals around the globe. I caught it in Sydney last week, so check out the films website and Facebook page for screening details.
Lebercht has many visual effects/art direction credits, so it is no suprise that the film looks good. Refreshingly though, it is not an effects driven film but rather an engaging character study and an original riff on the genre. The script is tight, the direction assured and the performances are impressive.
The dreary world of the main protagonist is captured beautifully, with the nighttime streets of downtown L.A given a suitably dark and opressive quality. As you'd hope for a vampire film with real bite, there is blood-a-plenty, but the horror elements are handled with a sense of despair and genuine realism which helps make the film such a suprising and memorable experience. 4/5
Currently playing in festivals around the globe. I caught it in Sydney last week, so check out the films website and Facebook page for screening details.
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Comment by Paul Robson
on No Moriré Sola (I’ll Never Die Alone)
Midnight Flickers
I still struggle with the graphic nature of rape scenes in films of this ilk. Not because I find them particularly shocking, just rather unnecessary. Sometimes I feel extreme cinema uses sexual violence as a way to gain extra notoriety, rather than for any real artistic merit. I know it was integral to this film to convey a sense of the explicitly brutal and sadistic nature of the evildoers, but it could have been conveyed with a little more restraint perhaps...