(dir. Neil Jordan)
 |
| IFC Films |
Byzantium
may be one of the few, perhaps the only feminist vampire story I can think of.
This alone makes the film a worthwhile offering to the vampire film mythology.
Jordan and screenwriter, Moira Buffini, abandon most of the cliché narrative
arcs of vampires and instead offers a character driven mother-daughter story in
which neither character understands how the other puts her life and emotions
on the line to protect the other. Told through a present day narrative and
extended flashbacks, the film fully fleshes out both characters and their
respective plights. Leads Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan both give equally sympathetic
and calculated performances that raise the stakes of the drama. Most impressive
is Jordan’s direction and Sean Bobbitt’s cinematography, which gives the entire
film the look of German Romanticism. Together these aspects make
Byzantium one of the most underrated and understated horror films in recent
years.
Scare Factor: 1/5 Byzantium is a gothic horror film
for those who aren’t looking to have nightmares this season, and a blast of
fresh air for those who want a bit of a breather from their traditional horror
fare. Beautiful and remarkably shot, Jordan’s film stands as one of the best
modern vampire tales.
*Available to watch on Netflix Instant
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