Blood from Stone

It's not about vampires. It's a relationship and existential satire/drama that stars vampires. What if questioning if you fit into the new world, or if you're capable or worthy of being in a loving relationship was told through the eyes of vampires? It flips the genre on its side, and it's a brilliant satire not only of what we have come to expect from a horror film, but from the POV that their bloody needs and carnal desires are simply un-human nature, and don't tell the real story of who they are. There are some surprising and beautifully crafted scenes of gore and smartly written dialogue (even during those scenes) that take it all to an entirely new place. The cast is spot on and the star of the film Vanja Kapetanovic is so good and so head-first into this part that it sometimes feels like a documentary crew is following him (except for the gorgeous way it's shot against the shiny facade of Vegas). It obviously was made before 2020, but it couldn't be more relevant to the relationship and personal introspection forced upon us all this year. And - after all that - it made me laugh a lot. It's a satire upon subtle satire, so just love the parts where they go full vampire, and feel the rest as it relates to trying to fit into the world and trying to find some love.

Blood From Stone isn't like any vampire movie I've ever seen. It has all the best elements of a vampire flick, but is reimagined in a modern way. This movie is thought provoking in so many ways; it thoughtfully shines a light on the human condition. This film is able to carry heavy existential themes with its perfect balance of humor, irony, and action. The acting is heartfelt and genuine, with just the right amount of intensity (which hasn't been achieved in many vampire flicks). Aesthetically, the film is stunning! The cinematography, lighting, and score make it so fun to watch!!!

Blood from Stone is thoroughly entertaining take on the vampire genre. It reminds me of the movie The Hunger. However this film is much more grounded. The vampires are struggling with the weight of being undead and trying to have a semblance of normality in a modern human world. The main vampire, Jure is battling emotional and substance abuse issues. A lot of the humor is derived from his life spiraling out of control, almost an allegory for a junkie just about to hit rock bottom. The core of its story is a family and relationship drama wrapped around a vampire theme. Several scenes get bloody enough to satisfy horror fans and the dark comedy ebbs and flows like waves whenever Jure is out on a hunt. The acting and casting is solid with Gabriella Toth and Nika Khitrova rounding out the main cast. Definitely a fun to watch indie horror film.

Joe's life is falling apart. He's self-destructive, he's an alcoholic and he just followed his love, Darya, to Las Vegas to try to make things right with her. It's going about as well as you'd expect. She's had enough and calls his big sister Viktoria to come straighten him out. And that's when all hell breaks loose. You see, they're all vampires. This story unfolds at a leisurely pace, except for the murders which happen swiftly and brutally. The acting is excellent throughout and not just for the main characters, Vanja Kapetanovic, Gabriella Toth and the sublime Nika Khitrova - even the victims bring a lot of weight to their roles. This is a spare, character-driven piece, more like Let the Right One In and less like Twilight. Well-written and thoughtful with some terrific performances.

This movie came at the perfect time around Halloween, and kept me entertained and wanting to see what happens next! I never really thought about what a modern-day vampire would be like, but this film does a great job presenting the woes that could come about with love, temptations, etc. The audio was difficult to make out at times, but I thought they did a great job with realistic special effects, the plot was engaging, and the production was high quality. Although I don't watch many indie films and am unable to weigh it against comparable others, I was very impressed to find out that such a small crew worked on this. Tons of kudos to them!