Midnight Mass

Being from New Jersey, I rented this film after reading about it in Fangoria magazine and about how it was filmed locally. I am also a fan of horror movies, and I generally like to check out anything new I can find. This one was pretty entertaining to watch, and the special effects were well done (and very gruesome, just how I like them). The intro was powerful, and some of the shots throughout the film were visually stunning. However, this film would have benefitted from using more vampires (...and more bloody f/x). Standout performances were the two priests, Father Cahill (played by Doug Gibson), and the convincingly demented Father Palmieri (Marvin Schwartz). For a first time director, I would say this was a valiant effort. Worth checking out if you like horror and can appreciate independant films.

Like watching a train wreck

Horrible, but you couldn't stop watching it. The first few minutes are an eerie prelude to a pathetic B- movie. An excellent story and idea As I watched this movie I kept hoping to see something get better, I kept wanting and hoping for the movie to be what I wished it would be. Maybe because there were some honestly well done shots in the film, like when the priest is giving a last prayer to a group of dead bodies. 10 minutes into the movie we placed bets that the leading lady got her job by being someone's daughter. Her acting, only matched by the vampire priests, shadowed even the pathetic make up effects. The fight scenes were laughable and made no sense.

An exercise in frustration. With all that's done right, and all that's done wrong, this film should be watched as a lesson in what not to do in filmmaking.

I have so many positive comments for the current wave of horror movies that are coming out, straight-to-video and theatrically. The Experiment, May, House of 1000 Corpses, and even Wrong Turn were all solid horror excursions. Too bad this one isn't. I picked up Midnight Mass because it was a Lion's Gate release and Fangoria had a write-up about it in a recent issue that made it seem interesting. If that's why you're thinking about picking it up, put it down NOW! It sucks, no vampire humor intended. The film opens with a brilliant documentary style account of the world being overrun by vampires. It pulls you right in and builds up your expectations. It soon falls flat because the actors are terribly amateurish and the dialogue is annoying. Every time the lead actress opened her mouth I wanted someone to slap her down. And the lead priest looks like some guy they found at a Pantera concert while the evil priest could be Joe Pesci's bad acting twin. The flick is painfully dull as well. The whole experience was disappointing to say the least. If you want a better F. Paul Wilson adaptation, rent The Keep.

After an apparently outbreak of a mysterious virus, the world is dominated by vampires helped by the traitors Vichys. The atheist Gwen Waters (Pamela Karp) leaves the small town of St. Anthony in her bicycle trying to find the alcoholic Priest Joe Cahill (Douglas Gibson) and bring him back to her town to give hope to the human dwellers. Father Joe rebuilds the church with the support of some locals but is attacked by vampires and Vichys leaded by the evil Father Alberto Palmeri (Marvin W. Schwartz), in a battle between good and evil.

"Midnight Mass" has a promising beginning that explains what has happened to the world through footages of broadcasting news. Unfortunately, after the first three or four minutes, the story becomes a complete mess. However, the acting is the worst, with amateurish performances of Pamela Karp and Douglas Gibson in the lead roles, and with the ham actor Marvin W. Schwartz performing Father Alberto Palmeri. It is ridiculous the way he speaks the sentences, and I do not recall any other actor or actress with such bad speech. I ruined my Saturday night watching this crap on DVD, deceived by its great initial five minutes. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "A Missa da Meia Noite" ("The Midnight Mass")

This not so epic vampire film tells the story of a shamed priest and an atheist surviving in a world where vampires have become the majority.

First of all let me be clear this is really terrible! The acting is laughable, the random overreaction shouty outbursts are hilariously bad and the movie is heavily pro Christianity which really got my back up.

The film almost felt like propaganda, I won't spoil anything but the way the film plays out really underlines my statement.

All round total mess and not worth the time of anyone but the most hardcore of vampire movie fan.

The Good:

Nothing

The Bad:

The appalling acting

The heavy pro Christianity vibe