Kiss of the Damned

I watched this film on a whim and I can tell you from the start that is mostly a waste of time. Mostly, because the vampires in the film, classical as they were, had this twist of high class addicts that tried to stay off human blood, but occasionally failed. There was even a night of the vampires where they just sat there and discussed their condition. This had a lot of potential. Unfortunately the discussion was stale, the basic premise of the film just a spout between eternal sisters (now that is hell) and nothing else.

The cast was also full of potential. Milo Ventimiglia is a decent actor and rather good looking; I bet he will do increasingly well. Roxane Mesquida is hot as hell, especially in the role of the out of control psychotic bitch. Michael Rapaport, poor guy, had a lot going for him but now is just a fat nobody playing ridiculous roles. However, I am pretty sure this cast could have done a decent job with a good script. Alas, this was anything but one.

Add to this the really bad direction, the weak effects, the obsolete camera techniques and you get a movie that looks made by a student for a cinematography exam. Just avoid it.

No plot, no point, bad acting, bad editing,unexplored characters, unnecessary characters, no character motivation,bad use of music,boring and unoriginal. At least it was mostly competently shot and coloured but that's it. Avoid.

Sexy and thrilling! Tired of Twilight histrionics? Sick of slasher remakes? Yearn for classic dreamy elegance and melancholy of The Hunger or Nosferatu? Then dip into dreamy dripping seas in the land of this film. The last time I saw a film this personal yet gorgeous was when I went on a Jean Rollin kick earlier this year. Xan Cassavetes goes right to the European masters for inspiration. She balances spooky house atmospherics with creative humor, and a downright "queer" sexuality as it relates to traditional vampire lore. Bottom line - this is a really unique and special film. I totally encourage you to let go and experience the bliss of one. Become undone as you merge with the infinite beat.

With passion comes great responsibility ... especially if you are not able to control it. The main character is a very strange one and the actress has a tough role to play. There is a stretch in what she has to depict. The story itself is more adult than your average teenage movie that came out lately (yes Twilight and any spawn it gave "birth" to), but also very predictable.

I watched it at a Festival, so the audience knew or expected this to be a strange one. If you are about to watch it, you should note that too. There is a lot of sexuality and some violence in this, something to consider too. A nicely done movie about containment, self control and love in general. Also about the meaning of life ... it does have to say a lot, as you can see

In the countryside near to New York, Djuna (Joséphine de La Baume) lives alone with her housemaid Irene (Ching Valdes-Aran) in a manor that belongs to her friend Xenia (Anna Mouglalis). When she meets the screenwriter Paolo (Milo Ventimiglia) at a video rental store, they immediately fall in love with each other. However, Djuna discloses to Paolo that she is a vampire and while making love, she turns him into one. Paolo moves to her house and they happily live together. Out of the blue, her wicked and troublemaker sister Mimi (Roxane Mesquida) appears to stay for a week with them, turning their lives upside-down.

"Kiss of the Damned" is an underrated and sexy film romance with a good romance with an international cast where the female vampires are French actresses. The plot is well developed and the music score is classy. In 2013, Jim Jarmusch wrote and directed the cult "Only Lovers Left Alive" with a similar storyline. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Beijo do Vampiro" ("The Kiss of the Vampire")