Habit

The best vampire movie since George A. Romero's 'Martin'. This one's a bit low-key but very well acted and contains some erotically charged sex scenes. The lead male character played by the wacky Larry Fessenden, complains of feeling weak, drained and a bit sick; which surely is the only downside of being accosted by a truly sexed up vamp, named Anna. Get the 'habit'!

I love this movie. Fessenden's camera is relentless and surprising - likewise with his edit - he is simple, unique, and engaging - like a down-beat Cassavetes, he works on small impulses and real urban rhythms - while not perfect,the film is dreamily shaggy, a creepy joy every step of the way. beautifuly realized (great art-direction and photography) - this and Ferara's "The Addiction" make a great po-mo NY vampire double bill. BRAVO!

Bar manager / lush whose life is collapsing around him thinks he may have a chance for a better life when he falls in love, but then he notices that his girlfriend likes to bite and drink blood. As the relationship grows more sexual, the more paranoid he is about her being a vampire.

Fresh take on the vampire legend offers new ideas and is well made on an ultra low budget. It has strong character development and is presented in a realistic manner. The sexual scenes in the film also make you wonder, was it real of faked?

Fessenden embodies much that is great about no-budget, maverick filmmaking. I appreciated his color palette of browns and blacks, and like Polanski's `Repulsion' he manages to place you into the heart of a character on a downward spiral while referencing back to the vampire film. The lingering question for much of the film is, simply, is he going bonkers because of emotional stress or is she a blood sucking vampire draining him dry?

Wisely, Fessenden avoids any overt references to vampirism for almost the entire film, allowing the viewer to determine what is happening. He avoids the clumsy exposition which populates so many films. In a brief moment when Sam encounters his ex at a Halloween party, they make no reference to breaking up or ever having been together; he simply asks her how her apartment hunt is going and offers to help her move, and the way theyinteract says it all. The film is filled with moments like this.

It also helps that the film is shot in such a creepy way, giving the mundane aspects of his life a jolt. The major setpieces at a masked Halloween party or at a carnival evoke mystery and dread without resorting to vampires jumping out at you.

A very good, kind of disturbing modern vampire story. Its hero is a guy on the rebound who has a circle of friends, a small inheritance, and no direction in life. He meets an alluring woman who seduces him into sado-masochistic sex addiction, and the film continues to play with the concepts essential to Vampirism and modern life. Good performances from all, particularly Fessenden (also the director) and Aaron Beall as his hypocritical friend. Chilling atmosphere on a very low budget. Some obvious writing, but well executed style pulls it off. Particularly memorable is Fessenden's desperate meat fix, where he licks the drainings out of the bottom of a supermarket meat container. Fans of vampire movies of quality should definately check this out.