Short Film Review: VAMPIRES AT NIGHT, 20min., Canada

A young happy couple are attacked by a vampire. Soon, the young woman transforms into a monster. Will true love prevail?

Review by Julie Sheppard:

Vampires At Night, a spellbinding Canadian short, depicts love’s triumph despite the “hands of evil”. It effectively presents itself in the style of a pre-talk film, with elegant, framed titles, glitchy moments, and the decision to shoot in black and white. The tone is both dreamy and nightmarish, as the happy couple attempts to celebrate their love with frolicking musicians and luscious candy apples, until the stalking of a terrifying ghoul. 

There was spectacular use of ghostly white eye contacts and huge menacing teeth for the vampires. The camera was well-utilized in a multitude of ways, with such elements as extreme close ups, overlays, animation and cutaway imagery. The soundtrack was suitably haunting, notably clanging piano and jarring percussion. The movements of the cast were rather ethereal and trancelike, which worked for the melodramatic style of the piece.  

Another memorable thematic choice was the use of masked, robed figures presenting an unsettling choreography that seemed mirror the lead’s terror and confusion. Fortunately, some relief is provided — as the narrative suggests, despite evil’s grasp, love can indeed triumph and remain forever.