Love Wants Us Dead – Review

Director: Israel Perez

Release date: 2025

Contains spoilers

Love Wants Us Dead is most definitely both an arthouse film and a slow burn and, as such, it may put many a viewer off. However, it is skilfully photographed and director Israel Perez manages to keep the viewer engaged, though little happens. Also, with a 65 minute running time it really doesn’t outstay its welcome.

We start in a car with Anais (Wendy Zhuo) – note I have got the character names from IMDb, the characters are not named in film. She eventually stops to retrieve a bag and then walk to a derelict building and film on a hand-cam. We see that, at one point, she films a chicken dead and strung from above. Eventually she goes back towards the car. There is someone by it (though who that is does not get answered but feels important as the photography is very purposefully chosen, or so it feels like).

in the store

Elsewhere Rose (Lindy Jones) is getting ready to work in the plumbing supply store. Her boss, Pablo (Pablo Santiago) – by process of elimination from the cast list and apologies if I got that wrong – reads a news story about a dismembered body being found out in the desert. As we get to know her, we realise that she cares for an older man, her father we assume, and has a love of film – we see her reading Maya Deren’s Film & Philosophy, which offers a view, I think, into what Israel Perez is looking to do with the film

Wendy Zhuo as Anais

We also see Anais showering, with blood swirling round the plug hole, and searching through a wallet. Rose becomes aware of her when she sees her with Pablo – Anais has rented some back rooms off him. Rose snoops into the rooms, not finding the small fridge that we have seen Anais put some jars of, what looks like, blood into. They eventually meet when Rose spots Anais broken down on the highway and offers her a lift home. Anais invites her in to watch her films, which Rose enjoys and Anais says are about capturing time.

a threshold

Pablo has given Steve (Kent Hatch) a tin box (we never see what’s in it) and a gun. Steve is expressly told to leave them alone after commenting that *she* “is cute” and “has not changed a bit”, indicating that Anais is out of time. Rose clearly works out what she is, and we also get the concept of the threshold – a place where reality thins and that Anais calls home. It brought to mind Jean Rollin, and especially the threshold within the Nude Vampire, represented by a stage, which led to the “vampires’” dimension. Thresholds are, of course, an important trope in the genre.

bloodied

But what to say – expect no easy answers, or answers at all. This is a meditation on film, time and its mutability. It is a film, I believe, which will become used within some academic writing, especially where film study, form and thresholds are explored. It is a film that works outside traditional narrative and is carried by skilful photography and nuance. 7 out of 10.

The imdb page is here.

Bleeding – review

Director: Andrew Bell

Release date: 2024

Contains spoilers

I saw this at Grimmfest 2024 and offered a First Impression last year. Now it’s made its way to streaming I felt it was time to turn a reviewing eye to it.

Bleeding is, without doubt, a film about drugs and the opioid crisis in the States. The opening intertitle states, “BLOOD is a deadly and addictive opioid, harvested from the fluids of infected persons. Since its introduction, drug related deaths have increased over 400% in 15-19 year old demographics. DUST, a euphoria-producing stimulant, is believed to be a derivative.

“If you witness an overdose, do not engage. Infection and reanimation are imminent.”

cooking the  blood

This, of course, sets the basic premise well and we are in a world where there is a cross between science (it is stated that countries such as Canada are treating the phenomena as a disease and searching for a cure) and the supernatural (infection reanimates the dead). It is also not the first vehicle to introduce vampires as the drug – be it the blood itself or their ashes.

John R. Howley as Eric

The opening sees a drug producer who has kept a vampire locked down and is harvesting their blood. A user (we assume) has broken in but is overpowered and left for dead – the spilt blood retrieved as much as possible. Cooking it on a stove is not, we discover later, the way that dust is commonly made. Elsewhere Eric (John R. Howley) climbs out of a house window. He is chased by the owner. Eric has a habit of breaking and entering, but he doesn’t take anything.

    Jasper Jones as Sean

Getting home he smokes some drugs and then finds his mother zonked out – she heavily uses a prescription drug later described as suicide pills and the inference is it is due to the fact that Eric’s older brother, Markus (Josh Krol), overdosed on blood and turned and was then terminated. Eric helps himself to some of her prescription pills (he later trades them for marijuana). He then leaves and goes to visit his cousin Sean (Jasper Jones).

reaction to sunlight

Before he sees Sean, he has to get past his Uncle Hank (Jay Dunn). Hank is a cop and his drug of choice is alcohol; he is already drinking despite the early hour. He shows Eric bodycam footage of a raid on a vampire, and we see the reaction to sunlight. It is inferred that Hank’s drinking is due to the pressures of the job – not least as it is inferred later that Hank was the cop who terminated the turning Markus.

scattering the dust

Upstairs Sean has snorted dust and we see his reaction. Eric wants to buy pot but is told not to smoke it in the room – he ignores this and Hank smells it and heads upstairs. Sean tries to hide the big pack of dust he has but Hank finds it and scatters the drug to the wind, causing an angry reaction, a smashed window and the lads running off. Sean got the drug from Dustin (Andrew Bell) and owes him a couple of grand for it and so they head for a holiday lake house to lay low but discover it has a vampire held in there. Sean stabs her neck and drinks from the source, almost overdosing, and Eric recognises her as Sara (Tori Wong) and, saying her name, reaches her and discovers the turned are not the senseless monsters supposed.

Sara in vamp mode

It is worth noting that Sara prevents Sean from turning as his body needs vitamin D to fight the infection and this ties, of course, with the reaction to sunlight once turned. We discover that she was a runaway, made vulnerable by using drugs and deliberately injected to cause an overdose and make her a source of blood. We also discover that, when a vampire is dry (all their blood has been harvested and not replenished) they will set them alight and that is how dust is made.

feeding

All the characters in this are (at the very least) flawed in one way or another, many are addicted (though some are addicted to legal substances). The vampire is both addicted to human blood and is the font of the drugs the human addicts are using. The drug messaging is pretty on the nose but works for that. The primary performances are excellent, special mention to John R. Howley who holds the film together. The photography is pretty dark and bleak but that fits a story that is dark and bleak. There isn’t a feel-good aspect to this film, it treads through the dark underbelly of society with deliberate purpose. Not a good time, but a good film. 7 out of 10.

The imdb page is here.

On Demand @ Amazon US

On Demand @ Amazon UK

Short Film: Midnight

A UK Short film, directed by A.R. Ugas, this was released in 2020 and is around 11 minutes long. The film starts with Roxanne (Adaya Monique Henry) and John (Ben Thorne) sat in their living room opposite a man (André Mathias). The man speaks in French, Roxanne understands John does not.

André Mathias as the man

The man says that she, referring to Daughter Sally, will not be the same afterwards and Roxanne admits that John does not know what is proposed. Eventually John looses his temper and demands to know if the man will help their daughter. The man explains to Roxanne that he will go in her room, they will hear screams and cries but they must not enter…

harvest

Six months later and John has been filling a jar with his blood, using a hypodermic. Roxanne suggests that it isn’t nearly enough, but he has a 12-hour shift and needs to be with it. He has mentioned that the guys at work are beginning to think he is a junky. Eventually Roxanne says to take Sally the blood, and she’ll top up later. On the way to work he gets a call, laying him off and, whilst we only hear his side of the conversation, it is clear that he is accused of drug use as he says he is prepared to take a test. However, back at home, could Roxanne be doing something he is unaware of to get more blood…

Roxanne and John

This is a neat short, there is a moment of social commentary that I won’t spoil but in the main it explores relationships and the lengths we might go to for the ones we love. I saw the film on YouTube but it has been since set to private.

The imdb page is here. 

Miles Morales: Spider-Man By Cody Ziglar Vol. 6 - Webs Of Wakanda

Author: Cody Ziglar

Art: Daniele Di Nicuolo

First published: 2025 (TPB)

Contains spoilers

The Blurb: Collects Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022) #27-29 and material from Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual (2024) #1 and Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022) #25.

Miles Morales is a vampire, and the Black Panther may be his only hope! Spider-Man has a new vibranium suit, but does Miles have what it takes to pass T'Challa's gruelling tests in faraway Wakanda?! Deep in the wilds of Africa, a ritual to save Miles' life begins, and the panther god Bast can no longer help him! Two more deities invade Miles' desperate trial, hungering for Spider-Man's corrupted soul - but only one of their chosen champions will be saved. Can Spider-Man hope to defeat the Black Panther at the height of his powers in the heart of his homeland?! And who is web-slinging around New York City masquerading as Spidey in Miles' absence?! Plus: A Morales family vacation to Puerto Rico uncovers secrets that could turn Miles' life upside down!

The review: The Spider-Man aftermath of the Blood Hunt event concludes in this graphic that follows directly on from Volume 5 (obviously) with Black Panther taking Morales to Wakanda to try and plead Bast’s help to cure the hero of vampirism. Interspersed are moments from back home as Shift takes Morales form to cover for him at school and on the streets.

That there was more aftermath from the event within this story arc was welcome and the spiritual battle was interesting – with Anansi impinging on Bast’s territory to claim Spider-Man as his herald. Nevertheless, the outcome never felt in doubt and it was interesting without suspense. The end of the volume contains the Puerto Rico story mentioned in the blurb (and incorrectly mentioned in the blurb of the previous volume). It may have meant much to fans of the series, but I wasn’t overly interested in that story – to be honest. Good to have an extension to the event but ultimately the event has trailed off. 6 out of 10.

In Paperback @ Amazon US

In Paperback @ Amazon UK

Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story – review

Director: Natasha Kermani

Release date: 2025

Contains spoilers

This Dracula related film was based on a Joe Hill short story and is set in an alternate ending to Dracula. Jonathan Harker died (how is not revealed) and Van Helsing (Titus Welliver, Kindred the Embraced) married Mina (Jocelin Donahue). No mention is made of Quincey – so presumably Mina and Jonathan did not have a son – rather Mina and Abraham have two children, Max (Brady Hepner) and Rudy (Judah Mackey).

Titus Welliver as Van Helsing

Van Helsing left London for Holland and then moved the family from there to America, settling in California. This is to keep away from those things that may come in the night. The boys have been brought up with tales of the vampire and Mina’s blood is said to still be tainted to the point that she is, at times, ill and Van Helsing suggests that *they* can detect her through it, when close.

opening scene

Having opened with an intertitle from Van Helsing’s medical journal about vampirism and the virulence with which it spreads we find ourselves in 1915, some 18 years after the death of Count Dracula. We see a woman who begs a horseman for a ride as she needs to get to town (the interaction and reaction put my mind to Red Dead Redemption 2 and probably suggests I played the game a tad too often). After he has ridden past a black blur tackles her to off screen.

Brady Hepner as Max

One of the issues with the film is that it is ponderous. We get time with the family – Abraham is hard on Max as he seems not to apply himself to his lessons, whereas Rudy is wilful. Near the homestead surveyors plot for a branch to the railway – and an accident brings them into Van Helsing’s orbit as he has to render medical aid. The boys wonder what is in the forbidden study and Rudy complains that there are noises in the night (and, so what if *they* need inviting in? What if *they* are inside already?)

Mina bitten

We get vampiric moments in Max’s dreams where he sees a pale man (Forrest McClain) but are the dreams born of the stories he’s been told or more prophetic in nature? Mina gives some lovely turn of phrase when describing the past, “The others never saw his true face. He held me so close. I could feel his cold breath on my cheek. So strange to have cold breath. Long, white limbs, white teeth, and a terrible, thin, soft mouth… …He moved like a ghost.” She becomes more and more ill, though Max wonders whether his father’s treatments do more harm than good.

burying the undead

Inevitably Van Helsing wants to train his children in the ‘family business’ whether they wish to or not. Via this we get some lore, as he explains how to stake the undead and suggests they can “pass from shadow to shadow.” We also get a visit from Arthur Holmwood (Jonathan Howard), though he is a man wracked with guilt and doubts, and all that is to say that we drudge through this without a tension building that we need as a viewer. It is a shame, as a tension could have been found and would have kept the viewer's attention as the film slowly builds to its denouement that explores the nature of monsters. However, without that tension 4 out of 10 is generous.

The imdb page is here.

Onlyfangs – review

Directors: Angelica De Alba and Paul Ragsdale

Release date: 2025

Contains spoilers

Onlyfangs is a vampire comedy that was crowdsourced for funding, I had backed the project and so got the electronic release as my perk. We are back in the world of the content creator – the online amateur cryptozoologist, in this case, and a more adult version of content creation – and the influencer is very much a theme in several vampire (and more generally horror) films at the moment. The film, unfortunately, has a major issue, which is a shame as it does much right.

Neve and Scarlett

So, it begins 100 years ago with Neve (Delawna McKinney) and Scarlett (Nina Lanee Kent), who are running through the countryside, trying to escape *him*. Do not let, what might be, night-for-day shooting put you off. It may just be twilight as these vampires can go into the sunlight it seems. They get to a river and we do have an issue I’m picking up on regularly in budget flicks – modern technique tattoos on vampires in period settings. In this case, they are visible but it is a quick scene and ultimately forgivable. *He* is Harvey (Nick Zagone) and he catches the errant vampires – they are his (there is an underlying theme of ownership of women) and he kills Neve.

turning Reece

Cut to modern day and Scarlett, along with Zooey (Meredith Mohler, Queen Dracula) and Selena (Adriana Uchishiba) are having a photoshoot featuring Reece (Kansas Bowling, Verotika & Death Rider in the House of Vampires). At the end, Harvey comes in, the other women leave and there is almost a casting couch feel, which leads to him biting and turning her. Later we see he keeps her in a cellar/cell and feeds her mice – however, Scarlett appears along with Selena, with a sword, who takes care of him.

on the road

The credit scene then sees the four vampire ladies trudging through California, with Reece dragging a trunk – later we discover it contains Harvey, his arms and legs removed but still undead as Scarlett wants him to suffer. There is a montage of travelling (taking turns dragging the trunk) and then getting a ride, who they kill and take his vehicle. Eventually they set up shop in an abandoned skate park. They then go hunting. Three go to a bar, where they dance on the bar top and then slaughter the people there, whilst Reece goes on a date. Clearly Reece was always going to eat him but, before that, he goes all murderous Christian Nationalist/incel on her. This gives her a reason beyond vampirism for her attack. There is a theme through this, which takes aim at conspiracy theorists and the MAGA type,

The Monster Boys

Elsewhere in the park that Reece is in, Wes (Drew Marvick) is shooting content with sister Gwen (Jessa Jupiter Flux, Debbie Does Demons) and friend Quentin (Shane Meyers). Together they are the Monster Boys (Gwen notwithstanding) and they are looking for monsters in a park, where Wes' hero, monster hunter Wilhelm Johanssen (Bryan Hurd), allegedly found a chupacabra. Gwen isn’t in to it, Quentin gets lost and Wes stumbles upon Reece feeding, gets footage and legs it.

Reece feeding

So, without dragging this out – as dragging things out is an issue with the film – the vampires meet Wes. His footage is too blurry and ridiculed to cause them an issue. However, he does have an idea for OnlyFangs, shooting subscription based vampire footage, including visits to clients for the full vamp experience (it is notable that he thinks it a gimmick until later in the film). Peril comes in the form of a MAGA type congresswoman (Ellie Church). So, what about dragging things out? Well, the film has a 2-hour running time, and that is way too long. It’s pacing suffers and it outstays its welcome. Wes has a group of conspiracy nut friends and the vampires kill them. They could just let all that hit the (virtual) cutting room floor – it really doesn’t add to the film.

offering her blood

That said there are some great vampiric images and the photography is professional, but story elements don’t add up. The vampires are keeping it on the down-low after what they did to Harvey and yet indulge in a viral app phenomenon. They seem to have other vampires involved internationally but then there is talk of a war coming with the vampire elders (so why get involved with other vampires and, presumably, bring more focus to them) and needing to build a vampire army. The dialogue does touch on Scarlett hating capitalism and corporations – and yet content creation is an act of micro-capitalism. The big issue, though, is the running length and it is because of this that, despite some earnest performances (and a particular shout out to Adriana Uchishiba, whose Selena was gloriously demented), decent photography and good imagery, I have to hold this at 4 out of 10. A substantial re-edit would earn it a return review.

The imdb page is here.

Short Film: Sweet

This 9-minute short was directed for The Horror Show Channel by Cecil Laird and the YouTube upload was in 2016. It was inspired by the American Vampire graphic novel series and features the character Skinner Sweet (Jaime En Fuego).

the ladies

Set in a Wild West town, the camera lingers on a wanted poster that seems to be Sweet, before following two women leaving the saloon. One, Madam Julia (Gwen Merriman), is trying to persuade Rose (Marina Maldonado) to give up being a saloon girl and work for her in her brothel. They pass a man, who nods and, when they have passed him, is then pulled into an alley.

Jaime En Fuego as Skinner Sweet

Suddenly they are surrounded by three men, all three vampires of European stock. However their toying with the ladies is interrupted with the appearance of Skinner Sweet, an all-American vampire who has some very specific reasons for getting involved… This is, of course, a labour of love from fans of the graphic. Some of the polymorphic effects worked well, especially given that this will have been budget restricted. However, one decapitation suffered due to the cgi. Nevertheless, fans of the graphics are sure to get a kick out of it.

At the time of writing there is no IMDb page.