Vampires Are Real – review

Director: J.R. Timothy

Release date: 2020

Contains spoilers

This is a really odd film to review. It is essentially a 1’ 40’’ improv (cut down from a reported 2’ 20’’ according to IMDb). How much you can then enjoy the film depends both on the quality of the improv but also your tolerance for it.

In this case I ended up being quite taken by the two loser characters at the heart of the film, which kept me engaged but the engagement was limited. The film takes the form of a mokumentary that follows Stewart (J.R. Timothy) and Everritt (Taylor Nielson), a pair of (wannabe) vampire slayers. Unfortunately, there are much better mockumentaries and films about vampire slayers out there.

Stewart and Everritt

So, we start with the pair talking to camera about how they met in Blockbusters both wanting to rent Buffy the Vampire Slayer, became best friends and formed a vampire slayer club in school. The film develops from there – they are still vampire slayers but they have never seen a vampire (they mention some near misses). It becomes apparent that Everritt is somewhat disillusioned and wants to branch into other monster hunting (he mentions 7 other types of monsters including ghouls and giraffes).

the woman in the park

After a lot of time where they explain their “training routines” they eventually, when out in a park, do spot a real vampire – or at least so Stewart reckons, claiming the woman (dressed in black with a black umbrella – as vampires only need to avoid direct sunlight) had no reflection. They follow her but there are doubts, they feel unprepared and we wonder… can they actually slay a vampire…

fangs

This then is one of the issues with the film, there is very little story. That said the idea is meant to be character rather than story driven. The improv is uneven, with it being fun at times but not quite hitting home at others. However, the characters are fun in and of themselves and, as I said at the head, that kept me engaged through the running length. It is not, however, a film that would keep drawing you back. An interesting curio, I would say, so long as the characters engage you – however it is perhaps not the best cinema. 3.5 out of 10 feels harsh but in truth is likely more than fair.

The imdb page is here.

On Demand @ Amazon US

On DVD @ Amazon UK