Neon Fangs – review

Director: Mark Janavel

Release date: 2024

Contains spoilers

Neon Fangs positions itself in the 1980s and creates a story with earnestness but, I’m afraid, the wider background was under explained and internal logic went somewhat out of the window when it comes to that wider world. Nevertheless, the earnest primary story and performances did some of the heavy lifting for it.

It starts in Philadelphia in 1981, and the prologue is in Black and white. Abe (Cody McCoy) looks on helplessly as his daughter lies dying in a hospital bed. With him are his friend Dimetrius (Nicholas Pontrelli) and brother-in-law Jun (Masataka Mitsuzuka). It is spreading, he says, faster than she can heal. Outside the hospital he is met by Alva (Eric Nikolaus Kwasnjuk), who tells him she doesn’t have to die… he is referring to turning her (something the vampire council has banned, as child vampires are out of control) Abe refuses but then discovers that Alva has taken matters into his own hands…

B&W opening

Cutting to colour and 7 years on… Jun runs an amusement arcade, turning a blind eye when a young vampire feeds on a patron. Demetrius haunts a nightclub, feeding from menstruating girls having sworn off killing. As things develop we discover Abe’s surname is Van Helsing, that he is a human conduit to the vampire council and he and the others used to hunt (what I assume were) rogue elements. When Alva turned his daughter, he was the one that had to terminate her and his wife then committed suicide. He left the country.

Nicholas Pontrelli as Demetrius

Demetrius is approached by Natassa (Ashley Porter) a Vampire Council agent, who asks for Abe’s whereabouts. Demetrius lies and says he doesn’t know where Abe is but she doesn’t believe him. She says that Alva, thought dead, has returned and is continuing with his machinations (which involve turning children) and they need Abe. Demetrius travels to Berlin, Abe isn’t receptive at first but eventually returns to Philly, Here is where the back story started to lose me.

Cody McCoy as Abe

It seems as though vampires are a known element. I guess this as there is a radio broadcast called Neon Fangs Radio and they are reporting on a rash of missing people in a town close to the city, they make a definitive vampire connection and reference the Pied Piper Incident from seven years before. The broadcast seems to be for humans as it warns about going out after dark – if vampires are a known commodity then why aren’t the human authorities all over the disappearances.

feeding

If I have read too much in around vampires being known the logic still refuses to stack. Whilst Natassia works for them, she admits she is not trusted by the Council and is monitored. Yet she thinks she can send Abe after Alva under their radar… their radar should be pinging large with the disappearances and they should be all over that. The fact that we don’t know the “out” status of vampires for sure and never see the council means that the world feels empty, with just words and not actions/appearance to fill the world out. The other issue was that not much happens, yes there is a confrontation later but they missed throwing in the action needed.

pyromancy

That said, as indicated at the head, the cast and the screenplay can be said to be earnest but whilst it does some of the lifting it cannot carry the film on its own. This wasn’t terrible, I just wanted some logic (or to be shown what the logic was), more action and a fuller world. Even the vampire lore was lacking. We don’t know why Abe was working with the vampires, we do know silver works as Abe says he needs it, we know that Alva has a pyrotechnic gift and Natassa can mojo and control people (and vampires, apparently) However, that is it. The film stops on a reveal and an obvious sequel opportunity as the story doesn’t really conclude (Though the missing persons aspect does). 4 out of 10.

The imdb page is here.

On Demand @ Amazon US

On Demand @ Amazon UK