The Vampire Lestat (Interview with the Vampire Season 3) – review

Directed by: Various

Release date: 2026

Contains spoilers

Actually, the third season of Interview with the Vampire – you can read my reviews of Season 1 and Season 2 - the season was renamed the Vampire Lestat to indicate that it generally followed that volume of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles (not entirely, for instance one part would come from the much later volume Merrick). Of course, the first two seasons, whilst following the heart of the first novel, moved the events in time, changed things about the characters and invented aspects especially around the physiology of the vampires (making them sexual beings, for instance, is the big one but in this we see them smoke and drink and pee).

om stage

For those who have read the Chronicles, you will be aware that the Vampire Lestat is where Rice moved from Louis’ (Jacob Anderson) perspective and into Lestat’s (Sam Reid). It is where Lestat shifted from villain to anti-hero, where Rice (in my opinion) fell in love with (or declared her love for) the character and Lestat took on the persona of the rock star and, in this, we follow him, and his band The Vampire Lestat, on tour and often we fall into the excesses of the rock band. For those who remember the movie Queen of the Damned this veers away from the gothic/nu-metal infused version of that film and grabs into a Glam Rock inspired musical style that works well in the vehicle, which veers into a MOR territory occasionally. The whole feel of the show breaks away from the gothicness of season 1 and 2 and embraces a modernity (which strangely does have a retro feel).

the Failures

It starts with an auction, that has happened after the disastrous concert (which will mark the beginning of the next season, with another title change to Queen of the Damned to indicate the move of core book volume). The first item is a lot of material from Lestat including recordings and handwritten scores. The lot is deliberately burned by the auctioneer before bidding begins. The second lot is a cabinet and turntable, with speakers, a magnum of Lestat’s blood and a collection of one-off vinyl pressings. Most importantly in the pressings is a collection called The Failures, Lestat’s self-narrated recollections of the events that make up this series. Incidentally the voice of the Failures (the on-record link, as it were) was director Guy Maddin.

recording the album

The tour the band are on is being documented by none other than Daniel Moloy (Eric Bogosian, Blade Trinity), now also a vampire. The band – guitarist Alix (Seamus Patterson), guitarist Larry (Noah Reid), drummer TC (Sarah Swire) and bass player Salamander (Ryan Kattner) – are, at first, unaware that Lestat is actually a vampire – that is until a deadly fight with a coven of young vampires (more difficult than it should have been as Lestat is stoned having drunk from someone on drugs) literally bursts into their world. Lestat has a body double (Sam Reid again) who goes out in public after gigs, allowing Lestat space to do what vampires do. When they start recording an album, I loved the idea of Lestat running into the sun to manipulate the perfect pained scream for the record.

awakening Akasha

One aspect that is pretty central to this season is the idea of the Great Conversion. Not from the novels, it has been mentioned in passing previously but it is a topic of conversation within this. Signifying a mass conversion to vampirism with a goal of world domination, and Lestat’s rock star status (to be fair, he was playing 1000 capacity venues with no particular album support, so one questions just how much of a star he was) becomes a rallying point to that. We do get flashbacks to parts of Lestat’s life, including encountering the statue-like Akasha (Sheila Atim), Marius (Christopher Heyerdahl) and Lestat’s interactions with them – Marius is ordered to dig a deep sleeping Lestat up as she chooses him to serve and, of course, Lestat drinks from the Queen.

blood shower

Lestat’s mother Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle) also features in flashbacks and modern times, as Lestat turned her. Given the inclusion of sexuality in the vampires, that relationship is drawn as physically incestuous. Of course, this all goes to make for a very complex and conflicted Lestat, a Lestat who still loves Louis but hates the lies he sees in the released Interview with the Vampire (how much was Louis’ embellishment, how much Daniel’s and what influence the Talamasca had, can be debated). Sam Reid is genuinely brilliant as Lestat, if he embodied him in the Interview seasons, he owns the character in this. Indeed all the performances are good but I have to highlight Jennifer Ehle, who was wonderful as Gabriella and imbued a Mercurial air and, at times, seems to have consciously groomed and manipulated Lestat. I enjoyed this – 7.5 out of 10.

The imdb page is here.

On Demand @ Amazon US

On Demand @ Amazon UK

The Hand of Night – Blu-Ray review

Director: Frederick Goode

First released: 1968

Contains spoilers

It is sixteen years since I reviewed the film The Hand of Night under the alternative title Beast of Morocco. The print of the film I watched was particularly poor but, this year, the excellent Vinegar Syndrome label have released a Region A Blu-Ray of the film that has been restored from a studio-supplied master.

Paul and Marisa

The film is so much better to look at after restoration – though there are still definite flaws, with the night scenes, especially on the Moroccan streets, not being imaginatively lit and thus losing definition. Nevertheless, this is a quantum leap in quality, and I would suggest looking at the screenshots with the original review and contrasting, the difference is marked.

Gunther and LeClerk

The extras contain two features about Associated British Pathé, a commentary track with Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons, and finally a brief vignette by Kim Newman, which is a love letter to the film and probably my favourite of the extras. It is nice to see the film getting some love. The Blu-Ray sleeve is reversible and, at time of writing, a Limited-Edition Slipcase is available.

finger-bone stake

I’m not particularly going to go into the film, I do that extensively on the original review, but suffice it to say that it is a rather unusual vampire film, Although some of the standard tropes are there; dying (and decaying) in sunlight and stake to the heart (with dissolution), primarily, but with an unfortunate bat motif also (as creatures of darkness, as there is a light vs dark narrative in this). I say unfortunate as the bat, seen most clearly in the title sequences both flying and staked with a finger bone but also in a dream sequence and in a too dark street scene, is truly crap.

caught by the sun

It should also be noted that this is a virtually bloodless vampire film, something that is by design as the commentary points out, and is more about seduction to darkness than it is feeding the dead (in fact it contains zero feeding, either seen or referenced). In some regards the human character Paul (William Sylvester, Devils of Darkness), in being described as neither alive nor dead after surviving the (pre-film) accident that killed his wife and kids, can be argued as being much more the undead than the primary vampire, Marisa (Aliza Gur).

William Sylvester as Paul

The interesting motifs used can’t prevent the film from being flawed. I said in the original review that “Sylvester doesn’t seem a strong enough actor to carry {the} character exploration forward” and, whilst agreeing with Kim Newman’s observation that he is less hero and more protagonist, my opinion did not shift on this rewatch. As such, despite looking so much better, the 5 out of 10 I gave the film originally remains the same. However, as a physical release the Blu-Ray gets 7.5 out of 10, a generally lovely restoration and some interesting extras. The Blu-Ray is available at Amazon US but the limited slipcase is available when buying directly from Vinegar Syndrome - link live when posted.

Very Short Break

It is time for Rebellion festival, four days of punk and alternative music in Blackpool. Whilst I distract myself with around 350 acts over 6 stages, TMtV will go on a short break. But worry you not, normal service will resume on the 10th August.

Short Film: Revamp

Directed by Conrad Faraj, this 2020 short film packs quite a bit into its 6-minute run time. It is shot in black and white and starts with Mercy (Makenna Weyburne) walking along whilst shaded under an umbrella. Of course, there is a good chance that the filmmakers named her for Mercy Brown. She spots the weeping Lilly (Bailey Weaver) and makes a beeline for her.

She sits by her and offers the crying woman a cigarette – an offer that is declined. She introduces herself and then asks what is wrong. Lilly has just discovered that her boyfriend is cheating on her, Mercy offers her a way of getting revenge and invited her for dinner at her house that night. She has left when Lilly calls after her to ascertain the address.

bloodied

We did not see a response but suffice it to say Lilly got there. Mercy offers her wine and, after Lilly declines, Mercy glugs it straight from the bottle. She distracts Lilly and nips over the table and bites her, a very quick bite. Lilly asks what that was and Mercy suggests that it is done, as her man servant Rufus (William Irving Grossman) drags a fresh cadaver in for them to feed on, after which there is the question of revenge…

the question of revenge

A competent short, the black and white worked for it and Weyburne gave the Mercy character a fine amount of idiosyncrasy and a grand dash of both old and modern. As I said at the head, they managed to cram a whole lot into not a huge amount of time.

The imdb page is here.

Vengeance Of The Moon Knight Vol. 2: It's Alive - review

Author: Jed MacKay

Artists: Alessandro Cappuccio & Devmalya Pramanik

First published: 2025 (tpb)

Contains spoilers

The Blurb: Collects Vengeance Of The Moon Knight (2024) #5-9. The Midnight Mission has a key role to play in BLOOD HUNT! For the new and vengeful Moon Knight, taking Marc Spector's name isn't enough - now he will turn his sights (and fists) on everything Marc held dear in life! But will Hunter's Moon and Tigra unmask their foe before the Marvel Universe is overrun by vampires? With more chaos on their streets than ever before and no tested leader to show them the way, the Midnight Mission must fight like hell to save New York and its people! The clock is ticking, the odds are against them and the (vampiric) stakes have never been higher! But will they succeed in their boldest offensive yet?! The entire Earth's future just might depend on it! And when the BLOOD HUNT is over, what will remain of the Mission?

The review: Another Blood Hunt event tie in, I did struggle with this one. Not due to the art, which is generally superb, or the writing, but I am not massively au fait with Moon Knight and, beyond the titular character and the god-form Khonshu, I was lost among the other characters and, of course, this is not the start of this particular arc.

However, it became apparent that Marc Spector’s Moon Knight was dead, there was a new (and less than improved) Moon Knight when the Blood Hunt event starts. The Midnight Mission, a society set up by the deceased Moon Knight in Manhattan, look to battle the vampires and save locals. This involves Reece – a good vampire from before the event – and Soldier – who became a vampire when hit by a bullet that had passed through Reece. So there is an underlying vampire aspect to the Moon Knight series through these characters. There is also a raid into Asgard to release an imprisoned Khonshu – who then raises an army of avatars (zombified) to take on the vampires as well as resurrecting Spector.

From a Blood Hunt perspective this really added little to what had gone on before. It’s a blink and miss it street level story and probably more for completists. If you are a Moon Knight fan, I am sure there is much more to this and the score from me is only as part of the Blood Hunt event. 5.5 out of 10.

In Paperback @ Amazon US

In Paperback @ Amazon UK

Kombucha – review

Director: Jake Myers

Release date: 2025

Contains spoilers

Another unusual vampire film I first watched at Grimmfest 2025, this one was definitely geared towards vampire lore even if the central creature is a sentient bacteria… I say bacteria, but in truth it is a SCOBY that is to say a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, which ferments tea to create kombucha. Associating vampires with bacteria isn’t unknown, indeed bacterial infection is the source of the vampirism in I Am Legend.

Magdalena Conway as Rachel

It starts with a worker in an office, Rachel (Magdalena Conway), who seems distressed and has some sort of raw rash on her arm. Her mobile rings and it is her mother, Tammy (Charin Alvarez), who asks where she is. She admits still at work and suggests she is going to be replaced. Ending the call she goes to a kitchen area, opens a fridge and looks at the stock of kombucha and then turns to a supply closet, the camera lingers on bleach. Her boss, Kelsey (Claire McFadden), collects her to go to a HR check-in. There, in a room with a striking (and a tad low-key Lovecraftian) painting, Rachel declares she quits and drinks the mug of bleach….

gig

Luke (Terrence Carey) is playing guitar and singing on stage. It is his last song of the set. After, he goes to where his girlfriend, Elyse (Paige Bourne), is sat with a friend. He is annoyed as the record company representative meant to watch the show didn’t turn up. He is approached by Andy (Jesse Kendall) who he used to be in a band with. They have a beer and it transpires that Andy has gone corporate, no longer missing the endless struggle of being a musician. He gives Luke his card, the company Symbio (the same one Rachael worked for) would offer an entry level salary of $100k to creative types, no experience needed.

Paige Bourne as Elyse

Back at Elyse’s place they end up arguing after she asks whether he will go for the job. He points out that she hasn’t continued with her visual art since getting a job in a lab. She decides they should have a break and he should go home. He returns to his apartment where past due bills are piled up and decides to give the job opportunity a shot. He is shocked to discover he has already got the job off Andy’s recommendation. The company analyse other companies' cultures and introduce rituals and purpose brewed kombucha to help create a corporate unity. Kelsey suggests he try their kombucha, labelled Mother’s Secret – he refuses.

drinking the kombucha

His desk has a memorial to Rachel on it, which Kelsey suggests should have been moved and sweeps it away. At that point Tammy comes in and accuses the company of killing Rachel and warns Luke he is next... So, of course he drinks the kombucha eventually, which has astounding productivity effects but also makes changes; he starts getting the rash, has weird dreams, some violent stomach action and becomes addicted to the stuff. Elyse becomes worried and, researching the company, discovers Tammy – who tells Elyse that they are vampires, though she hasn’t worked out how they can walk in daylight. Elyse gets hold of some of the kombucha and discovers it contains blood.

vampire kit

So, the vampirism is apparent on more than one level. Firstly, we have capitalism as a vampire, with its cult like rituals the company could be said to suck the life and creativity out of the employees. I haven’t seen the short that this was based on but, by the write up, the kombucha in that was eating the employees inside out. In this it is prepping them for turning. It contains the yeast and bacteria but also blood, connecting them to Mother (the main giant SCOBY, which is like a tentacled entity) psychically. The actual turning is more on a body snatcher level (so again, corporate capitalism destroying individuality). Elyse gets biocide and fungicide to deal with it. Tammy has crosses (which don’t work) and garlic, which not only works on Mother but also the turned and is, of course, a more traditional trope.

emerging from Kelsey's nose

I enjoyed this at the festival and also watching it again at home. Luke was a character you could get behind and Claire McFadden neatly balanced corporate speak and a somewhat unhinged cult member. Mother is realised pretty well, especially given the likely low budget, and held till the end of the film so as not to over expose. A neat, thread of the comedic runs through it, but not overwhelming. There is a body horror aspect, with the turned revealing their true nature accidentally sometimes – such as a small tentacle coming out of Kelsey’s nose – and the impact of the kombucha on the original body. 6.5 out of 10.

The imdb page is here.

On Blu-Ray @ Amazon US

On Blu-Ray @ Amazon UK

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