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

Vamp or Not? Animals

This 2009 film directed by Doug Aarniokoski had been on my radar but I had assumed it to be a werewolf film and, whilst I do enjoy a bit of the hirsute shapeshifters from time to time, I just hadn’t got around to watching it. However, I picked up a Blu-ray set of films from Germany, entitled Vampires, and this film was on it under the title Wolves. The title change underlined that previous assumption but it was on a set named for the V word and the other two films (The Last Sect & Temptation) are definitely vampire flicks. It was beholden on me then to have a look and see if a random supernatural film had been added or, well, could it be a vampire film?

almost invisible

The creatures within the film are never named, though mention is made of them being people more centred on their animal side. The opening narration explains that “Each of us caries, buried deep within, the seed of our animal nature. Evolution, civilisation, have domesticated our impulse to feed, bite and breed, without conscience or reason. But there still lurks a rare kind, that can change at will. Some follow the natural order and live in peace. Others, who have been corrupted by the taste of human blood and hunt for flesh and pleasure, they are predators lurking amidst the human herds and they lure us across the line that few can cross and fewer survive. The line between man and animals.”

Marc Blucas as Jarrett

So, these are our creatures and the taste of human blood is mentioned. The film follows Jarrett (Marc Blucas, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), a man who had escaped small town life with a football scholarship but an injury had sent him back and he makes a meagre living as a labourer. At the head he is driving when his car hits a deer and he steps into the treeline to find it. When he does, the deer has a lump ripped out of it and he feels like he is being watched and gets out of there. We see a semi-transparent, translucent women watching him (she comes into the film, of course, and, when revealed, she is one of the good animals).

Vic bloodied

Elsewhere, Vic (Naveen Andrews) is driving a car with Nora (Nicki Aycox) in the passenger seat. Nora says she can’t do *it* anymore, though Vic is having none of it and makes her don a wig. *It* is luring two men back to where she and Vic live. After some teasing, and making one of them strip, Vic emerges, fanged and mad, and attacks one. The guy in his tidy whites runs and Nora lets him go, much to Vic’s chagrin, and he has to get the car, drive after him and knock him down. Angered, Vic says he is leaving and may not be back. Nora retorts that she may not be there when he returns. To that he suggests that he’ll find her, like always, and kill whoever she is with. In the exchange we get the idea that Vic turned her into the monster she feels she is, we also see their relationship as totally toxic.

Nicki Aycox as Nora

Anyway, she blows into Jarrett’s town (she says her bloodline are from there, it is not clear if she is talking about her human heritage or animal heritage) and they start a torid affair, during which he loses his job, is bitten by her, turned and fed (cooked) human flesh. This all comes abruptly to an end when Vic tracks her down and takes her back. Though he is fast healing, Jarrett has not had the animal state explained and has not gone far enough in the process to become his inner animal at that point. The aftermath sees Jarrett’s friend and local innkeeper Jules (Andy Comeau) dead and a relationship blossom between Jarrett and Jane (Eva Amurri), another friend and barmaid. Any normality ends when Nora flees Vic again and returns to town with him hot on her heels.

animal fight

So, what we see is some face morphing, fanged teeth and them becoming almost mist-like and transparent (or semi, at least) however they can fully transform into some form of translucent beast, drawn in bad cgi (yes, I know this is a good few years old now, but it will have been poor at the time of release). The beast kind of looks like an anthropomorphic dog, rather than a wolf. However there is a definite blood drinking aspect to this when Jarrett is told “they survive on human blood”. They are durable and fast healing – even without being fully turned Jarrett survives being inside a burning and exploding car. Severe wounding by one of their kind requires eating the heart of one of their kind to survive/heal. They seem to hunt using sex and one assumes they exude pheromones but this isn’t actually confirmed. But is it Vamp? It straddles with aspects of werewolf (with no lunar side to it) and vampire (surviving on blood) but all told, yes, it’s vamp. This then fits with Stoker who, in Lady of the Shroud, declared “The Wehr-Wolf is but a variant of the Vampire.” 

The imdb page is here.

On Blu-Ray @ Amazon US

On Blu-Ray @ Amazon UK