Kiss of the Damned – review

Director: Xan Cassavetes

Release date: 2012

Contains spoilers

There is a huge dose of Euro-horror with this US film, from the stylistic original movie poster (which I have used on this review rather than the DVD artwork) all the way to the tone and photography it is clear that Cassavetes had a vision and kudos for following it.

The film itself, well I enjoyed it and it is beautifully shot but it is ponderous rather than plotted as we shall see.

Joséphine de La Baume as Djuna

The film begins with whispers, but they are from a film watched by Djuna (Joséphine de La Baume), this opening is also interspersed with movement through the forest, then a splash of blood. In the morning, when the housekeeper arrives, we see blood on the tiled floor, which is cleaned immediately. We hear a telephone call taken and the housekeeper saying the Djuna is unavailable.

Milo Ventimiglia as Paolo

When she awakens, to a breakfast tray, there is a note letting her know that the video shop called about returning her rentals. When in the shop Djuna sees a man, Paolo (Milo Ventimiglia), and there seems to be a connection. But she hurries from the store. Outside the rain beats down and she stands below the shop’s awning. Paolo comes out and speaks to her and they end up having a drink and then back at hers. However, as the passion builds, she sends him away.

vampirism revealed

He is haunted by her, he tries calling her and leaving messages. He goes back to the house and she speaks to him with the door chain preventing his entrance. They kiss through the gap of the doorway but she bites his tongue (and a fair bit of blood is lost) and she sends him away again. He goes back a third time and enters the house. She tells him what she is but he doesn’t believe her and so she takes him to her bedroom and has him chain her. As he kisses her she vamps out and so he unchains her. In a rather erotically shot and sensuous scene she feeds as she rides him.

Paolo bitten

When he next awakes he too is a vampire. She explains that he will not age or grow ill but (direct) sunlight, beheading and immolation will kill him. The house is owned by Xenia (Anna Mouglalis), a vampire matriarch, and Djuna stays as her guest. Djuna feeds on animals and she explains that the hunger begins as a pressure at the small of the back, which builds. She is fearful of any kill (even an animal) returning and later we discover how much self-control a vampire has to exert to not kill and that virgin’s blood is most tempting. In a kick at True Blood comment is made about synthetic blood (which they have) but what the likely human reaction would be if they 'came out', the synthetic blood notwithstanding.

Mimi feeds

The new lovers' idyllic affair is shattered when Djuna’s sister, Mimi (Roxane Mesquida), appears. She has been placed at the house for a week by Xenia as they wait for “vampire re-hab” to be available for her. Mimi is off the rails – and Djuna is not heard as she tries to warn Xenia. Indulging in human feeds, leaving them to turn (according to Djuna, we see no real evidence of this) and sexually promiscuous we watch her machinations and Djuna’s anxiety.

a victim

However there is no big over-arching plot. They just are what they are and we watch their lives unravel, Mimi an unwilling mirror of Djuna’s darkest desires and a first class manipulator. It is within this that, perhaps, the weakness of the film is revealed in that it seemed that we were more a fly on the wall, voyeuristic watchers of a train wreck of two lives, rather than witnesses to a complex drama. However, what a wall; lush, decadent and beautifully shot, both the photography and acting draws the viewer into the film and keeps us there.

6.5 out of 10.

The imdb page is here.