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Synopsis:

Hollywood Vampyr tells the tale of the young female vampire Fatal (Nora Zimmett), a former heroin addict, who has embraced the underground gothic sub-culture. She decides to leave the "family" and break free from their depraved world with the help of her college tutor Tom (Jeff Marchelletta). Standing in the way is Blood (Trevor Goddard), the dominant coven leader whom she is unwillingly bound to. Against Professor Fulton's (Muse Watson) warnings, Tom finds Fatal's world increasingly seductive. As Fatal gradually loses the only person she trusts, she suddenly discovers destiny has other wicked plans.

Reviews:

Reviewed by Wren Leach

Calling all Goths! Grab your fangs and face paint and settle in for Brain Damage Film's look at the underground Gothic Subculture! A playground of sin and excess awaits you in Hollywood Vampyr.

Several young girls from Vista Del Mar College in Los Angeles have taken their lives in what appears to be a ritual suicide. The girls were linked to a Gothic underground subculture, in which they were trying to join the coven that meets in a club called the Black Rose. Fatal (Nora Zimmet) has been a part of this dark world and is bound to the coven leader, Blood (Trevor Goddard). Fatal's addictions are reaching dangerous levels, she wants to be free of the world she has hidden in for so long. She is looking to leave the "family" and hopes to do so with the help of her tutor and friend Tom (Jeff Marchelletta).

Things are changing within the coven as Anubus (Mark Irvingsen), owner of the Black Rose, is losing control of his flock to Blood. When his club is burned down, he realizes that Blood is looking for more than a following of his own, he's looking to be the one and only coven leader in the area...the King of the Vampires. Anubus finds himself slowly cut off from the world that only so recently embraced him as a teacher and leader.

Tom starts to find this dark world where no one judges him very alluring. Never having had a place where he is excepted for who and what he truly is, makes this a safe haven. As Fatal fights to break free from this world where nothing matters except the family, Tom is being drawn in. Fatal fears she is losing one of the only people she can truly trust.

I have to say that I really had fun watching this movie! I was mildly surprised to find the story intriguing enough, this is not your normal horror film. There's not a whole lot of gore or violence in it, Vampyr takes a look into the Gothic subculture as opposed to your normal preternatural vampire storyline. This is a look into a lifestyle that celebrates life's only true conclusion: Death.

In the story, you find two types of people. The first is represented by Anubus, who believes in the lifestyle as a type of religion. He believes that it is not his place to judge someone by what they choose to look like or believe. It is a family created in acceptance, written by rituals of the old. Then you have Blood, who's only true belief in the lifestyle is that it's a place where he can control those around him. He wants to have a loyal coven of slaves as opposed to others just looking for a place that fits them and accepts them. These two are locked in a power struggle over their very opposite beliefs.

Many of the club scenes where artfully done and almost seductive in nature. The dark and smoky lighting paired with a techno-erotic soundtrack really made the scenes inviting, a place to hide and play in the dark. The excessive lifestyle appeared flattering in the dark but almost brutal and harsh in the light of day. It was a startling contrast but it made it a great story to watch.

The audio on this was pretty decent. I didn't have any set-up choices on the screener copy but the sound stayed pretty stable through the whole film. Like I said before, the soundtrack really did fit the film well. It was enjoyable without being a distraction. It really did finish out the scenes nicely. The picture was pretty sharp throughout the movie. The lighting was excellent for the moods and atmosphere the scenes were trying to convey.

The screener copy I received only came with the Trailer for the movie and the feature itself. Upon its release, DVD Special Features are slated to include : Trailers for all Brain Damage Film releases, English/Spanish subtitles, Deleted Scenes, Photo Gallery, and cast bios.

I have to admit that I really enjoyed this one. Vampyr was filmed with an artistic eye and this went a long way in making it into a great movie. It's a little different than what I've seen of Brain Damage Films so far but I really had a good time with it.

Screening Times:

Credits:

Directed by
Steve Akahoshi (as Steven K. Akahoshi)

Writing credits
Joel Eisenberg

Cast
Trevor Goddard .... Blood
Nora Zimmett .... Fatal
Jeff Marchelletta .... Tom Weidder
Mark Irvingsen .... Anubus
Muse Watson .... Professor Fulton
Craig Appel .... Bouncer
Joe Toppe .... Lt. Michaels
Jacqueline Donnelly .... Dr. Francine Rawling (as Jacqueline Donnelli)
Liz Bell .... Cerberus
Felton Perry .... Professor Chiles
Steve Akahoshi .... Det. Ohara
Nikki Burroughs .... Sandy
Simon N. Butera .... The Stranger
Dragon .... Black Rose Dentist
DJ Gaul .... Toggo
Ross Gordon .... Orderly
Ken Govan (I) .... Paramedic
Emma Haag .... Laura
Damian Kaner .... Anubus' Crew
Susan Ludden .... Tina
Jaime Pérez (IV) .... Administrator
Ashley Phillips (III) .... Syxx
Carolyn Richards .... Judith Rennie
Warren Sweeney .... Professor Len Rennie
Jason Vickers (II) .... Donald
William Wayne (II) .... Paul
Rebecca Wicks .... Mrs. Weidder

Distributor:

Brain Damage Films