TIFF 2023 | Movie Review: "Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person" Is A Cozy Halloween Twist On A Coming Of Age Romantic Comedy
8/12 ForReel Score | 3.5/5 Stars
In Quebecois filmmaker Ariane Louis-Seize’s debut feature Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, a sardonic match made in heaven sets the scene for a horror/rom-com/coming-of-age story that will warm the hearts of even the coldest vampires.
Image courtesy of Route 504 PR
In Louis-Seize’s vampire tale, protagonist Sasha (played by the fantastic Sara Montpetit) is an ethical vampire who lacks the drive to kill. Instead, Sasha is kept alive by feeding on IV bags full of blood provided by her parents. As Sasha grows older, and her vampire fangs still haven’t come in, her family grows wary of her inability to hunt and feed for herself. Until she encounters Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard), a suicidal teenage boy, perched on top of the roof of the bowling alley he works at, contemplating jumping. It’s the sight of Paul accidentally hurting himself, at their next meeting, that makes Sasha’s fangs break through her gums for the first time. Her mother (played by Sophie Cadieux) and father (who’s lovingly portrayed by Steve Laplante) cuts her blood supply off once they hear that her fangs have come in and send her to live with her cousin, who seduces unwitting human men and then drain them of their blood, to teach the ins and outs of hunting.
The rest of the film follows the typical, albeit darker, romantic comedy beats. In a twisted way, Sasha and Paul have found their twin flame: Paul is willing to let Sasha kill him while Sasha wants to give Paul the opportunity to seek revenge on all the bullies who’ve wronged him. But as the night goes on, and the two grow closer, it’s clear that Sasha might not be able to kill him—this time, because she might like him.
As the plot plays out over the movie’s tight 98 minutes, the deadpan humour and moody Montreal setting make Humanist Vampire a delight to watch. The film’s cinematography, with its highly saturated shots filled with neon lights and slick pavement, also lends the movie a noir comic book vibe, making it a moody and stylish feast for the eyes. The performances, especially star Montpetit, are also a highlight: all the actors deftly ride the fine line between over-the-top spooky and down-to-earth.
Image courtesy of Route 504 PR
That being said, Humanist Vampire does struggle tonally. Sometimes, the film is a sweet rom-com that leans into the puppy-dog love story. Other times, especially in the beginning as it sets up Sasha’s family, Humanist Vampire is morbidly funny. And while it’s not impossible for a film to live in both worlds (think this year’s laugh-out-loud vampire comedy Renfield), Humanist Vampire lives too comfortably in between the two extremes, which can make the movie drag—even with its short runtime.
But, with its fantastic mood-setting, performances and a generally sound and engaging plot, Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicidal Person shows promise for the first-time feature director. Plus, given it’s mid-horror season release date - wisely slated for a rare Friday the 13th this October - the film is a fun way to ease yourself into Halloween season - with more heart than you might typically expect from vampires.