Requiem for a Vampire (2006)

Great Film overall

Excellent but underrated film

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

A really good friend of mine had this film and we watched it. I am really not into independent films, but I thought this film was really good. I was very impressed by the film's quality and acting performances. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Requiem for a Vampire. It's a shame that they don't make mainstream films like this. The performance I liked particularly was the performance of reporter Phyllis Cooney. Her character was interesting. I wish I could have seen her death on screen as opposed to just hearing about it. I hope more people get a chance to see this film. The storyline, the actual film's quality and the acting are really good. If you get a chance to check it out, it is well worth the time.

John Orrichio's new vampire flick, Requiem for a Vampire (2006) is an interesting take on an often clichéd treatment of the subject of vampires! Mr. Orrichio seems to have grown by leaps and bounds from his earlier film "The Possession of Father Thomas" of a year or so ago. Static shots are replaced with interesting camera angles and he makes excellent use of locations such as the Jersey shore, Rockefeller Center and area mansions in telling his tale and giving this independent film a big budget feeling. The collaboration of Mr. Orrichio and veteran horror film maker Karl Petry seems to work quite well in this effort and I think gives added dimension in telling this tale.The premise of this story is a simple one but with a twist. It is about a family of vampires trying to exist in a modern world without the usual violence toward "mortals" and also trying to be contributing members of society. This "peaceful" co-existence is threatened by the same plague that affects and mortal world and we see how this "family" handles it. In the male lead is Matt Locker who paints Michael LeGault with a rather broad brush showing us both his caring side and a more cavalier attitude when under the stress of his beloveds illness and death. His sister "Lenore" is played with sensitivity and feeling by veteran Horror actress Deana Demko in a more mature role for her which she handled beautifully. Lenore serves as the glue that holds this family together in a very difficult situation when Michael seems to be going off in all directions under the stress of the death of his beloved and the threat of exposure by the investigator (including an incestuous relationship with his sister and even a tryst with his manservant!). Other standouts in the cast are David B. Powers as Henri, Michael's manservant and protector. His natural style works wonderfully in this difficult part as man who is dealing with his own aging as well as being in love with his own boss! The homo-erotic scene is quite unexpected but adds to the drama as does the next scene at the beach. Cathy Loch who plays the part of Claire (Henri's niece) works quite well with him and has a natural charm that the camera picks up on (as well as being quite easy on the eye!). She certainly does surprise us at the end! Gerry Kirschbaum handles the part of Justin Burke, the Legault's business adviser/protector with ease as does Bob Smith, who plays the part of the nosy and annoying health investigator who threatens to expose the Legault family and ruin the peaceful coexistence that the Legault's have worked so hard to establish. Jamie Stone does a wonderful job of portraying the scientist, Tara Wolf who eventually "joins" the family in her quest to find a cure for the plague that threatens them all. Orrichio fills the screen with haunting images including a touching deathbed scene, an eerie funeral procession, an attempted suicide scene and a bloody and unexpected "turning scene" as well as the homo-erotic scene mentioned above all of which seem to be there to shock and disturb the audience, an effect which seems to work quite well. The visuals are quite intriguing and well edited by Mr. Orrichio who seems to be wearing many hats in this production as director, screen writer, cameraman, film editor and even on screen playing the guitar! The music is well chosen and even includes a music video with Cathy Loch singing a Celtic song. The cast is rather large for a small independent film but everyone seems to work well together and it was great to have the addition of Rosemary Ellen Guiley playing herself as a paranormal investigator giving the film an added amount of credibility. Others in the cast who deserve a mention are Jeanne Sconzo, Tony Rugnetta and newcomers Carrie Nagy and Yesenia Moreland. All in all the film goes over well with only a minor amount of loose ends and continuity problems and I look forward to the next endeavor from the team of Orrichio and Petry!

The film was very well done. It was an intriguing storyline that contained good acting, excellent cinematography and terrific music which certainly enhanced the film. I would highly recommend this movie to not only fans of the horror genre, however to anyone who enjoys quality films will definitely like this unique well made movie. One can readily see the production value in this movie is extremely high with all of the various sets and locations utilized in the making of this film. This movie will keep you interested and riveted from beginning to end.In terms of vampire movies this particular film brought something different and unusual to the table regarding the premise of the story that depicted the main characters in a specific way which worked incredibly well. These vampires desired to be like ordinary mortals and blend into society while being provided with blood in order to sustain their existence through a bloodbank directed by an unscrupulous doctor who is on their payroll but has also become a good friend to the vampires as well.

A movie you have to see to believe. Very hard to predict, it will keep you on the edge of your seat and you may stay up all night. Whether you like horror movies or not this movie will keep you captivated. Don't let the cliché title fool you, this is not your typical ghoulish flick. A style ever remotely reminiscent of Anne Rice the author here plays games with your mind from the first act on. One could only hope they make it to the large screen or at least HD. THe soundtrack itself is worth the price of the DVD. It is the perfect combination of Rock n Roll and the Vampire world of the dead. When was the last time you cried at a Vampire movies? At $15 it is a must buy.