Film Review: Children of the Night (2014)

SYNOPSIS:

Limbo is a secluded colony of children all victims of shameless adult vampires. They have new plans for humanity.

REVIEW:

ok gonna be honest here….another damn vampire movie. I’ve stated in previous reviews how much I have come to loathe this particular genre of film, as I feel it has been overdone and no new ground is left to be broken.

I would like to take this opportunity to admit that I was totally and utterly wrong.

This film is absolutely amazing. It’s like a cross between LOST BOYS and THE X FILES with a side order of THE ORPHANGE. Actually, I don’t think that really covers it. I’ve never seen anything like this film before.

Our story focuses on Alicia (Sabrina Ramos) who is an investigative journalist in Buenos Ares. She receives an email from Erda (Ana Maria Giunta), the matron of an orphange in Argentina. Erda needs Alicia’s help to raise awareness of a rare disease that is killing the children in her care.

Despite the protests of friends, Alicia takes the assignment and travels alone to Limbo (the name of the orphanage) to meet with Erda. Limbo is isolated from civilization, far off the beaten path. Alicia can’t even get directions to the place, as no one seems to know what she’s talking about or where the place might be.

She does encounter a strange man in black at a campfire. When Alicia speaks to him, he seems to know a bit more about her than he should. Weird, right? But Alicia moves forward.

She is eventually greeted on the road by a young blond boy named Siegfried (Toto Munoz) who escorts her the rest of the way to Limbo. Limbo is a beautiful sprawling estate, and Erda greets Alicia at the front porch.

Alicia finds it odd that the children play outside at night, and sleep during the day. Erda reveals the disease they possess is called the Transylvirus, which presents with photosensitivity among other symptoms.

Some of the children look familiar to her, although she can’t quite put her finger on why. Alicia’s two day stay stretches into months as she gets to know the children and learns the truth about their condition.

But as peaceful and lovely as Limbo may be, there is danger around every corner and it comes from the least expected of places.

There is so much going on in this film. A fresh take on the vampire story but firmly rooted in the established classic roots of the tale. I don’t want to give away any story points, I really don’t.

I’m going to focus instead on the amazing cast of this film. Ms. Ramos is the epitome of the modern “girl reporter” archetype – independant, curious, and willing to put herself in harm’s way for the story. She’s quirky and cute, but presents with an air of gravitas and responsibility. She isn’t a joke or a token. She is straight up legit and a real person.

I must talk a bit about Ana Maria Giuntas as Erda. I love this woman. I want her as my auntie. She is incredible, a strong presence on the screen. She is matronly, and loving yet mysterious and a little creepy. She’s extraordinary. I want to see her in more films. In fact, I want to see her in EVERY film.

And the children….OMG the children. Young Siegfried carries the heavy load of this story. Master Munoz is so damn good. He delivers some of the most complicated and intelligent dialogue I have ever heard in a horror film and he does so with serious effect.

I would be remiss not to mention Lauro Veron, the boy known only as Count. He also carries a heavy load in the story and does an amazing job of it.

All of the children are fantastic. In fact, no actor in this film sucks (no pun intended) on any level whatsoever.

Speaking of the dialogue, Ivan Noel (who also directed the film) has given us a deep philosphical look at the world of the vampire. We get a new perspective on what it’s like to live the life of the undead, from the viewpoint of the most innocent and overlooked of victims – children attacked and transformed by “shameless adult vampires” (Erda’s words).

Visually, the film is stunning. The camera catches a beauty within the darkness of this world that cannot be described with mere words.

I should mention that the film is in Spanish language with English subtitles. I know that can be a turn off for some people, but don’t let that deter you from this film. This is seriously one of the most incredible films I have seen in a while and I highly recommend it.

On a scale of one to ten, ten being awesome, I’m giving this film 9 baby fangs.