Perhaps one day cinema fans can laugh amongst one another talking of the old days when vampire films were more frequent than sunrises. Unfortunately for some, we’re still very deep in those times. The monstrous romanticism of Bela Legosi and Gary Oldman’s versions of Dracula has given way to passive loverboy vamps from Twilight and the legion of young adult novels it’s surrounded by. Famous family middle sister Xan Cassavetes’ feature directorial debut Kiss of the Damned, however, rides the middle line between vampire stereotypes, sopping up every trope in its path.
The first trailer, released by Yahoo, further exemplifies the kind of film this is, as the trailer is red-banded for language, partial nudity and some gore. It’s a good assumption that far fewer Oscar winners than direct-to-video releases have gone the Red Band route with their first trailer. Like a film-lengthTrue Blood homage to Interview With the Vampire, Kiss of the Damned doesn’t offer much originality beyond an interesting soundtrack for the trailer, which you can hear below.
The film, which was also written by Cassavetes, centers on screenwriter Paolo (Milo Ventimiglia), who lusts after Djuna (Josephine de La Baume), whose sister Mimi (Roxane Mesquida) just can’t stop killing people apparently. Naturally, these actions threaten to ruin the delicate balance between vamps and humans.
Though it doesn’t appear to be anything new, it’s still a love story filled with pale skin covered in blood, so it should attract an audience. At least on VOD 14-year old girls and boys won’t have to bother anyone to take them to the theater to see it.
Kiss of the Damned will be released on iTunes and On Demand March 28, 2013, and in theaters on May 3, 2013. After that happens, can we get a moratorium put on movies titled (Something) of the Damned?
