Byzantium (2012)

While I always enjoy conspiracy driven entries, at times, I also enjoy trips into the more traditional avenues of horror. Yes, at times, these flicks become somewhat cliché, especially in the vampire and zombie genres; there is always a challenge in discovering a movie that inspires me to want more. Next up on my review list is the vampire flick Byzantium from 2012.

Plot/ Two mysterious women seek refuge in a run-down coastal resort. Clara meets lonely Noel, who provides shelter in his deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. Schoolgirl Eleanor befriends Frank and tells him their lethal secret. They were born 200 years ago and survive on human blood. As knowledge of their secret spreads, their past catches up on them with deathly consequence.

Or the longest time, I honesty tried to stay away from the vampire genre. Everything that was coming out seemed to follow the same model and it was starting to get old. That was different with Byzantium. The adult oriented vampire flick relied on story and atmosphere instead of the constant barrage of action. Yes, there was blood and action, but it was woven into the fabric of the movie. While the pacing is a tad slow, the overall acting, characterization, storyline, and heavy atmosphere more than make up for it. In the end, this is one of the more underrated vampire flicks to come out in some time. While it is not for everyone, as it is not action all the time, if you enjoy a dark story-driven trip into the realm of the undead this one is quite entertaining.