Byzantium (Neil Jordan)

[Rowland]

IMDb

[dreamdead]

The kind of film that makes it on atmosphere and filmmaking prowess. Jordan's dynamism is present throughout on mirrors, doubling, and other visual metaphors, and the cast is game enough. The last thirty minutes, when Camille reveals the intervening years to the creative writing teacher, are where the film really picks up its vampire mythos, and it's unfortunate that that narrative is so intriguing because I'd rather see the film explore the ramifications of the gender divide of vampire lore over some of the more inert material with Saoirse Ronan and her beau.

I fear that the plot undercuts some of the tension since characters as "old" as Ronan and Gemma Arterton are wouldn't fall for some of the narrative traps that they do here. Worth seeing for the craft and finale, but not one of Jordan's finest...