Year: 2015
Director: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead
Evan is a young American man whose personal life has disintegrated into a tailspin of bereavement, alcohol and fighting. Staying one step ahead of the police, he books a one way flight to Europe, and washes up in a small coastal town in Italy where he meets Louise. They quickly hit it off, but Louise isn’t all she seems…she is old, very old, and she has to do some unpleasant things to keep going. I’m trying to avoid spoilers, which makes it hard to go into detail, but this is a horror film with real heart, one which doesn’t shy away from some bloodshed or special effects, yet doesn’t rely on them, preferring to concentrate on a slowburning real feeling romance that’s a million miles from the human-loves-supernatural creature cliches of Twilight. Even the ending swerves the predictable and avoids the gross out, going instead for a beautiful final few scenes where the redemptive power of love might just set things right.
Two people talking and falling in love as they walk round scenic European locations clearly owes a debt to Richard Linklater, and if you imagine Before Sunrise remade as a monster movie, you’re halfway to this wonderful story. It’s full of gorgeous ancient backdrops, and the two leads are extremely watchable. It’s not perfect – it takes a good half hour to get going, and it does occasionally betrays low budget indie roots with the odd corny line of dialogue, and not quite top line CGI, but I can forgive a lack of polish when a film has this much heart and soul. It has lingered in my mind for days. One of my favourite films of the year so far.
Might appeal to people who enjoyed:
Before Sunrise, American Werewolf, staying up all night talking with someone you’ve only just met, The Thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IYwED75_-U
I fell asleep watching it , it was very late – at least 10pm.
I promise I will give it another go as I think I was enjoying it.
Set in my manor! Dunno why they had to put a volcano in Puglia though. There isn’t one, plus they go to Naples anyway so have Vesuvius in it. Made no sense.
Ah, missed your review – but I did think of you when I was watching it!
I’d kinda assumed you did so with all films.
Many of the films Kid watches are, I believe, anime.
While viewing My Neighbour Totoro, I too often think about ex-pat Englishmen in Monopoli.
Point of order – a lot of Japanese live action film, but not that much anime (although probably more than most of the rest of the AW put together (except @davebigpicture, perhaps)).
I suppose one advantage of animation is that you can stick a volcano wherever you like.
You want to be careful with those assumptions. I’ve a hankering to watch In The Realm Of The Senses soon…
That was supposed to be a reply to @gary. Obviously.