History books are generally written by the victors of war, so why should the stories of true-life legends be any different?
Throughout the years, Hungarian noblewoman Elizabeth Bathory was known to be beautiful, smart and wealthy, but after her husband’s death, the widowed countess was obsessed with preserving her youth, often bathing in the blood of young women. Her royal status prevented any formal sentencing, but as time passed, her behavior has been considered to be that of an old-school serial killer. But what if she was actually a vampire, instead?
And what if she served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s famous novel, as some have suggested?
I have no idea if that mini history lesson is real or fake, but its premise did interest me. And since vampires are all the rage these days, with recent releases of Luc Besson’s Dracula, Sinners (which won multiple Academy Awards last week, along with many Music City Film Critics’ Association Awards) and Nosferatu hitting the big screen within the past year, it seems to be a pretty good time for another unholy tale to be released upon the masses.
Vampires of the Velvet Lounge depicts the modern-day storyline of Elizabeth Bathory (portrayed by Mena Suvari) and her coven of undead friends who haunt what lurks in the shadows of the Deep South. These monsters take advantage of the modern-day dating culture by luring lusty suitors from online dating sites into their city and feasting upon their bodies. Eventually, someone recognizes the pattern.
As Cora, Dichen Lachman plays a burned-out soldier-turned-mercenary who is recruited to hunt down the damned. Her journey has led to the moody atmosphere of Savannah, Georgia, where her undercover cat-and-mouse game will soon lead to confrontation, chaos and carnage, if her patience can hold up long enough for backup support.
In the meantime, terror strikes a trio of unstable men as a rowdy road trip brings Tyrese Gibson, Lochlyn Munro and Stephen Dorff into town as Elizabeth and Joan (India Eisley) seduce their next victims. The fatalities are fierce and the excess is intoxicating, along with the beauty on display.
“Dating is really dangerous, nowadays. You never know what you’re gonna get out there.”
Joan (India Eisley) gets all dressed up for a bloody good time in Vampires of the Velvet Lounge. Photo Courtesy: Strand Releasing.
Sexy with a side of S&M, these ladies of the night might as well be starring in a female-led version of Blade… featuring Stephen Dorff. That logline might have been just as powerful to lure me into these Savannah shadows. Most of these characters are a “psychological mess,” as one analyzes another on screen, but they sure are pretty while creating a beautiful bloodbath — that’s what happens when Mena Suvari, Dichen Lachman, Sarah Dumont, Brittany Belt and India Eisley strut their stuff.
Brought to you by multi-hyphenate filmmaker Adam Sherman (the listed writer, director and producer of the film), this historical horror-meets-Southern Gothic and noir drama features fast cuts, lots of green-shaded lights and special-effects work that isn’t half bad, but the natural beauty on full display of Savannah takes center stage (as well as all of the beautiful women), as the sights are a definite bonus to this film.
I was also impressed by these actors staying true to Sherman’s vision of the script, as they get very messy, getting A LOT of blood splattered onto themselves (which looks great). I wasn’t as impressed with the somewhat monotone, raspy-whispering voice overs, the boys trip-gone-bad that lasts a little too long (it’s mostly an excuse to bring more victims to the screen) or the questionable conclusion, but I mostly enjoyed this incarnation to the undead genre that may or may not be based on a true story.
So, are old-timey myths real or are they allegories? The debate rages on, along with the never-ending fight against evil, regardless of it’s a supernatural menace or simply a next-door neighbor. Until the inevitable Blade sequel finally premieres, this is a good vampire flick to sink your sharp teeth into. Vampires of the Velvet Lounge exclusively opens in movie theaters of select markets on March 20th.
“Most myths are real, otherwise, why would people keep talking about them?”