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FROSTBITTEN-Genius - $19.95 DVD. (Swedish, English subtitles)

This 2006 Swedish film beats 30 DAYS OF NIGHT to viewers attention with a similar concept. Their take on it, however is more of a BUFFY THE VAMPIRE style vampire tale, rather than a straightforward horror film that 30 promises to be. Im not saying thats a bad thing either.
Both share the concept that the dark days & nights of winter allow vampires a longer time in which to roam and feed, 24/7. The Steve Niles comic book series came out in 2002, so this film may have been semi inspired by that.

In a nutshell:
A mom & her teenage daughter moves into a new town, just in time to experience the 30 day long dark interval. The young lady isnt thrilled about her new surroundings, but mom is there for her new job working with a genetic genius who has some sinister experiments going on the side.

One of his interns steals some of the pills, and the mad professor & looking to experience a high, takes some. Not a wise move, since his buzz results in him becoming a vampire. Attacks ensue, with some of the infected going to a party in which our young teenage heroine has been invited.

Outside of Bergman and TERROR OF FRANKENSTEIN (1977, Swedish-Ireland, aka VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN), I think this is the first Swedish horror film in some time, and definitely one of the first vampire films*... at least to hit these shores.

Story, acting and production levels are all very good. The first half of the film is more serious than the second half, which as stated turns semi tongue in cheek while still fang in neck. Some may be put off by the subtitles (the actors perform in their native language) but I did not find it to be a problem to following the story.

As to extras, there is a 26 minute featurette on the making of the film, with the actors showing how much they suffered for their art (think cooooooooooollllld night shoots). I wish there had been more of the how to & more actual behind the scenes footage, but it is an interesting look at the trails of indie filmmaking overseas. Other extras are deleted scenes ,a blooper reel ,and a trailer for the film (probably to sell the film in film festivals).
A fun first film and it will be interesting to see if they follow it with more horror offerings. I would recommend worth a rental.

-Kevin G Shinnick-

*-KOHTALON KIRJA/THE BOOK OF FATE (2003) IS a vampire film, BUT it is Finnish not Swedish)

It is interesting you say that-- especially when one thinks of the number of takes that Kubrick would do until he got what he wanted.

Is that the performance he wanted for Cruise?

Rapturious (
TLA Releasing) $19.95, UNRATED. 95 Minutes EXTRAS: Commentary with Director Kamal Ahmed "Making Of Featurette with Outtakes, Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery, trailers




In the Old West, a career baddie named Dead-Eye Pete (Jim Fletcher) is put to death for all his wrong doings. Alas, having shaken off this mortal coil, he ends up in Hell, which is a lot less fun than the wide open spaces.

Luckily for him, he escapes from Hell and reincarnates a hundred years after his passing as a white rapper named Rapturious (Oppel, of the punk band Bitten Bullet). He has no memory of his past, but he does have anger issues (so far the film seems like a very dark version of Alan R Rudolphs MADE IN HEAVEN-1987).

The rapper is on the verge of stardom, but due to his personal demons, he tries to ease his pain through drugs. He seems to be functional (well as functional as any rapper) until his dealer (Hoya Guerra, of the band Madball) introduces him to a new drug called AfterLife. Before long its his drug de jour, causing visions that involve his past life, killing, and monsters. His manager Sid (Debbie Rochon; is her character name a nod to Sid Vicious?) sends him to shrink (played by Joe Bob Briggs, aka John Bloom) who may be trying to unlock Rapturious visions to aid him in a cause of his own. Soon the visions of his dreams and the deaths in the real world seem to be merging.

The films opening in the 1880s has a very big wide open feel to it, with location work in Arizona. It is a nice contrast with the modern day footage in NY (mostly Queens and Brooklyn, which are dark and claustrophobic), sort of a carry over from the darkness of Hell. Director Kamal Ahmed (who plays a cab driver in one scene ) is probably best known for being one half of the infamous pranksters The Jerky Boys . Many do not realize he also directed a well received documentary ARTISTS OF HELLS KITCHEN (2000) and seems to be a fan of horror and B movies.

The film has Kevin Van Hentrenryck ( Duane form BASKET CASE ,1982 ) as an agent, William Smith (screen baddie extraordinaire ,whose career goes back to GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN,1942) as the sheriff who executes Dead Eye ,cult director Scooter McCrae (SHATTER DEAD,1994) , Debbie Rochon (who was recommended by Don May of Synapse films) ,Joe Bob Briggs ,and main creature makeup by Vincent J. Guastini (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM).

That said, at some points the budget lets the film down. Hell seems to be just a very dark room (which then again, maybe it is). While the main Demon is great (similar looking to Guastinis creature work from VAMPIRE VIXENS FROM VENUS, 1995), but a lot of the other demons are just people in hoods with some lesser facial appliances. Plus, I admit to not being a fan of Rap Music, so in that part of the story didnt hold me.
Still, it was an ambitious attempt, and I look forward to seeing Ahmeds future efforts.
-Kevin G Shinnick