Crucible of the Vampire (2019) Reviews

• No no no

  mazetastan2019-03-17

  Not a good movie at all. Everything too amateur, boring, cheap conversations, no composition.

• Entertaining with some class scenes

  Hugofoscolo2019-02-06

  IMO two of the most important things a film needs are (1) a decent plot and (2) characters one can have empathy for. This film delivers on both and hence held my attention for it's entire duration. In addition there are a number of very memorable scenes. Neil Morrissey meeting his demise is an especially good one and the dream sequence being another. Some of the camera work is also first rate, though that's not to say it all is, and some scenes could have done with a reshoot. After all the film has obviously been spent on a budget. In addition the acting ranges from very good to very mediocre, though as a whole the cast held together well and left the viewer happy to join the ride as it cascaded on towards it's classic horror film ending. In all I've given the film 7 out of 10, but if I were scoring based on enjoyment only, I'd have given it a 9.

• Lacking atmosphere

  mjsreg2019-02-19

  Like so many indie low-budget films around at the moment this film had a story that could have turned in to a really good movie, but was spoiled by lack of attention to detail and not giving much thought to creating atmosphere. Very poor use of lighting for much of the film which felt more like a corporate video at times, and camera angles that didn't allow the viewer to visually construct a world they could become engaged in or be drawn in to. These are things that don't cost money and don't take much time to give thought to. They had the tools but not the creativity to use them to best effect. It is such a shame when an indie film has such potential to be really good. The acting was OK considering the experience of many of the actors - but again it felt like there was significant lack of direction or exploration in the scene. Then there is attention to detail at the location. It was plainly obvious that this is not someone's house (let alone home), with fire points and commercial hotel like equipment in just about every shot. These could have been easily moved or disguised. Again, attention to detail was lacking. It is not a bad movie by any means, but don't expect much from it.

• Ambitious story-telling on a small budget.

  parry_na2019-04-13

  Director Iain Ross-McNamee makes very good use of what is clearly a small budget, for this UK horror story. Veteran actors Brian Croucher (Doctor Who, Blake's 7 and EastEnders) and Neil Morrissey (Boon, Men Behaving Badly) feature alongside newer names to give a good variety of ages and acting. Special effects are used with great restraint, and when they do occur, are pretty impressive. The locations, and the vampiric atmospherics they bring about due to fine cinematography, are more immersive than the story being told, however. Rather than a traditional 'Wicker Man'-style tale of mysterious locals and cavorting sects, I think a weirder, more personal story would have benefitted from McNamee's talents. There is a certain Jean Rollin-esque style to some of the latter scenes and the way they are composed. Rather than embracing a style of film that has been told more expensively elsewhere, a more dream-like narrative would have been more suitable. There are several nods in that direction, with a certain erotic charge involving the excellent Katie Goldfinch (as Isabelle) and Florence Cady (Scarlet) and some fine locations (beautifully lit) with a dark fairy-tale quality. A little more of this and this enjoyable 96 minutes might well have been even more absorbing.

• A classic British modern vampire horror thriller! 10/10

  pyeo-687242019-03-02

  A great British vampire horror thriller which cleverly links the modern day with the 1600s and 1800s too... Great actors, great performances, perfect atmospheric locations and HD cinematography ABF superb sound mean that this film is well worth a watch and show that Director Iain Ross McNamee/Ghost Dog Films are capable of pulling off a great film in UK that will keep you entertained and wondering what will happen next!