BYZANTIUM (2012) - ♦♦♦

Directed by - Neil Jordan

Written by - Moira Buffini

Starring - Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Arterton, Sam Riley

"A coastal town’s peaceful sobriety is upset by the arrival of a mother and a daughter, concealing their vampire identities. 

BYZANTIUM marks the return of NEIL JORDAN to vampire territory after his 1994 film INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE. He employs some clever visual techniques, and by treasuring its sexual charge. 

What is interesting about the film is that it tries to examine an ordinary mother and daughter relationship, and it comes across as being particularly inspired on the character played by SAOIRSE RONAN, forced to live in the difficult teenage years for the rest of eternity. 

Nevertheless is not as impressive as one might have hoped, due to its inconsistent pacing, and its energy as well as positive aspects in the screenplay trashed by a careless and half hearted use of flashback sequences, that are meant to tell some parallel stories taking place at two very differnt time period - one modern, the other Victorian - do not gel smoothly at all."

Horror, UK/USA/Ireland