Vampire films have never really been my forte, mainly because as of late they seem to all be the same and are pretty much a dime a dozen when it comes to trying to be original. However what Night Junkies has going for it; and the sole reason why I liked the film is because it’s very similar to the Joe Pitt series of books penned by Charlie Hudson titled “Already Dead” and its sequel “No Dominion”. Although the Night Junkies has a far different story, compared to the book the film in similar in the vampire culture.
Night Junkies takes place in London in what is the modern day. There is a killer on the loose whom is considered to be a modern day Jack the Ripper of sorts. The story revolves around an exotic dancer named Ruby and her vampire boyfriend Vincent. Both are struggling with their addiction to blood, and in the meantime are trying to evade the unknown killer and the people of the night. What transpires is a mind-bending dark tale full of blood, lust and death.
The script for this film is not half bad; It starts off a bit slow but quickly picks up as time moves on. At the beginning I was kind of confused because there is a lot of erotic scenes that include BDSM, as well as some stripping an one hell of a sexy sex scene. All of which kind of take away from the plot, but at the same time help with the exotic overtones involved. There is also a lot of drug use in the film, which kind of throws off the notion of if theses people are really addicted to the blood or the drugs or both. They come off as looking like junkies as the title suggests, but what I had trouble believing is if they were addicted to the drugs or if the drugs prevented them from their addiction to blood. Yes it’s noted in the plot, but its not so much noted that this is a reason for their use. However despite some of my misunderstanding with the script, the overall sequences, actions and character development that the script gives us is great.
The directing and acting both go hand in hand in this feature. It seems that writer/director Lawrence Pearce knew his script well and that he worked closed and developed a personal relationship with his actors before going into production on this picture. This shows in all of the actors cast in this film from leads to the supporting cast, I can’t single out one actor over another as it seems like this cast worked brilliantly as one solid unit to make this film the best it could possibility be. Each performance was as brilliant as the next, which; hand in hand worked great in making this film what it is.
In terms of production value and effects; we get a lot of blood and some basic make-up effects , but the film is not entirely full of gore and guts. It’s done in a more simplistic matter, where the story out weighs the use of major effects. The production value is alright in this film, some of the lighting is dark and the sets are plain and simple. The overall look and feel of the film is kind of symbolic to the darkness inside the characters in this film.
Night Junkies is actually one of the better vampire films I’ve seen in the past few years. It has a solid story and some great acting. I’ve never been a big fan of vampire films, especially British vampire films. However Lawrence Pearce seems to know what he’s doing when it comes to putting a production of this type together, and his work is very good. I have to give him credit for one thing though, and although I’ve never seen the point of sex scenes in films before, my god did he pick one of the best looking women in the world to get naked in this flick. I could of done without the man ass in the film, but my god did that chick make up for it. What a body!
With that said, Night Junkies is a very dark vampire film, one in which many fans of the sub-genre I’m sure will grow to love and hold it up as a classic in the likes of Near Dark and Fright Night.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
