The vampire genre is not one that is easy to do something different with, but V succeeds. We join a young woman living in London; she is a vampire, but she is also a young woman, and she speaks directly to camera in conversational tone about her life and family - while also occasionally engaging in vampiric activity, but mostly just talking. This kitchen sink approach works very well because of two main factors. The first is that the cinematography is never less than interesting. Presented in an intimate square ratio, the film has plenty of great shots whether it be wide ones which would be at home on a poster, or well lit fluid shots moving through a shop.
The second factor is that Karlsen is terrific in the lead role. She is utterly convincing and natural throughout, which is important at every stage. The film plays very 'real' but the conclusion turns into this even more than it had, presenting more information which then throws the whole film into a different light. This ending is impacting because of how well the film had played out in the lead up. Sometimes this sort of twist can cheapen a film, by making you feel that it had tricked you to approaching it in one way when really it could be taken another; in the case of V this is not true, and instead the conclusion strengthens it.
Interesting, engaging, and fresh short film, very much worth checking out.
