Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Ratings289
vadim-berman's rating
Reviews65
vadim-berman's rating
Dampyr is a B-movie that wears its B-movieness with pride. It is solidly in the category of "so bad it's good", with every possible cliche and Godzilla-sized plot holes.
At first, I had high hopes for the 1990s Yugoslavia war setting hoping to see a blend of history and fantasy, but 10 minutes later, it became clear that whoever wrote the script, had a very vague idea about history, Slavic names, how human beings talk, or how to write a script. Were the soldiers Serbs? Croats? Who knows, and none of them wore uniforms, nor indicated who they were fighting for nor the actual country they were in. The war is a vague event with a bunch of plainclothes fashion models drive around in Al Qaeda-style pickup trucks with big guns and kewl 1970s music, occasionally shooting a surviving civilian. What, you didn't know? War is hell.
But once you stop expecting any semblance of logic and assume it's a parody, it turns out to be a tolerable experience. Commander Dolce & Gabbana (background: requisite dead family) and a vampire slayer (background: Jesus with a drinking problem; never asked himself why he's been alive for hundreds of years without aging) are joined by a hot blonde vampire (background: hot; blonde; vampire) to take on a bad vampire. That's it. The rest is what you'd expect it to be, plus plot holes. Turn off your brain, watch, and enjoy, with an optional drinking game for cliches and plot holes.
At first, I had high hopes for the 1990s Yugoslavia war setting hoping to see a blend of history and fantasy, but 10 minutes later, it became clear that whoever wrote the script, had a very vague idea about history, Slavic names, how human beings talk, or how to write a script. Were the soldiers Serbs? Croats? Who knows, and none of them wore uniforms, nor indicated who they were fighting for nor the actual country they were in. The war is a vague event with a bunch of plainclothes fashion models drive around in Al Qaeda-style pickup trucks with big guns and kewl 1970s music, occasionally shooting a surviving civilian. What, you didn't know? War is hell.
But once you stop expecting any semblance of logic and assume it's a parody, it turns out to be a tolerable experience. Commander Dolce & Gabbana (background: requisite dead family) and a vampire slayer (background: Jesus with a drinking problem; never asked himself why he's been alive for hundreds of years without aging) are joined by a hot blonde vampire (background: hot; blonde; vampire) to take on a bad vampire. That's it. The rest is what you'd expect it to be, plus plot holes. Turn off your brain, watch, and enjoy, with an optional drinking game for cliches and plot holes.
Screaming, profanities, parties with drugs.
Normally, I wouldn't be a fan but the Brighton Beach setting made me curious. The first part was difficult to connect with, with spoiled rich kids partying away their parents' money and the main character happily eating crumbs from the rich table. None of the characters were interesting or likeable.
It changed in the second act when the confrontation with Vanya's guardians and parents began.
The combination of a crazy slapstick and sheer realism is captivating. It's as if Baker was asked to reimagine "Pretty Woman" in real-life in bitterly cold New York. Imagine what happened if a rich guy fell in love with a sex worker. Baker's answer is, "it's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life."
Equally realistic and subtle is the portrayal of Brooklyn and exUSSR immigrants. The "thugs" are not two-bit knuckle-draggers but fully fleshed characters and, generally, decent human beings. The rant of Toros in the diner while looking for Vanya is one of the highlights.
The ending, very much like the movie as a whole, is a combination of hopeful and disturbing, and as impactful.
Normally, I wouldn't be a fan but the Brighton Beach setting made me curious. The first part was difficult to connect with, with spoiled rich kids partying away their parents' money and the main character happily eating crumbs from the rich table. None of the characters were interesting or likeable.
It changed in the second act when the confrontation with Vanya's guardians and parents began.
The combination of a crazy slapstick and sheer realism is captivating. It's as if Baker was asked to reimagine "Pretty Woman" in real-life in bitterly cold New York. Imagine what happened if a rich guy fell in love with a sex worker. Baker's answer is, "it's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life."
Equally realistic and subtle is the portrayal of Brooklyn and exUSSR immigrants. The "thugs" are not two-bit knuckle-draggers but fully fleshed characters and, generally, decent human beings. The rant of Toros in the diner while looking for Vanya is one of the highlights.
The ending, very much like the movie as a whole, is a combination of hopeful and disturbing, and as impactful.
I read all the praise and decided to give the movie a go. (I still don't understand why in so many reviews it is called comedy horror. There's nothing even remotely horror-related or funny there.) Simply put, a waste of time.
The characters are unlikeable and hollow. Imagine being stuck with nearly identical 20-somethings gossiping about their relationships and who is attracted to who for an hour and a half. Imagine them inserting the word "bro" in every second sentence.
Why do so many people say it's "original"? It's another body swap movie. Except, they all are so alike that "what's inside" didn't really change, and the punch line is who wants to sleep with who. Oh wow, boy 1 likes girl 2 instead of girl 1! And it was like that for a long time! Oh and there is somewhat of a twist at the end, in case you actually care about these characters!
Who cares.
The characters are unlikeable and hollow. Imagine being stuck with nearly identical 20-somethings gossiping about their relationships and who is attracted to who for an hour and a half. Imagine them inserting the word "bro" in every second sentence.
Why do so many people say it's "original"? It's another body swap movie. Except, they all are so alike that "what's inside" didn't really change, and the punch line is who wants to sleep with who. Oh wow, boy 1 likes girl 2 instead of girl 1! And it was like that for a long time! Oh and there is somewhat of a twist at the end, in case you actually care about these characters!
Who cares.