Indie Thriller Review: Ninjas vs. Vampires and Surviving By the Skin of Your Teeth

*full disclosure: a screener copy of this film was provided by Breaking Glass Pictures.

Director/writer: Justin Timpane.

Ninjas vs. Vampires is a film from Justin Timpane (Ninjas vs. Zombies), which has released on DVD as of May 3rd. This fantasy film is heavy on action, comedy, with influences of horror and the film breaks down much like a comic book. There is lots of action here, as Aaron (Jay Saunders) finds himself in the middle of a supernatural war. As well, there are elaborate costumes, which set the necessary dark tones. Evil acolytes promise to steal your life, while hidden behind masks and dressy robes. Finally, most comparable to graphic novels are the diverse set of characters, who either hide from sunlight, or stalk these mythical bloodsuckers.

Aaron and Alex (Devon Marie Burt) are out on a kinky camera shoot in an isolated parking lot, when they are set upon by a large group of fleshfeeders. They put their shoot on hold long enough to allow the reinforcements to arrive. The cavalry are a crew of darkly dressed vigilantes, out to rid the world of evil. The film begins with action early and their is a steady build up of action scenes, until the climactic ending. You can almost see the panels being coloured in, as Ninjas vs. Vampires creates larger than life action sequences, which mostly dazzle.

Also well done, the costumes of the villains and partially the protagonists received proper treatment. Ninjas are appropriately garbed in one length shadowy outfits, while one vampiress has the necessary goth styled fashion to charm her victims. However, the miscreants are best dressed, as Manson stalks around - ejected from the latest sado-masochism expo. The legions of vampires are dressed as common folk and sometimes, more like something out of a Blade film. The attention to detail and the costumes made this film more enjoyable to this reviewer.

A handful of dysfunctional heroes hole up in a local non-descript house, with time running out for their hostaged friend, Alex. Ready to use magic, a garage full of armaments and sheer violence, this group descends on Seth (Kurt Skarstedt), a vampire bent on destroying mankind. Each character has equally complicated desires. Cole wants to run a comic book store, while the situation demands greater action. A vampire underling wants to drink the vampire overlord's human blood stock, while staying out of the punishing sunlight and Aaron simply wants to get the girl, but there are hordes of fanged creatures standing between him and his goal. The characters in the film are overdone, much like a comic book and there is plenty of drama here for comic book and horror film fans to devour.

Released recently, Ninjas vs. Vampires will in fact make a "Ninjas vs." comic book series available, later this year (Breaking Glass). Full of action, thrills and exploding vampires, this film is a B-movie good time. If you know what to expect from indie films, then you will enjoy this comedic look at the coming vampire apocalypse.

Writing/story/development: 7 (very fantastical, linear, well written lines for Aaron and the dream sequences were hilarious).
Characters/believability: 7 (this is a world of fiction where almost nothing is believable).

Overall: 7 out of 10 (a fun watch and the film is not to hard on the lobes).

*extras on the release include: producer's commentaries, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and alternate trailers.

Purchase Ninjas vs. Vampires at the Breaking Glass Pictures' store:

Ninjas vs. Vampires at Breaking Glass

Or through Amazon:



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Posted in: 2011,action adventure,breaking glass pictures,movie review,ninjas,supernatural,zombies