Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Michael Allen
Cast: Cory Knauf, Samuel Child, Elizabeth Henstridge, Daniel O'Meara, Mackenzie Firgens, Ryan Hartwig, Sean Browne, Tom Holloway, Joseph McKelheer, and Selina Giles.
The Thompsons is a sequel to the 2006 film The Hamiltons. Both films deal with a vampire clan in search of ever more blood to drink. This reviewer is unfamiliar with the first film, but this second title can be seen on its own. Centrally, The Thompsons is a story of Francis (Cory Knauf). His voice over narration guides the story from the United States over to the United Kingdom. His journey is full of violence with his brothers and sisters looking for aid for the fallen Lenny (Ryan Hartwig). They do not find help, but they do find a malevolent vampire clan bent on destroying them. The Butcher Brothers (Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores) have created a fantastic tale here with the film's timeline and explanation for vampiricism the two most interesting elements in this bloody tale.
The Hamiltons have had to change their name to The Thompsons after they are recorded dining on several gunmen in the Mojave Desert; they are on the run. Their parents mentioned the Mandersons before their passing. So, the renamed Thompsons head to Ludlow in search of a possible lost bloodline. Their reception is poor and bloody. Francis is buried, Lenny is attacked and so are the other members of the family: Darlene (Mackenzie Firgens), David (Samuel Child) and Wendell (Joseph McKelheer). Francis and Riley (Elizabeth Henstridge) develop a romantic element in the midst of all this chaos.
The Thompsons are not your ordinary vampires and the filmmakers want you to know this. They can walk in daylight, their reflections can be seen in mirrors and they do not fear garlic nor crosses. They may fear a stake to the heart, but The Thompsons suffer from a genetic disease much like Huntington's, or similar. Vampiricism can be passed from generation to generation. The Butcher Brothers are unafraid to play with the classic vampire character and they make this apparent through their shooting style. The Thompsons are often filmed through mirrors.
The structure of this film is also atypical. The film begins with Francis in an awkward position (below ground). Then, it travels back in time and then further back in time before moving ahead with the film's original starting point. This reviewer enjoyed this non-linear storytelling style. One might not know where the film will travel to next.
The Butcher Brothers also have a varied storytelling approach. Francis is the focal point of the film. However, Riley is given significant screen time to show her own tragedies. Her father and brothers have all raped her as the Stuart Clan hopes to sustain its royal bloodline through inter-breeding. This family seems to be giving a nod to incestuous monarchs of England's past through this demented family. The writers have also provided adequate screen time for the Stuarts to show their depravity, while the Thompsons show how they stick together in times of crisis. Viewers might like this duality of interchanging villains with the morally right slowly gaining the upper hand.
The Thompsons is an excellent vampire film that is more about its very human characters. There are bloody battles with lots of flashing fangs. Francis develops into an intelligent character while trying to save Riley from her chaotic family. The action develops believably. The conclusion, however, is a bit of a let down. Riley would not follow a group of characters who had just murdered her family, no matter how devious her clan was. Blood (family) is thicker than water (friends). Outside of the conclusion, there is a lot to enjoy in this second film from the Butcher Brothers.
Lions Gate Home Entertainment has already released this title in the United Kingdom and North America will follow-up with a release in December. Horror fans will find a believable story here (outside of vampiricism) where family is all that matters. Riley and Francis's love story was a little hit and miss, but this secondary plot was a nice diversion from all of the vampiric infighting. Fans will find that the Butcher Brothers have gone to great lengths to bear their fangs in this exciting venture.
Overall: 7.75 out of 10 (a good story, a diverse shooting style, believable characters, interesting settings and a strange ending that is self-aware).
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Posted in: 2012,blood,movie,movie review,release date,review,united kingdom,united states,vampire,vampire apocalypse,vampires
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