Review of Byzantium (2013) by Panta O — 29 Sep 2013

British-Irish fantasy thriller with a vampire twist! Directed by Neil Jordan and starring Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, and Jonny Lee Miller, this movie was made well enough to catch anyone's attention.

The story is about a mother and daughter vampire duo. This is the third foray by Jordan into the world of the undead, following the poorly-received High Spirits in 1988 and his Oscar-nominated Interview with the Vampire, in 1994. It is not in the category of the Interview... but it is an interesting movie which entertains and delivers the thrill. To me, Neil Jordan's complex film about mother and daughter vampires it has substance and could be said that is vastly superior to the similar movies.

There is an interwoven love story noticeable while following the both main characters but it was never too strong! It shows some intensity towards the end but it never reaches a crescendo... which I liked, because it is blending the two main threads of the story perfectly. The way screenwriter Moira Buffini (adapting her own stage play "A Vampire Story") does that with the other threads of history, folklore, feminist spirit and universal themes is outstanding.

If you are into movies which are elegant, with excellent balanced movements and classical editing of darker toned cinematography following an exquisite screenplay with a steady leadership of a director who knows what is he doing - pick this one. You won't regret!