Hollywood Vampyr

Director: Steve Akahoshi

Writer: Joel Eisenberg

Starring: Trevor Goddard, Nora Zimmer, Jeff Marchelletta, Mark Irvingsen, Muse Watson

Year: 2002

I’m going to admit to all of you right now that I watched the movie Hollywood Vampyr and instead of completely staying focused on all plot and really anything to do with the movie, I was somewhat focused on the character of Anubus, played by Mark Irvingsen. That’s right. I developed a crush. Leave me alone! Maybe I like guys with eyeliner! So what?

Hollywood Vampyr, written by Joel Eisenberg and directed by Steve Akahoshi is the story of Fatal (Nora Zimmett), a former heroin addict who turns to a gothic group led by Blood (Trevor Goddard) for guidance and acceptance. While investigating deaths of kids belonging to this gothic group, Fatal’s friend Tom (Jeff Marchelletta) gets a little too wrapped up in the lifestyle… One minute he’s sporting glasses, the next minute he’s rockin’ eyeliner. One second he’s investigating the suspicious activities of the group and the next second he’s helping Blood open up a new club. I didn’t really understand how he got so lured into it all.  I also was a little confused about the introduction before the credits and the true start to the film. A deep voice started talking about the goth lifestyle while a girl has her blood drained into a wine glass. Huh? What did that have to do with anything? It really didn’t. But it is really my only complaint.

I was a little disappointed in the lack of blood and gore from a supposed goth type flick. There was a little bit of death, but not even that much of that. A tad bit of sex and the mention of pregnancy, but not really much raunchiness. What was up with that? The director actually took the time to work on acting and plot! All of the actors were decently skilled in the acting craft. And, of course, my beloved Anubus did a good job, even though he looked like he was straight out of the band Panic! At the Disco.
 
So where is the conflict, you ask? Well, it has something to do with Blood making his followers believe that Jesus was resurrected as a vampire and Anubus going old school goth. There is also the conflict between Fatal who wants to get out of the “family” and the conflict between her and Anubus (he impregnated and ditched her, but who she later bails out of jail).  There’s Tom’s conflict within himself. And, finally, of course, there is the conflict within Fatal. Who is she really? Should she go back to being her non-goth self named Sylvia? Or is she really Fatal?

Even though the plot is somewhat nonsensical, the film is put together nicely. Akahoshi, who gives himself a cameo, directs a solid little film that is professionally made. Even though it is said to be about Los Angeles gothic subculture, I really didn’t see it like that at all. It was more about human relationships and people finding their identities.

There’s some, what could be considered, tragedy in the end, but, overall the ending leaves a nice taste in your mouth. The characters you’re supposed to care about, you do, and they survive and are seemingly happy. As I said before-- Akahoshi made a tight film and the cast supports his vision well.