Indie-Pictures-Blog, for the duration of the quarantine, will review the catalog of the new indie horror/suspense channel, Terror TV. http://www.terrortv.com
As we meander through the 21st century, we crave a particular kind of cinematic sustenance. Yes, sure we want “new” things, but we also are looking for the reimagining; the new version of telling an old tale; basically, the familiar with an unfamiliar twist.
Dracula, the Impaler handles that for us.
Here the plot – a bunch of young folks decide they want to buck a legend and take their vacation in Dracula’s castle. Yup. Whatever you are thinking … that’s what happens.
But here’s the new thing…
The impetuous 20-somethigns are millennials. In some cases, they play the stereotype of being such a generation. It makes you ask yourself… who/what is right and wrong? Who is the hero/villain? And even some might ask “who’s the monster?”
This is no reflection on a generation or a type of person. What it does is create an underlying dichotomy of what brings out trauma and change. Yes, there is a bevy of vampires and ghouls but when you consider the world for which they lived (the war-ish realm of Vald Dracul) can you blame their savagery? And when you consider the 21st century nihilistic under-pinnings of the post 911 generation, you force yourself to reinterpret what it means to be a victim and how you behave as one.
Ironically, the power of travel and tourism is even explored as these hapless youths have no problem visiting what should be off-limits. And since we are sheltering-in-place, maybe even the concept of visiting a blood-destroying element might take on a stronger parable in hindsight.
Jay Michaels, an indie theater and film producer, hosts Terror TV’s Terror Talk
inDfilm 