Our second vampyreview for this final weekend before Halloween, 2024 and the horrors that may follow, takes us into the vampire romance genre…. but it’s not like any vampire romance you’ve ever seen (or avoided watching) before.

Title: Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicidal Person (Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant)

Cast and Crew

Written and directed by Ariane Louis-Seize

Sara Montpetit as Sasha
Félix-Antoine Bénard as Paul
Noémie O’Farrell as Denise
Steve Laplante as Aurélien, Sasha’s father
Sophie Cadieux as Georgette, Sasha’s mother
Lilas-Rose Cantin as 6-year-old Sasha
Valence Laroche as 12-year-old Denise
Marie Brassard as Victorine, Sasha’s aunt
Arnaud Vachon as Henry
Madeleine Péloquin as Paul’s mother
Gabriel-Antoine Roy as JP
Isabella Villalba as Mélisse Bessette
Patrick Hivon as Coach Goyette
Marc Beaupré as Rico-Berlingot
Micheline Bernard as Principal Gauvin
Sylvie Lemay as Renaude
Ariane Castellanos as Claudie
Marc Beaupré as doomed clown

Premise

A young vampire, too sensitive to kill, befriends a suicidal teen. Hijinks and uncomfortable hilarity ensue, as blood-drinking Sasha and emo Paul decide to have one last wild night together.

High Points

The source of a young person’s trauma shouldn’t be entertaining, but that bit of cinematic clowning around proves undeniably dark and funny and sets the tone for the movie. The film features drama and blood, but it emphasizes relationships and humour, and the jokes generally land.

Low Point

Despite a disturbing premise, the film becomes a little too cute at times. Although it contains elements of horror, don’t quite expect a horror movie, or the nasty bite of that other Canadian teen monster classic, Ginger Snaps.

The Scores:

Originality: 3/6 We’ve had a few darkly humorous takes on present-day vampires before. This one has several original twists on the things they do in the shadows, but it’s not wholly original.

Effects: 4/6

Production: 5/6 This Québécois indie had a low budget, but they make it work. It takes its style from the arthouse as much as the conventional horror movie, and it has garnered numerous accolades and awards at small film festivals.

Acting: 5/6 Acting is good overall, and the leads have undeniable chemistry. Sara Montpetit hits the stake on the head with both the look and attitude of her character. She’s excellent; you’ve known people like her, and you’re going to wonder if maybe they weren’t entirely human, either.

Story: 4/6 The script might have done more with the premise, but the results are entertaining, if somewhat predictable.

Emotional Response: 5/6 Humanist Vampire… features some excellent dark humour, with a sweet underside.

Overall: 5/6

In total, Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicidal Person (Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant) receives 31/42

The Schedule

We have three reviews for October 31, all of which could be described as “cult” views.

October 5/6: Abigail (2024) and Abigail (2023): JD
October 12/13: Season of the Witch (1972) and Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) and Season of the Witch (2009) and Season of the Witch (2011) : JD
October 19/20: Hocus Pocus (1993) and Hocus Pocus (2022): ‘Lex
October 26/27: The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023) and Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicidal Person (2023): JD
October 31: The Love Witch (2016): ‘Lex and Sleepaway Camp (1983): JD and Dark Gathering (2023): Alexander Case