PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Here at PopHorror, we are fans of Alice Maio Mackay. We have reviewed her short films Serpent’s Nest (2021 – read our review here) and Tooth 4 Tooth (2020 – read our review here). So Vam is her debut feature film, which I was eager to see and review. What is amazing is her passion and talent at such a young age! She co-wrote, directed it and produced the film at age 16, and finished post-production after her 17th birthday. You may read more about Alice Maio Mackay in our interview here. What did I think of So Vam? Read on for more spoiler free review!
Kurt is an outcast in a conservative town who dreams of moving to the city to be a famous drag queen. When he is kidnapped by a predatory old vampire and killed, he is rescued just in time to be resurrected by a gang of rebellious vampires who feed on bigots and abusers. As a vampire he finally knows empowerment and belonging, but his killer is still out there: creating new minions with their own rotten hatred and threatening all that he loves. Until Kurt faces the monster, he will never truly be free, but this time he need not face it alone.
The film is directed by Alice Maio Mackay. It is written by Benjamin Pahl Robinson and Alice Maio Mackay. The film stars Benjamin Putnam, Chris Asimos, Patty Glavieux, Grace Hyland, Xai and Tumelo Nthupi.
My Thoughts:
Let me just say, So Vam didn’t disappoint me in any way! I loved every minute of it. The pacing is near perfection. The attention to details is superb. The storytelling and the unfolding of the story is spot on. The performances are strong and the characters mesh together nicely. The dialogue between the characters is authentic and brings life to the story. The drag queen scenes are so much fun as well.
I love the use of color in this film. It’s so bright and definitely has a ’90s vibe to it. The vampires are so cool, and the effects used are just so good.
I love a coming of age story fan, and this film brings a fresh outlook on that concept.
My Final Thoughts:
So Vam is a definite must see. We need more films out there like this. I am looking forward to more from Alice Maio Mackay and the other cast members! Bright futures ahead of them! If you have a chance to see it, don’t miss it!
