Troubled teen Stan (a fine and likeable performance by Jay Jay Warren) discovers a ferocious predatory vampire living in a shed behind his house. Although Stan wants to destroy the beast, his angry bullied best friend Dommer (a strong and sympathetic portrayal by Cody Kostro) wants to use the creature as a means of taking care of the kids who pick on him in school.

Writer/director Frank Sabatella relates the gripping story at a steady pace, expertly crafts a creepy mood, grounds the fantastic premise in a credible workaday reality, generates a good deal of tension, maintains a tough gritty tone throughout (the profane dialogue in particular rings especially true),and delivers some cool bits of bloody gore along with a marvelously vicious and grotesque vampire.

The sound acting from a sturdy cast rates as another major asset: Sofia Happonen as the sweet Roxy, Frank Whaley as ill-fated hunter Bane, Timothy Bottoms as Stan's abusive alcoholic grandfather Ellis, Siobhan Fallon Hogan as the feisty Sheriff Dorney, and Chris Petrovski as mean jerk Marble. A superior vampire horror winner with considerable bite.

A typical low budget horror with a little creativity and style to recommend it, but it ends up being a bore because of the slower-than-slow nature of the plotting come the end. This is a film that feels like it naturally climaxes around the two-thirds point, but then goes on and on for an extended section that adds absolutely nothing. On the plus side, it's pretty well made for the budget, and there's some naturalism in terms of the characters and bullying sub-plot.

PLOT SPOILERS. Stanley (Jay Jay Warren) lives with his grandfather on the wrong side of the tracks. he is bullied in school as is his friend Dommer (Cody Kostro). Somehow Joe Ellis (Timothy Bottoms) with no character build-up becomes a vampire and lives in their old shed. Oh, what to do. Maybe call the authorities? Set the shed on fire during a bright sunny day? It would be easier to convince them grandma got run over by a reindeer.

Roxy (Sofia Happonen) should have had some character build up. At least one scene of her without Stan. Same with Dommer. What really happened to his parents? Did mom become a zombie and dad blow his brains out as his dream? Is that connected to the vampire turning? Not developed if there was anything. The film needed some tweaking.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.