I never quite understood the mesmer aspect to intense love, or at least how it can be portrayed on the screen. This updates an old story and so has a bit more edginess that earlier adaptations. But ultimately it is mood over storytelling.

I started watching this movie on Netflix without having any idea what I was about, and I suspect that is the best way to watch it. Then the vampire twist part way through, while somewhat foreshadowed, is still rather surprising and pleasantly shocking.

Hannah Fierman is the stand out performer as Laura, the young woman fascinated by the drifter Carmilla (Kristen Orr in an understated performance). William Kat is the least convincing, chewing the scenery as Laura's semi-psychotic father.

The movie works in its own right as a modern Gothic, ad is also a retelling (rather loosely) of Carmilla that vampire aficionados will appreciate. The movie starts rather slow but the narrative and cinematography built towards an evocative and visually compelling ending.

Sadly, not in a good way. It is entirely a drama, maybe, just maybe 2 or 3 horror elements thrown in there so it can cover a wider range of genres, but overall the movie is a flop.

If you are heavily into adult movies and horror, you will be disappointed. If you're a horror die fan, you'll be annoyed. And if you just want to watch something for 18 years+, you can do better! It's more of a torture porn production, with a lot of self inflicted wounds and a decent plot, surely enough, but far from being my coup of tea.

My personal vote is 4. I won't ruin it for others, but I kinda do fail seeing how this can be appreciated.

Cheers!