Vampyr is the strange and dream-like tale of Allan Gray, seeker of the supernatural, encountering a case of vampirism in a small French village. Images of ghost-like forms flit across a small river, shadows detach themselves from their owners and move around of their own accord; astral forces impinge upon this never-world and at the heart of all the horror is a crone-like vampire, preying on the life blood of a young girl.
For those used to a narrative story-telling style of cinema - well, you'd better forget it right here. Much is left unexplained, characters wander in and out of the film with no introduction, and in one sequence in particular the astral shade of the hero departs his body and witnesses it being placed in a coffin and buried, while the vampire and her slaves look in through the glass face plate. This scene has an eerie power that is unforgettable.
Many modern viewers will no doubt dismiss Vampyr as slow and boring; certainly the film takes some effort to absorb. However the oneiric flavour of the piece will come to haunt you; you will feel yourself becoming a part of this shadow-realm as you watch. You can ignore the sudden shifts in both language and conversation - everyone seems to be on the verge of saying something important, and then stops. Indeed sometimes the dialogue makes no logical sense. It is the pervading mood that is important rather than the story, or lack of it.
But what you are left with is a feeling of evil incarnate in the form of the vampire, and perhaps it's her influence that turns the film into this compelling and starkly imaged nightmare. Once seen Vampyr is never forgotten, but it certainly isn't for everyone.
Quick update - I have now seen the German version (with subtitles) of this movie and there were a lot of cuts to the English version which make the plot a lot more obscure. I recommend catching the subtitled version - clears up a lot!
For those used to a narrative story-telling style of cinema - well, you'd better forget it right here. Much is left unexplained, characters wander in and out of the film with no introduction, and in one sequence in particular the astral shade of the hero departs his body and witnesses it being placed in a coffin and buried, while the vampire and her slaves look in through the glass face plate. This scene has an eerie power that is unforgettable.
Many modern viewers will no doubt dismiss Vampyr as slow and boring; certainly the film takes some effort to absorb. However the oneiric flavour of the piece will come to haunt you; you will feel yourself becoming a part of this shadow-realm as you watch. You can ignore the sudden shifts in both language and conversation - everyone seems to be on the verge of saying something important, and then stops. Indeed sometimes the dialogue makes no logical sense. It is the pervading mood that is important rather than the story, or lack of it.
But what you are left with is a feeling of evil incarnate in the form of the vampire, and perhaps it's her influence that turns the film into this compelling and starkly imaged nightmare. Once seen Vampyr is never forgotten, but it certainly isn't for everyone.
Quick update - I have now seen the German version (with subtitles) of this movie and there were a lot of cuts to the English version which make the plot a lot more obscure. I recommend catching the subtitled version - clears up a lot!