With the vampire film well and truly revived in recent years, youd be forgiven for sighing at the sight of yet another celluloid outing for the prolific movie monsters. The love it or loathe it Twilight saga has dominated multiplexes of late, and the fanged nasties have permeated all manner of productions both on the small and silver screen. Once in a while however, were treated to a mould breaker that revitalises the genre. Swedish vamp flick Let the Right One In hit high notes both critically and commercially and its recent American remake even impressed.
Not Like Others, another Swedish effort, follows the lead of Let the Right One In and does away with the usual romantic edge of many a vampire tale, planting its feet in a gritty, urban landscape. The film follows Vera (Lampa) and Vanja (Fernandez), two ageless vampire sisters existing on the fringes of society as they try and survive in a world that will never accept them. Vera, the more reckless of the two, is content with who and what she is, regularly snacking upon any waif and stray that crosses her path. Vanja meanwhile, is on the verge of throwing in the towel on her immortal existence, desperate to make a go of it in the real world.
But before Vanja can make her escape, sister Vera makes a terrible mistake that might cost them both dearly. After killing and feeding upon the leader of a skinhead biker gang, Vera and her disenchanted sister are forced to flee into the night with the ruthless gang in pursuit.
Not Like Others might be writer/director Peter Pontikis first feature, but the newcomer demonstrates real skill and a well trained eye behind the camera. The urban surroundings of Stockholm put a gritty, realist edge on things, but this isnt over exploited for flashy, distracting effect. Likewise, the two leads are perfectly cast, utterly believable as sisters with plenty of shades to their characters. At one moment, they seem fresh faced and wet behind the ears, other times youd easily believe them as centuries old beings. Sometimes they bicker like everyday adolescents, while other times the pair clash violently over their incompatible beliefs.
Whats particularly refreshing about Not Like Others is that the vampire lineage of its two leads often seems purely incidental. Its a film more about a sisterly bond than it is about fangs and blood, making a welcome change from the romantic slant of many a vampire flick. Their demonic origin might seem like a means to an end to begin with, but their long lived nature continuously heightens the tensions between the two. Potential immortality makes Vanjas decision to retire to a life of monotony all the more off putting, and Veras distaste of such a future all the more understanding.
Overall Verdict: Boasting some impressive ideas, but not always executing them perfectly, Not Like Others still makes for an effective and contemporary take on the vampire flick, opting for a refreshing pair of leads at its centre.
Special Features:
Trailer
Reviewer: David Steele