Henrick Vartanian
Therapy for a Vampire, the acclaimed Austrian vampire, romantic-comedy set in 1930s Vienna. Written and directed by David Ruehm, the film is a clever take on the vampire genre with dashes of farce and gorgeous cinematography by DP Martin Gschlacht (Goodnight Mommy, Oscar-nominated Revanche). Therapy for a Vampire won the Audience Award at the 2016 Fantasia Film Festival.
The story introduces us to Count von Közsnöm (Tobias Moretti) who has lost his thirst for life. His marriage to Countess Gräfin Elsa von Közsnöm (Jeanette Hain) cooled off centuries ago.
In Therapy for a Vampire a depressed bloodsucker with marriage issues goes to Sigmund Freud for psychoanalysis.
Fortunately, Sigmund Freud (Karl Fischer) is accepting new patients; the good doctor suggests the Count appease his vain wife by commissioning a portrait of her by his assistant, Viktor (Dominic Oley). But it is Viktor’s headstrong girlfriend Lucy (Cornelia Ivancan) who most intrigues the Count, convinced she’s the reincarnation of his one true love. Soon, the whole crowd is a hilarious mess of mistaken identities and misplaced affections in this send-up of the vampire genre, proving that 500 years of marriage is enough.
The trailer for this film displays impressive cinematography by Gschlacht, along with witty lines and hijinks that, well, possess us.
Horror fans become a bit selective since films like What We Do in The Shadows (2012), and even in the foreign dramatic category like Let the Right One In (2008), additionally its American remake Let Me In (2010) have brought newness to the ancient bloodsuckers tales, and all mentioned films scored high with critics as well.
Watching the trailer for Therapy for a Vampire triggered the quirky charm reminiscent of Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows (2012), or in more indie terms, writer-director Onur Tukel’s Summer of Blood (2014). These are not bad films to measure up to. Take a look at the trailer and see if you agree.
Music Box Films will release the film theatrically in New York and Los Angeles June 10th with plans to expand wider.
