Dir. Chan-wook Park
"Your blood and mine are the same now. You're all I have."
It has been several years since I've felt anything for vampires in the media. I think the last time I actually enjoyed a vampire film would be the Blade series, and even then it was more of a goofy, comic-book thrill ride type of enjoyment, instead of an actual vampire tale. Now it seems the world is littered with stories and films about the subject, but none of them are doing vampires justice. Vampires aren't emotional stalkers, who spout love songs at teenage girls, which is entirely creepy and weird to think about as they are thousands upon thousands of years old. No, vampires are scary, predatory, and animalistic in the worst sense of the words. Earlier this year I found out about a film, Let The Right One In, which earned a great deal of my respect and actually made me pay attention to the vampire culture (I guess, that's what one would call it). It was a toned down, horror love story that wasn't dumbed down or marketed for the masses. It was honest, chilling, and effective. Everything a vampire film should be.
Enter Chan-wook Park. One of my favorite auteur directors, who helmed the amazing Vengeance trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. and Lady Vengeance, and Oldboy), which any fan of film will tell you is a must-see if you're able to enter a film with a completely open mind. And it is with an open mind I went into Thirst with, Park's Korean take on the vampire mythos.
Now, I usually delve deep into plot, but I think it's best to leave this one as vague as possible, because it keeps going new places constantly. Just when you think you have the film figured out and you think there's going to be a clear point or symbolism made obvious, it switches paths and heads down a new plot development, and a potentially new point. It makes for a sometimes uneven watching experience, and I'd be lying if I said there weren't parts in this film that I downright didn't care for, and borderline hated, such as a painfully on the head representation of the psychological manifestation of guilt the two main characters have over killing another character (and yes I'm being vague, for good reason). The scene shows the two having sex with the dead member literally between them. It's awkward and really takes you out of the film, as it could have probably went without being so bluntly stated that their was guilt between the two.
But taken as a whole this film is really, really good. It takes the mythos into a bold and fresh direction, and makes vampires dangerous and powerful again. These vampires aren't ones the audience will fall in love with, but maybe, just maybe, you'll find them sympathetic, at best. There are moments of brilliance on display here which easily make up for any of the rougher moments in the film, such as the entire third act, which plays out like American Psycho meets Interview With the Vampire. It's tragic, fun, hyper-stylistic, tragic, and moving...and it comes together to make one of the best final acts in any film I've seen in a long time.
I highly recommend this film if you have an open-mind and are willing to put up with some off pacing and some bizarre missteps, because it is well worth a watch, and might even demand repeat viewings. I for one can not wait to rewatch this film.
4 out of 5
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