by Joshua Skye:
Scott Leberecht’s “Midnight Son” is the gruesome breath of fresh air the overdone vampire genre has been desperately waiting for. It is the dark, moody, melancholy tale of Jacob, a young man forced to dwell in shadowy seclusion because of a rare skin disease. By accident he discovers that human blood is the cure for what torments him. As his ailment inexplicably begins to worsen, he is drawn to ever more desperate measures to relieve himself.
Leberecht’s script is impeccable, his directing is confident and effective, and the acting is fantastic. Specifically, Zak Kilberg is phenomenal in the role of Jacob. He offers a reserved, nuanced performance. He has amazingly emotive eyes and subtle, controlled expressions putting him in a rare league. He is an actor with the ability to convey complex and conflicting emotions in a mere glance. His boyish charm and endlessly charismatic smile only make his character’s bizarre deeds all the more unsettling. He was perfectly cast. Maya Parish is equally as good as Mary, the troubled love interest. She’s fearless in the role. And it is always nice to see character actor Tracey Walter.
In the hands of a lesser artist, the film’s more grisly moments could have easily become cheap grotesqueries designed purely for shock value. Thankfully, Leberecht never resorts to such obvious temptations. He knows exactly what he’s doing. His film is sufficiently macabre but never exploitative. It is tense and disconcerting, yet never overwrought. It is an adult, thinking man’s horror film.
Although “Midnight Son” treads familiar territory, it is masterfully done and easily qualifies as one of the best vampire films of the last decade. This movie deserves to find a wide and loyal audience. Yes, it’s that good!
Learn more about Midnight Son on its official website, and buy it on Amazon.com.
DarkMedia contributor Joshua Skye’s short stories have appeared in anthologies from STARbooks Press, Knightwatch Press, Sirens Call Publications, Rainstorm Press, JMS Books and periodicals such as Blood and Lullabies. He is the author of “The Singing Wind,” “Bareback: A Werewolf’s Tale,” “Midnight Rainbows,” the forthcoming “The Grigori,” and “The Angels of Autumn.” You can find him on his website.
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