John Orrichio's new vampire flick, Requiem for a Vampire (2006) is an interesting take on an often clichéd treatment of the subject of vampires! Mr. Orrichio seems to have grown by leaps and bounds from his earlier film "The Possession of Father Thomas" of a year or so ago. Static shots are replaced with interesting camera angles and he makes excellent use of locations such as the Jersey shore, Rockefeller Center and area mansions in telling his tale and giving this independent film a big budget feeling. The collaboration of Mr. Orrichio and veteran horror film maker Karl Petry seems to work quite well in this effort and I think gives added dimension in telling this tale.The premise of this story is a simple one but with a twist. It is about a family of vampires trying to exist in a modern world without the usual violence toward "mortals" and also trying to be contributing members of society. This "peaceful" co-existence is threatened by the same plague that affects and mortal world and we see how this "family" handles it. In the male lead is Matt Locker who paints Michael LeGault with a rather broad brush showing us both his caring side and a more cavalier attitude when under the stress of his beloveds illness and death. His sister "Lenore" is played with sensitivity and feeling by veteran Horror actress Deana Demko in a more mature role for her which she handled beautifully. Lenore serves as the glue that holds this family together in a very difficult situation when Michael seems to be going off in all directions under the stress of the death of his beloved and the threat of exposure by the investigator (including an incestuous relationship with his sister and even a tryst with his manservant!). Other standouts in the cast are David B. Powers as Henri, Michael's manservant and protector. His natural style works wonderfully in this difficult part as man who is dealing with his own aging as well as being in love with his own boss! The homo-erotic scene is quite unexpected but adds to the drama as does the next scene at the beach. Cathy Loch who plays the part of Claire (Henri's niece) works quite well with him and has a natural charm that the camera picks up on (as well as being quite easy on the eye!). She certainly does surprise us at the end! Gerry Kirschbaum handles the part of Justin Burke, the Legault's business adviser/protector with ease as does Bob Smith, who plays the part of the nosy and annoying health investigator who threatens to expose the Legault family and ruin the peaceful coexistence that the Legault's have worked so hard to establish. Jamie Stone does a wonderful job of portraying the scientist, Tara Wolf who eventually "joins" the family in her quest to find a cure for the plague that threatens them all. Orrichio fills the screen with haunting images including a touching deathbed scene, an eerie funeral procession, an attempted suicide scene and a bloody and unexpected "turning scene" as well as the homo-erotic scene mentioned above all of which seem to be there to shock and disturb the audience, an effect which seems to work quite well. The visuals are quite intriguing and well edited by Mr. Orrichio who seems to be wearing many hats in this production as director, screen writer, cameraman, film editor and even on screen playing the guitar! The music is well chosen and even includes a music video with Cathy Loch singing a Celtic song. The cast is rather large for a small independent film but everyone seems to work well together and it was great to have the addition of Rosemary Ellen Guiley playing herself as a paranormal investigator giving the film an added amount of credibility. Others in the cast who deserve a mention are Jeanne Sconzo, Tony Rugnetta and newcomers Carrie Nagy and Yesenia Moreland. All in all the film goes over well with only a minor amount of loose ends and continuity problems and I look forward to the next endeavor from the team of Orrichio and Petry!

I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Underground Horror series from Alpha New Cinema, but it's pretty much awesome. They sell a bunch of independently made horror flicks that probably wouldn't normally be released, and it pays off. Some of the films they distribute are nearly brilliant, showing and saying the things that big studio releases don't have the balls to show or say. Requiem for a Vampire is one of those films.The story is something that I'd never heard of before and something that I don't expect anyone to tackle again anytime soon. At least they shouldn't, because the director (I think his name's Orricho) does it so well and produces what should be the one and only vampire-AIDS story. I know, it sounds weird right... that's what I thought too while I was watching it, but the director pulls off the strange material nicely. In addition, there's an excellent kill scene in which a girl vamp eats a guy alive and splatters his blood all over an alley wall. And if it's the sex you're looking for, this movie sure delivers; we see lingering shots of at least three fully naked women, and there's even a little something for those of the "other persuasion" in a bizarre, graphic (though not nude) gay sex scene.The bottom line is that Requiem delivers when viewed purely as some awesome B-movie entertainment. You got the gore, the kills, the sex, the boobs, and even a crucifixion. It's a good time, I definitely suggest buying it.

Requiem for a Vampire is a great film! The sexual scenes are passionate and effectively reveal the salacious nature of the vampires. Yet, in addition to the sexy bodies and amorous situations, the underlying plot is interesting and engaging. The filmmakers address issues of love, family loyalties, betrayal, social class, sexuality, feminism and power. From the first scene I was drawn into the plot. I immediately empathized with the lead vampires (male and female), and I was intrigued by their efforts to lead a secret life trying to be "normal" and loving each other while at the same time they were dealing with deep dark secrets. Once you start watching you will be drawn into the erotic underground world of the vampires. The film is visually creative with the vampires cavorting in NY City, mansions, and nightclubs. It is also an intelligent film that mixes eroticism and mystery with thoughtful commentary on social issues. This is not the usual vampire movie!

Although an independent film, the cinematography is very good. It's not your typical Vampire movie. It's more in the keeping of the Ann Rice novels. It takes place in modern times and in all places, New Jersey! You get to take a look inside a Vampire family and see what they must do to survive in these days of forensic science. Director John Orrichio and Producer Karl Petry do a wonderful job on a very low budget. The ending has a twist that you would never anticipate. The music is excellent and deserves its own release on CD. All in all, if you're tired with all the same junk coming out of the major studios, give this a look. You'll enjoy!