Product Description These are no ordinary vampires. There's a group of mobsters, led by the vicious Jimmy Fangs, intent on creating an army of the living dead. There are two vampire lovers, hiding out in a hotel room with a bag of the mobsters' money and a voluptuous girl tied to the bed. There's a thousand year old assassin who fears nothing except for this insane, virgin-killing wife. All of them are being hunted by a vinyl clad woman, whose intentions are mysterious and her powers unmatched, a vampire movie like no other. Review I really wanted to hate this movie. When it was first released, it seemed like everyone and their mother was getting a review copy. Not me. Pitiful pleas to the producers yielded promises, but no screener. Bitterness welled up inside of me. I began to resent all the other reviewers who got to see this movie, raving about it from the rooftops. Finally, I got it in a lot of other discs from the distributors. I sat back, sadistic grin on my face, determined to despise the hell out of "Strange Things Happen At Sundown". I was very disappointed. The movie is great. A wickedly funny take on the vampire genre, "Strange Things Happen At Sundown" tells the story of the working class undead underworld. Jimmy Fangs (DeVito) and his crew are long-in-the-tooth (pun intended) mobsters have been ripped off by a deadbeat deadfella wannabe named Marcel (Green). They hire a thousand-year-old ruthless, sadistic vampire called "The Reaper" (Gonzalez) to take him out. They're all being stalked by a mysterious woman in black vinyl (Sapron) who seems to want everyone dead. "Strange Things" manages to do a lot of things at once where most independent movies fail entirely. It's bloody, it's funny, there are distinctive characters, and a fully-realized story that progresses from a beginning, middle and end (even if it is sprawling and told from multiple points of view). And it does a good job of turning the overworked vampire genre on its ear by creating a thoroughly believable world that plays by its own rules. Hell, there's even a "don't blink or you'll miss her" cameo by Jasi Cotton Lanier ("Severe Injuries")! Some people may be daunted by it's length, and there are a few spots where the action does seem to lag, but truth be told these "dead spots" only last a couple of minutes before you re being dragged along the narrative path once again. Overall, the acting is very good DeVito being the best, with the voice of "The Reaper" (Robert M. Lemkowitz) coming a close second. "The Reaper" also provides the film with its funniest running gag - he's an ancient being that fears nothing but his psychotic, former-countess wife who flies into a hysterical rage over the tiniest bit of disarray. It's shot very well - Fratto and company work very hard to hide the low-budget seams with fast camera work, and rapid editing. (Kudos to them, further, for using the camera to move through the frame, rather than letting it go static, without making it jump around like a Mario Van Peebles film again, a balancing act that they pull off flawlessly nine times out of ten.) Like I said, I wanted to hate this movie. It wouldn't let me. --Film ThreatI love the way director Marc Fratto describes his movie STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN, "a vampire movie for people who don't like vampire movies." Not a single "my lord" or frilly gothic costume in sight, and the movie's all the better for it. These vampires are scumbag sociopaths who get off on the kill. By focusing on the base carnal needs of the vampire as a predatory creature blending easily with everyday life, Fratto has made vampires frightening again. Don't be misled by the lengthy opening sequences revolving around a group of gangster vampires, "Goodfangs" this isn't. The real story surrounds Marcel and Amy, two relatively young vampires still adjusting to their world. The two just want to get away from the overcrowded vampire underworld and live happily ever after torturing hapless newlyweds. Somethings are easier said than done. To fund his nest-egg, Marcel robbed the vampires he once worked for and now has a contract on his head. While poor Amy lavishes in the kill, she has yet to figure out how to extract her fangs and feed properly. No, this isn't a conventional vampire picture, not by a long shot. STRANGE THINGS does for vampire movies what Scooter McCree's SHATTER DEAD did for zombie flicks 10 years earlier. While Fratto explores as many aspects of vampire lore as he can cram into the 135 minute running time, he keep events grounded in a SHATTER DEAD-like "what if" reality that isn't too hard to fathom. To his credit, Fratto also never loses sight of what a horror picture truly is, entertainment. He keeps the movie fun with a scorching sense of black comedy. Favorite scenes involve a born again Christian trying to help Amy turn over a new leaf by finding Jesus. Let's not forget the badass vampire assassin henpecked by his anal-retentive clean-freak wife. Some people might be put off by the lengthy running time, but take my word, STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN is all story, there's nary a drawn-out walking sequence in sight, the likes of which bog down 90% of all shot on video productions. What story elements present that don't advance the plot are pure character. The worst that can be said about the movie is that there might be too much going on. In addition to what's been mentioned, there are subplots involving a second vampire assassin similar to the Sonja Blue character in Nancy Collin's SUNGLASSES AFTER DARK, and a running gag about zombies. A movie's technical aspects are generally something I refrain from mentioning in reviews, but I would be doing a disservice to everyone involved in STRANGE THINGS' production if I didn't. From Fratto's sense of camera work and editing to partner-in-crime Frank Garfi's score, everything is of the highest professional quality. With recent discussion on the B-Independent.com message boards regarding an established set of standards for commercial products, a sort of "Micro-festo", there aren't many better examples of what micro-budget moviemakers should aim for than STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN. --b-independent.comWhat s more impressive the fact that the moviemakers behind STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN manage to sustain it through a 138-minute running time, or that they re able to keep the DVD s audio commentary fresh and fun for the same length? The New York area-lensed STRANGE THINGS grew (and grew and grew) out of a short project to become a shot-on-video epic stocked with vampire mobsters, a bloodsucking couple on the run, their born-again hostage, a mysterious slayer, the Reaper himself, his housewife spouse who s prone to severe mood swings, lots of scantily clad girls, amusing tough-guy dialogue and plenty of graphic violence (which occasionally tips over the line between scary and sadistic). While the movie does feel longish overall, it s hard to think of a subplot that could be easily lost, and the commitment and energy of director Marc Fratto and his partners shines through both the feature and the commentary. During one of the quieter moments, a STRANGE THINGS participant says, "This is...right out of DARK SHADOWS, the vampires talking about being vampires." SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, another just-released, New York-centered video feature, is described by its writer/director William Hopkins as a homage to SHADOWS, and as "a softer kind of Gothic melodrama." While his intentions and some of the acting are good, SLEEPLESS, unfortunately, is just what you d expect from those descriptions: a movie in which talk takes precedence over action. Which is not in itself a problem, but neither the characters nor the storyline (involving a government anti-vampire squad seeking to destroy an undead overlord, a bloodsucker who s on the side of good and a woman seeking to make the dark transformation) are sufficiently compelling. The movie has its moments and interesting ideas, though not quite enough to set it apart in the very crowded vampire-movie marketplace. In addition, its best action comes early, during a brawl between agents and the undead; some of the subsequent mayhem is conveyed through frankly silly-looking CGI. Like STRANGE THINGS, SLEEPLESS was shot on digital video, and both projects were filmlooked for their fullscreen DVD releases. STRANGE THINGS looks better, sporting a generally crisp image that holds the colors and blacks well; occasional outdoor scenes are a tad overexposed and there s artifacting and grain in the darker moments at times, but it s overall a satisfying presentation (with crisp two-channel stereo sound). SLEEPLESS, which to be fair has many more scenes set at night or in gloomy interiors, has more artifacting in evidence, as well as pixillation resulting from the filmlook process. The presentation retains a decent amount of atmosphere, however, with a good mono soundtrack. The first sound you hear during the STRANGE THINGS commentary is that of a champagne cork popping, and what follows is a well-liquor-lubricated talk between Fratto and co-producers Steve "Gonzo" Gonzalez, Brandi Metaxas and Frank Garfi, along with a couple of the actors. As expected, there are plenty of rowdy, occasionally profane wisecracks along the way, but also a wealth of real production information. This group has a behind-the-scenes story for every scene and if not, they find something else to discuss. Even a simple shot of a setting sun occasions a lengthy, amusing discussion; the casting process and dilemmas are a frequent subject, plus the many obstacles faced by the team during the shoot. Some of the tales might make you laugh in spite of yourself, as when they recount that a dog living in one house location was terrified rather than disruptive or as one of the group puts it, "Instead of the dog ruining the shot, the shooting ruined the dog." We even find out who in the cast got lucky behind the scenes, thanks to the use of a "hookup bell." --Fangoria Magazine
!**!
How could anyone not love this movie!
Having a taste for cheap b-movies is one thing, but recommending shot-on-video, ultra-low budget, badly acted cheese fests to the general movie watcher is another. In this day of CGI and 40 million dollar budgets, most people don't get the charm and fun of a movie made, not for millions, but simply for thousands of dollars. You have to be careful when recommending a film like that, because most times you know that they just won't get it. A b-movie has to deliver in a lot of ways and disguise it's low budget origins to win the hearts of the fickle mainstream movie fan. Strange Things Happen At Sundown just happens to be one of those films and if you don't like this movie there is something wrong with you.The beauty of this flick is the blending of genres that it pulls off seamlessly. I doubt that I have ever seen such an amalgam of so many different types of movies. Each subplot has its own style and unique characters, yet none deviate from the main storyline. The ambition and the ability to have actually pulled this off deserve admiration, but then add the fact that it is one hell of an entertaining film.It begins with what seems to be a Scorsese-inspired gangster story, but it is quickly revealed that these are no ordinary wiseguys, they're vampires as well. The fear inducing darkness of vampires has always lacked the brutality of what the gangster element adds to it. The concept is a perfect merging and the portrayal is pulled off beautifully. With names like Jimmy Fangs and Nicky the Tooth, you know right off that you are in for a wild ride.After a particularly bloody opening sequence and a prelude to what irreverent humor is coming when a female victim is spared by Joey the Butcher as he simply puts "Hey, I wanna bang this broad", the plot diverges into three separate storylines that will by the end combine back into one. There are of course several other small subplots strewn about that sometimes threaten to steal the spotlight with their absolute witty genius, like the two vampire bodyguards who seem to be stuck in the eighties complete with hair metal fashion sense and obscure Nelson references or the vampire blood-tainted marijuana that turns a bunch of ravers into flesh hungry zombies.The vampire-gangster plot tends to be the most memorable with immensely funny cross-references of both vampire and gangster lore. A very memorable scene involves an argument between Nicky and Joey about Nicky's fang dysfunction. It seems that he is only able to extend one of his fangs, and he is no less self-conscious about that fact. The other two plots seem to take a much more serious approach, which was a smart move. If the whole movie had been contrived to be humorous it wouldn't have worked. It's not a comedy. It's a serious film that just happens to have naturally funny characters.The second plot contains a young angst-ridden couple, Marcel and Amy, who have stolen money from the vampire gangsters and are on the run. They eventually take a born again Christian girl, Annabelle, hostage and set off to find a better life for themselves. This plot actually has a nice morality type twist to it, as Annabelle convinces Amy that being a vampire is wrong. Amy sees the grotesque world she lives in and the absolute viciousness of her partner Marcel. She attempts to change her ways and find Jesus, but how is such a thing possible?The last plot, a revenge story, involves a mysterious female vampire of immense power on a rampage, killing other vampires, searching for the person who turned her. It's not revealed until near the end who that person is, but it ties everything together in quite a nice little conclusion.Nothing about Strange Things Happen At Sundown is predictable. It's very original in it's conception and it's delivery. The conventions of what a vampire is considered to be are thrown out the window. They walk around in daylight, a knife to the heart is just as good as a stake, and aside from drinking blood and having vampire powers, they concern themselves with all of the normal things regular people do. How could you have Mafioso vampires that were repelled by garlic?The film does tend to drag out a little bit at a whopping two hours and fifteen minutes. Some scenes could have been trimmed down, especially the human death scenes. The filmmakers wanted to show that dying from a vampire bite was extremely painful. Repeatedly, victims are shown writhing in agony for extensive periods of time. This gets monotonous after awhile and could have simply been illustrated one time and been left at that. That small complaint aside, Strange Things Happen At Sundown really shines as a testament to what low budget filmmakers can do when they have the ambition and the willingness to work hard at their craft.Technically, the film is very professionally made. There is some quite impressive cinematography, with lots of low angle and skewed shots very reminiscent again of a Martin Scorsese film. The quick editing is a dead giveaway of the hours of hard work, revealing nothing of the films low budget origins. The score is low key, but very effective and accentuates the film were it is needed. The DVD quality is top notch with deep dark wet colors for interior shots and a washed out pale brightness for exterior scenes.
W**K
Buyer beware
Because of the positive reviews given on this movie, I decided to purchase it for my husband as a Christmas present. What a joke. It was like watching a play on TV. The acting was lousy and so was the plot line.
A**E
Vampire-Zombie Aficionados Take Note!
When a group of mobsters hunt down one of their own for ripping off the club, they expose themselves to a vengeful vigilante. STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN plays out like a b-edition of the SOPRANOS, except that all of the lead characters are Vampires including the avenger as well as those who are contracted to kill for the mob. The camera work, plot, acting and FX range from fair to good. On the down side, at a bloated 2 ¼ hours, the film consists of much unnecessary dialogue, which also exposed the limitations of the actors. The gore is OK, but certainly not as plentiful (or as credible) as some reviewers would have you believe. Much of it lies in the shadows or beyond the camera. Indeed, the foreground of the film is not generally well lit and many of the kill scenes are also obscured by camera angles that reveal less of the victim (and more of the killer). The film also has a slight grainy-less than sharp look about it which also degraded these scenes. The film's biggest flaw is that it was unable to decide whether it was a comedy or a horror outing. Sure, mobsters often exhibit a bravado driven swagger that can be acceptably humorous, (but this ain't no INNOCENT BLOOD). For example, one is confronted with a character known as the Reaper, who is the supernatural version of Murder Incorporated, except that he has an obnoxious, over the top, nagging wife. No one knows what he looks like, except when he reveals his true self near the film's conclusion. Trust me it is not worth writing about. Overall while the concept of the Reaper is inspiring, the manner in which he was portrayed left a lot to be desired. While there was much to like about this film, there were also many misfires that could easily have been avoided. On the upside, Zombie aficionados take note, as these Vampires create a sub race of worker Vamps who behave more like Zombies. In fact, there was some serious carnage near the film's conclusion, even an evisceration or two. I would have liked to have seen more of this Zombie-Vamp carnage. In fact, it could have played a more prominent role in the film as it is a great concept. While the FX was a little spotty, one must applaud the filmmaker's attempt to push the envelope and create something different. All things considered this is a fair to good indie effort that is worth watching especially for those interested in the Vampire and even Zombie genres. Recommended viewing.
B**N
'Strange Things' A Vampire Masterpiece
Up until tonight, Blade II was my favorite vampire movie of all time. It was dark, violent, and had fun action. All of that changed, though, after seeing Strange Things Happen At Sundown. This is to vampire movies, what Dawn of the Dead is to zombie movies. It's quick, graphically violent, darkly funny, and profane. It's probably what would happen if Quentin Tarantino would have directed a vampire movie.I already mentioned that Strange Things is violent, but it simply must be seen to be believed. It's definately in the top 10 most violent films I've ever seen. And the ending is simply brilliant, just like the rest of the film. So see Strange Things Happen At Sundown if you're a fan of vampire films or independent horror movies. You could do worse. Actually, you couldn't do much better.
P**E
Better than expected
I didn't expect a lot from this low budget vampire movie but it was better than expected. There were a lot of characters and several linking story lines to keep the viewer interested. I didn't like the fact that they just killed at random littering the countryside with corpses and NOBODY noticed, I'm sure American cops are better than that. As previous reviewers pointed out this is very bloody and the director likes the sort of vampire that bites chunks out of its victim's necks rather than just sinking in the fangs, you have been warned. Be prepared for lots of scantily dressed ladies writhing around a lot but suprisingly little nudity. it is also over two hours long. This could have been a very good vampire movie with a bigger budget and a little more thought, 5/10
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1 week ago
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