First let me say I am not a fan of vampire movies. In my eyes, the only Dracula was Bela Lugosi. He had a certain aura that could make you love the man. I guess I am just about the typical well dressed with a cloak type of Dracula, I had to open my mind, and I am glad I did. I would have missed this gem of a movie new to Shudder called Blood Relatives.
The movie focuses around a character built out of the Fonz named Francis. He travels the country in his beat-up muscle car trying to live just a normal vampire life. One day his life drastically changes with the arrival of a snotty 14 year old punk rocker claiming to be his daughter. They troll the nation trying to start a family, while learning new things about each other every day.
For me this movie is a classic. I have never been so entertained by a vampire movie. The story in itself is a refresher to the genre. Blood Relatives doesn't have much gore, or jump secrets. What it does have is an interesting story and hilarious moments. It could be described as Dutch on acid. It has the classic family dynamic of people who are just trying in the world. They hardly know each other but realize the idea that all they need is a normal life. It also puts a new twist on the romanticism side of vampires that honestly, killed the subgenre for me. The soundtrack is pretty killer too, the perfect song meets every moment.
In the end I give this movie a respectful nod. It seems they did everything right from creating a new type of vampire, to having the family dynamic we all kind of search for between father and daughter. Cool cars, an awesome story, and plenty of fun. I suggest everyone give it a shot! What it lacks in tradition and gore, it makes up for in originality.
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