VAMPYR (1932)

Sometimes, films do not seem to make much sense. They are at least decidedly metaphorical, cryptic and more often than not carry deep hidden meaning. I won't even pretend that I understand the entire concept of this film though. I don't think anyone is meant to fully understand........ Except for possibly director Carl Theodore Dreyer......

VAMPYR has a clear storyline, contrary to what many might say. The story obviously concerns a sick girl living near an old Inn in the villiage of Courtempierre. She is slowly being drained by a Vampire. Alan Grey, a student of the occult, comes to the rescue. This much is clear. The story follows a natural course. What is not clear however remains the insertion of several debatably irrelevant scenes througout the film, quite random in some areas. So it must be assumed that on some level, there is a hidden message, or theme perhaps. All we know is that the randomness that is this film must, or at least probably should, have some meaning.

Put it simply, Vampyr is about an occult student, Allen Gray, whom upon arriving at a bizarre old Inn in Courtempierre, France,  begins seeing strange things. What follows may seem like nonsense to some. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. Grey comes upon a young woman dying slowly from what the audience will know, a Vampire draining her. Allen Grey must confront and destroy the vampire, which he does.

VAMPYR is known mostly for it's foggy atmosphere and a dream sequence. Both of which make the film seem like a dream. It's almost as if the film were one of Dreyer's dreams. There notoriously was something wrong with the camera lens during filming, making the footage appear foggy and Dreyer liked this. It only adds to the dreamlike atmosphere.

There is little point attempting to discuss Vampyr and it's implied horror, but it remains a film that must be mentioned, an overlooked film. I cannot do the film justice by review, it's just not one of those films. However, I can reccomend it to ANYONE. There is literally nothing else like it. FIVE STARS OUT OF FIVE.