A couple of sleepless nights ago, I decided to watch one of the films we’ve been studying in cinema. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) by Ana Lily Amirpour is not your typical Vampire film. The film is set what seems like current day in a town that is being veiled by the unsettling presence of drugs and violence, a place called ‘Bad City’.
The film deals with concepts such as love, loneliness and familial ties in a very tasteful way. The vampire takes it’s shape in the form of a young girl who roams the streets at night, trying to eliminate the evil within this ‘Bad City’. Usually attacking bad men, feminist themes become apparent throughout the film. The entire film was chosen to be filmed in black and white – this effect reflects the idea of good and evil within the film whilst also providing the audience with the gothic authenticity of a vampire film.
One thing I really enjoyed about the film was it’s portrayal of the effects of drugs. I found that the film portrayed drugs in a very tasteful way – showing the darkest sides of an addictive opiate such as heroin and accurately portraying the ‘fantastical’ feeling of ‘X’. Usually party drugs are illuminated by a negative light usually within an aggressive atmosphere – in this film, however, Arash has an epiphany whilst under the influence of MDMA and sees/perceives things inna very poetic way – something which the Vampire takes a liking to.
I also enjoyed the soundtrack of the film and I loved how the director chose to have each song play in full – almost as if the entire movie was a montage of music videos.
I’d give this film about an 8/10 for me – I really enjoyed it.