The Death of Alice Blue (2009)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Park Bench

Writer:

Park Bench (writer)

Release Date:

2009 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

And you thought you had a dead end job.

Plot:

Alice Blue is the new Creative Intern at Raven Advertising, unfortunately for her, the place is run by vampires.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Advertising | Cult | Goth Girl | Vampire Girl

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

Alex Appel	...	Alice Blue
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Park Bench	...	Peter Green
Amanda Brugel	...	Amanda
Michael Caruana	...	Harold
Conrad Coates	...	Detective McGregor
Juno Mills Cockell	...	Lindy
Gordon Currie	...	Julian
Carolyn Dunn	...	Mary
Megan Fahlenbock	...	Sharon
Ed Fielding	...	Barry
Katie Griffin	...	Katie
John Healy	...	Daniel
Diane Higgins	...	Goth Girl
Kristen Holden-Ried	...	Stephen
Veronica Hurnick	...	Karen
David Macniven	...	Ted
Barbara Radecki	...	Sherry
Laura Thorne	...	Rose

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Toothin Theatre

Vampires at an advertisement agency create havoc on themselves

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Theater of the absurd featuring vampires is the alternative summary for this bizarre Gothic concoction. I came to it on account of the established reputation of the venue. I can't say I was satisfied, but nor was I put off. The whole thing is so weird and exaggerated that it rises to the level of parody.

The Raven advertisement agency is a rundown, rat infested, retro place populated by snidey and arrogant employees. Alice Blue is a newbie hired on a Friday and working her first full Monday as the movie opens. In a period of five weekdays, Alice will morph from a meek girl to a confident killing machine. It will be a bloody Friday afternoon. TGIF.

The plot is a mash-up, but put that on the account of parody. The important mission of the film is to assemble the requisite action sequences, clichés, and humor. Examples of the later: (1) a vampire sucks a victim dry and suggests they go out to lunch some day; (2) a proposed ad for Nether Wines is to call attention to the nether regions.

The theatrical style of acting enhances the tongue-in-cheek attitude of many characters. The director plays one of the main roles and his droll and goofy demeanor is endearing. It is left to the main actress the role of the transformative character: a dainty start, a grunge makeover, a Gothic look upgrade, a sexual awakening, finally reaching the status of vengeful vamp. If you get my drift.

The battle royal near the end is a great parody which blends the vampire/slasher genre with office politics. During a presentation to a customer, the vampires create mayhem with the tools of the professional class: rulers decapitate, pens penetrate eyes, tacks are hurled at bodies, laptops serve as shields, metal pointers impale chests, security cameras squash heads and so forth. The gore is nicely contained. Before the blood has had the time to dry, the impassive customer will have signed the contract with the agency.

At the end, the meek inherit the store. A biblical ending of sorts. If only office politics could have such satisfying ends.

At the start you'll see "Part I: The Blood-Sucking Vampires of Advertisement". There is no part II. A sequel perhaps? Not for me.