Written by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com
Looking for a unique take on the vampire film genre? It's a well traveled road with every incarnation imaginable have been done to death or undeath (pun intended). Finding something that happens to be be infused with new blood (pun intended again) is like discovering that cool little eatery or eclectic shop down a side street off an avenue that corporate America strip mined with soulless franchises. Enough with the metaphors and excessive use of prepositions. Let's talk about The Devil's Gravestone,
I was a big fan of "Daybreakers". I could appreciate all the social undertones. The de-evolution of any one that doesn't feed regularly, the father daughter relationship that was made horribly dysfunctional by vampirism, and the accidental cure for it all. I dug everything, and I'm on board for anything that attempts to make something that's so regularly done, a little thought provoking again. "The Devil's Gravestone" is an ambitious endeavor that does well with a lot originality on a small budget. The substance over style approach works here.
Jaq (Elle LaMont) is a vampire hunter fueled by heartbreak and bitter vengeance, when her husband is turned, and murders their son. She's become a force to be reckoned with, killing vampires in Roach City, a backdrop of urban bleakness, where everything could stand a fresh coat of paint and some urban revitalization. Her prize kill so far is the woman who turned her husband during a night of infidelity that made a habit of doing the same thing to other men over and over again indiscriminately. She's in pursuit of her husband to close the loop, when she meets Dick (Joe Nemmers). Bad name, but a good guy. He's a cop who has been following her, and wants to help her find her husband. Turns out that her husband Cale (Niko Red Star), an indie version of Deacon Frost has settled into his vampire ways quite comfortably, and has a plan to have a new son with a little self sacrifice, some incantations, and an unholy alliance with the devil.
I really appreciate what they tried to do with this film. Vampires are just the binder that holds other elements that are integrated in better than I've seen in movies that were well received and better funded. The setting of Roach City is great also with dilapidated sections, a cool gothic church, and a great clock with the caption "Night Cometh". I don't know if it was on purpose or just serendipitous, but there is also a subtle noir vibe here. The only drawbacks were some curious plot elements that never paid off. I'm almost sure there's more story that didn't get told either because of editing or plans for more films. The look of the film is grainy at times and the dialogue sounds giallo styled dubbed, but it works in setting this apart as a unique little movie. This falls in my category of films that I love to recommend to my friends who would appreciate it, and absolutely would have never found it on their own. That includes you guys.