softpineswhisperinthebreeze
There were a few laughs in this and the intimacy between Laura and Carmilla was the most realistic and tasteful I've ever seen. But, this just didn't feel like a movie to me. It felt more like a long webisode. I say this for several reasons. First of all, with the exception of Dominique Provost- Chalkley, the acting was the same light, quirky acting that I remembered from the web series. It was entertaining, but not crafted enough for me to consider it movie material. The cinematography also suffered a bit. It felt like the camera work was rough at the start (e.g. the scene with Laura, Carmilla, and the cake at the start felt a bit clumsy). At the end, it was much better, particularly in reference to Dominique Provost-Chalkley. However, if one is going to make a feature-length film, the quality really should be more consistent. The story was interesting and a bit elaborate, but it didn't draw me in. I found myself bored quite a bit throughout the movie. I realized that this might be because the tasteful use of description in the web series that I found so stimulating, was much less relied upon here. I've heard that Hitchcock relied upon the hinting at ideas, using the mind to form more powerful imagery than the camera is capable of producing. The web series — as quirky as it was — accomplished this well through the use of descriptions. It seemed as if they used this to compensate for the stationary camera, but it felt like a mistake to leave it behind. — That brings to mind another thing which was lacking here: literary references. We had quotes from Camus in the web series, but here there was largely just referencing to the original novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. It was appropriate, but not stimulating or intriguing in the same way that the web series was.My sincere compliments to Negovanlis and Bauman for their truly realistic and tasteful portrayal of intimacy. Dominique Provost-Chalkley really elevated this movie with her acting skill (I was only previously familiar with her work Wynonna Earp, but I really enjoyed her here). Finally, to whomever thought up that scene where Dominique Provost-Chalkley came up behind Bauman — wow. What a truly fantastic bit of imagery! It bordered on the surreal in presentation. Truly impressive!Overall, I'd say that if one enjoyed the web series, this should be entertaining. But, don't expect the same ambiance. It gives more in some places, but unfortunately suffers in others. It's worth a watch for the sake of completing one's viewing experience, though I find myself content with my choice not to pre-purchase the movie. It doesn't have the charisma it would need for me to rewatch it again and again. Thankfully, the web series does. I hope that if they decide to do another film or to add episodes to the web series, that they return to that charming and stimulating dynamic that they previously had. It may have relied upon less, technologically, perhaps even financially, but its substance felt superior.
chloewells-18063
I only discovered the series just over a year ago and once I found out there was a movie being made, and after binge watching the series at least 5 times, I was so hyped to see the film. When the movie was released I jumped to watching it as soon as I could. There was twists and turns and the plot was amazing, especially learning about Carmilla's past with Elanor and more about how Carmilla became who she is today. I laughed, I cried and I enjoyed it even more than I did with the series. A massive thank you to everyone involved in making this film possible and showing more queer representation in the media. I hope that Shaftesbury will continue to carry on the series and continue to make great content for the LGBTQ+ community, especially since they ended the film the way they did.
