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STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN
Produced by Frank Garfi, Steve Gonzalez, Brandi Metaxas, and Marc Fratto
Directed, Written, Edited by Marc Fratto
Director of Photograhy - Marc FrattoMarcel - J. Scott Green
Amy - Jocasta Bryan
Annabelle - Shannon Moore
The Reaper - Steve Gonzalez
Narrator - Masha SapronI love the way director Marc Fratto describes his movie STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN, "a vampire movie for people who don't like vampire movies." Not a single "my lord" or frilly gothic costume in sight, and the movie's all the better for it. These vampires are scumbag sociopaths who get off on the kill. By focusing on the base carnal needs of the vampire as a predatory creature blending easily with everyday life, Fratto has made vampires frightening again.
Don't be misled by the lengthy opening sequences revolving around a group of gangster vampires, "Goodfangs" this isn't. The real story surrounds Marcel and Amy, two relatively young vampires still adjusting to their world. The two just want to get away from the overcrowded vampire underworld and live happily ever after torturing hapless newlyweds. Somethings are easier said than done. To fund his nest-egg, Marcel robbed the vampires he once worked for and now has a contract on his head. While poor Amy lavishes in the kill, she has yet to figure out how to extract her fangs and feed properly.
No, this isn't a conventional vampire picture, not by a long shot. STRANGE THINGS does for vampire movies what Scooter McCree's SHATTER DEAD did for zombie flicks 10 years earlier. While Fratto explores as many aspects of vampire lore as he can cram into the 135 minute running time, he keep events grounded in a SHATTER DEAD-like "what if" reality that isn't too hard to fathom. To his credit, Fratto also never loses sight of what a horror picture truly is, entertainment. He keeps the movie fun with a scorching sense of black comedy. Favorite scenes involve a born again Christian trying to help Amy turn over a new leaf by finding Jesus. Let's not forget the badass vampire assassin henpecked by his anal-retentive clean-freak wife.
Some people might be put off by the lengthy running time, but take my word, STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN is all story, there's nary a drawn-out walking sequence in sight, the likes of which bog down 90% of all shot on video productions. What story elements present that don't advance the plot are pure character. The worst that can be said about the movie is that there might be too much going on. In addition to what's been mentioned, there are subplots involving a second vampire assassin similar to the Sonja Blue character in Nancy Collin's SUNGLASSES AFTER DARK, and a running gag about zombies.
A movie's technical aspects are generally something I refrain from mentioning in reviews, but I would be doing a disservice to everyone involved in STRANGE THINGS' production if I didn't. From Fratto's sense of camera work and editing to partner-in-crime Frank Garfi's score, everything is of the highest professional quality. With recent discussion on the B-Independent.com message boards regarding an established set of standards for commercial products, a sort of "Micro-festo", there aren't many better examples of what micro-budget moviemakers should aim for than STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN.