Eat Locals (2017)

A gathering of a vampire council at a hidden hideaway turns into a bloodbath when the British Army ambushes them in an attempt to put an end to their local reign of terror in the new horror comedy, Eat Locals.Charlie Cox (Marvel's Daredevil) headlines a group of eight vampires who at their semi-centennial meeting discuss matters such as territory and new members. Their meeting also introduces the fanged ones to the human at the table. Billy Cook plays Sebastian, a warm blooded human who tags along with date Vanessa (Eve Myles) unaware his date is a vampire and she is accompanying him to a flock of bloodsuckers. Sebastian quickly realizes that he is not in friendly quarters but any notion of escape is thwarted when the army erupts in gunfire. Soon, the houseguests are accepting that they are surrounded by a heavily armed force lead by a commander committed to ending the vampire race.Vampire films have been done to nausea over the past two decades, but thanks to a tongue-in-cheek deviously funny script by Danny King (Wild Bill, 2011), Eat Locals felt like fresh fun covering familiar territory. There may not be laugh out loud moments, but the script is nuanced and seasoned with fresh characters, fun challenges and a satisfying ended that make the viewing worth recommending.It's hard not to root for the sharp-tooth characters as they struggle to find continued cause in their existence while fighting for their very survival. Added to the comedic mix are two additional human characters (Dexter Fletcher and Ruth Jones) that have a peculiar role in context of the vampires meeting above them in the house. Not all your favorite characters will survive but everyone seems to meet their maker after a spotlight moment which will leave audiences satisfied.We would categorize Eat Locals as more of a comedy than a horror. So too must have the director Jason Flemying who makes his directorial debut here after over 125 acting credits on IMDb.com. The director's end credits reel reintroduces each character with each actor looking like they are having a ruckus of a good time during the shoot.But don't think for a second that there isn't a good body count to go with all the yuks. Whether it's elderly vampire Alice (Annette Crosbie who has some of the better comedic moments) standing in the open firing off hundreds of rounds with an automatic weapon likely larger than her own physical frame or a concerned military man who gets rewarded for his kindness with two sharp objects impaling either side of his neck, Eat Locals brings body bags.By the time the lights again illuminated the theatre at the screening as part of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, I was thankful for the experience. What a great treat right before the Halloween season.

This is a comedy that is not funny. It is designed to be some sort of sitcom, a mini series maybe. And it is hit and, in my case, miss. The old woman with a machine gun? It is so badly worked it is not even amusing. And that is one of the many scenes thrown in for fluff. They do not help the story. They are not funny. And they were far better on the editing room floor.The acting is not bad. But it is not good either. And the uninspired mix of mafia, army and catholicism made me think how inspired I was to get my ebook reader with me.Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch

Most of people just fall into the movies industry's manichean trap: that was awesome / that sucked. All does not just sum up to that.Some movies do not pretend to be brainless blockbusters or over-the-top complex intrigues. Many well-thought movies manage to set up an atmosphere, a calm one, allowing you to enter it and fathom unexplicited details about the situation and the characters. Take Only Lovers Left Alive, for instance.I admit it that, at first, I was highly doubting of the value of Eat Local. The first scene is long, quiet and silent. Who does that? But this is exactly what encouraged me to keep watching (I had then no idea of what I was looking at, save for a vague two line synopsis and I hadn't looked at any trailer): the movie tried something unconventional.Then, boom, surprise, the casting. I couldn't believe my eyes! Even though I had doubt over the following scenes, the atmosphere and cast locked my undivided attention for good: every character had something peculiar, a personality and behavior of their own. Alike real life, you had to stick with them to find out who they were and be positively surprised.And it all tilted in my head at the first military scene and at the arrival of Billy Cook and Eve Myles to the meeting. I realized the subtle humour that was embedded. Be it awkward pauses or poses seeming off or sweet gestures or forced laughters, the tragic setting of the movie brilliantly collided with its lightness in recounting the story.And then, I can only remember enjoying every bit of it. At times I was surprised at the unconventional characters and feared any foreseeable outcomes or lines. But there were none. I was being surprised and led from laughters to more surprises. But there was NO MISTAKE AT ALL. Not one cliché apart for humour's sake. And this, this is so uncommon that I had to immediately watch it all over a second time! (in French, for the sake of comparing little details)Yes, this movie is not what one can expect at first glance. It goes deeper, it is more subtle and incredibly more poignant than most of other attempts out there to do impressive crazy stuff. Many vampire movies are shot to entertain us, but rarely to make us think (between two smirks). That's the hidden strength of Eat Local and its incredible cast and crew, who deserve so much more recognition and who are way too much underrated.I can't wait to see the sequel: Eat Global.

NB, I'm awarding this movie 4 for the inclusion of so many really good actors, actors who as an ensemble cast should have had better parts written for them. My - complete supposition - is that as the director, Jason Fleming, is a well known actor, there was some measure of doing a pal a favour in getting this cast together. Try as it might to get going, this movie, has an identity problem. Is it a comedy? Is it horror? Is it a pastiche of "Famous" movie scenes stuck together?It may have been trying for all three (And perhaps I missed a few other tropes.)Sadly the result misses out on everything. The premise is basically sound - British vampires meet up to discuss new "Membership" - but from there on, story, characterisation, and humour often falls flat. Dexter Fletcher, mostly shines with his comedic efforts, but that just shines a spotlight on the paucity of the writing for the rest of the cast.Probably best observed with friends, playing a drinking game - take a shot every time you say "Oh dear!" to yourself - on the other hand, perhaps not, I wouldn't want to encourage irresponsible drinking!