Dead and Lonely – Review

Vampire stories are abundant in television and film, especially within the past couple of years. When you first hear about Dead and Lonely, you would not automatically assume what the story line entails. Dating websites are the new social norm, so it’s pretty clever how Ti West manages to integrate the technology that has been adapted into our culture, and used it to his advantage to put the female vampire in a state of vulnerability. Having to go through the notions of dating and even grooming like the rest of us do, within the story West makes vampires feel just like us, except with a huge appetite for blood.

Justin (Justin Rice) is a anxious and awkward character that helps create a weird balance between him along with Lee’s (Paige Stark) forward but subtle behavior. The chemistry, as off beat as the two seem to be for each other, it works between the two actors. West’s direction is clean cut, yet distinctive in a good way, especially with having such a strong hand in the creative process of this five episode series. The bold, yet simple beat in the background brings a nice mix of tension towards the end of each episode, as the rhythmic heartbeat tune making you want to know what will happen next.

Each episode has their own small situations that go on, but it all eventually leads up toward a particular climax without taking too long or short of a time to do so. The leap of vulnerability the vampire has with living during this period, makes this piece look like two lonely people looking for love, even though one is possibly looking for food. The playful dialogue, the soft interaction between these two people, and the overall flow of the shorts turned into a pleasant watch for myself. By the end of it, I wanted to see more of what happens within that world. It engages me to the point of where even though each one of these is five minutes, it turns into a twenty or so minute short that you want to expand, wishing there was more.

Rating: