Humanist Vampire | TIFF 2023 | Review by: Benjamin Garrett

 

You wouldn’t think a coming of age story would work in a film where the main character is a vampire, because, well… vampires don’t age all that quickly. By taking growing old out of the equation, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person adds a refreshingly uncommon element to the mix - living for eternity in a life you don’t want to lead. 

Sarah Montpetit plays Sasha - a teenage vampire whose conscience gets in the way of her taking lives. She’s a bit of an outcast, even within her own household, and miserable with the life she’s been born into. When she meets a boy (Felix-Antione Bernard) who’s contemplating taking his own life, it sparks a new kind of feeling within her, and everything changes. These two young actors are wonderful together, with the kind of awkward budding chemistry you’d expect from naive teenagers. 

The humour is dry, dark and often subtle, but it never detracts from the meaningfulness of the story. This is a quirky coming of age story at heart, but one that also navigates weighty subject matter without coming across as heavy handed. It’s a nice balance that allows the movie to remain light, while keeping its more somber, existential themes present. It’s quite effective in making you laugh while also making you reflect on the impermanence of life and the finality of death.

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is a darkly comical delight that puts a morbid spin on the coming of age genre. It’s quirky, cute, and resonates on a profound level that you wouldn’t expect from a teenage vampire flick. 

3.5/5

Review by: Benjamin Garrett