JP Nunez
If there’s one thing I like more than a good vampire movie, it’s an unconventional film that deviates from the standard bloodsucking template. I can’t get enough of movies like Martin, Cronos, and Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, so it should come as no surprise that the name Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person was enough to intrigue the hell out of me, even before I knew what the film was about. It sounded like the kind of atypical vampire fare I just eat up, so I knew I had to check it out as soon as I got the chance.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person was directed by Ariane Louis-Seize and co-written by Christine Doyon and Ariane Louis-Seize. The film stars Sara Montpetit and Félix-Antoine Bénard. In the movie, Sasha is a young vampire who lives a seemingly normal vampire life with her parents, but she has an unusual quirk: she refuses to kill. Even as a young girl, she just couldn’t bring herself to harm a human being, and now that she’s in her 60s (but still looking like a teenager), she still needs someone else to do her hunting for her.
However, that all changes when she meets Paul, a suicidally depressed teenager. When Paul finds out that Sasha is a vampire, he agrees to let her kill him and drink his blood, but before she does, she decides to let him carry out a few final wishes before he dies. Unsurprisingly, there are a number of things Paul wants to do before he leaves this world behind, and as the night goes on, he and Sasha form a bond neither of them could’ve foreseen.
Like many unconventional vampire films, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person relies pretty heavily on its characters, and thankfully, they’re an absolute joy to watch. Everybody in this cast is fully believable, but hands down the best performances belong to the two leads, Sara Montpetit and Félix-Antoine Bénard.
Félix-Antoine Bénard imbues Paul with the kind of meek awkwardness that comes from being a high school outcast. In fact, for about 90% of Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, Paul walks around with a wide-eyed look that’s just shy of farcical, making it pretty clear this kid is not comfortable in his own skin.
Sara Montpetit gives a similarly mellow performance as Sasha, and it’s not just her tone of voice. Everything about the character, from her facial expressions to the way she carries herself, gives off that vibe as well, so even when she’s just standing still and staring off into space, it’s pretty obvious that she wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Those excellent performances give Paul and Sasha an irresistibly quirky charm that will keep your eyes glued to the screen, and these characters get even better when their stories finally intersect. For example, there’s a great scene where Sasha takes Paul back to her room to drink his blood, and surprisingly, the kid starts to open up. He thinks the vampire’s setup is pretty cool, and that gets him talking about himself a bit and asking Sasha a few questions about her interests.
One of those questions prompts Sasha to put on her favorite record, and that’s when these characters really begin to click. After an awkward first few moments, they both start to dance and seeing these two misfits come out of their shells, even for a couple of minutes, is genuinely touching.
In fact, pretty much the entire second half of Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is like that. At its core, this movie is essentially a quirky teen romcom, so the best thing about it is seeing the transformation these two kids undergo as they spend more time together. They slowly come to love and accept each other for who they are, and that connection gives them renewed confidence and a zest for life. It’s a heartwarming story that’s reminiscent of Let the Right One In in all the best ways, so only the most cold-hearted among us could walk away from it unmoved.
The only thing it’s missing is a brutal vampire attack like the pool scene at the end of that film, but to be fair, there is a moment that somewhat fills that gap. It involves Paul and a group of friends who love to torment him, and…well, I’ll let you see it for yourselves. It’s not as savage as the final few minutes of Let the Right One In, but if you’re a fan of vampire horror, I think you’re going to enjoy it.
Last but not least, we have to talk about the comedy in Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person. As I said, this movie is essentially a romcom, but you might want to temper your expectations a bit. It’s not nearly as uproariously funny as, say, What We Do in the Shadows or Bloodsucking Bastards, and to be frank, it’s not trying to be. It’s way more focused on its story than those movies are, so it can’t pile on the laughs the way they do.
Instead, it simply works in a few gags whenever it can (including some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments!), and Sasha and Paul’s awkwardness is always good for a few smiles and chuckles. It’s just funny enough that you’ll definitely notice the humor, but the jokes aren’t so pervasive that they make or break the entire experience.
On the flipside, I have to be honest, I don’t have any significant criticisms of Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person. Sure, there are a few things I can nitpick here and there, but on the whole, I had an awesome time with this film. It has excellent characters, a heartwarming story, and just enough comedy and horror to keep fans satisfied. It’s pretty much the total package, so if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, I highly suggest that you give this movie a watch when you get the chance.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is set to open in New York and Los Angeles on June 21, and it’s going to get a nationwide rollout after that.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, call the suicide hotline in your country. If someone is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number (e.g. 911 in the US).
