Directed by David Verbeek
Written by David Verbeek, Hugh Travers (screenplay contribution)
Starring Gijs Blom, Philip Juan, Anna Marchenko, Aviis Zhong
Runtime: 1 hour and 39 minutes
Available to watch exclusively on Shudder, November 4th

by Emily Maesar, Staff Writer

There is always going to be something that draws us to stories about obscenely rich and directionless young people. And that’s where we start (and end) with Dead & Beautiful. The film follows five supremely rich (and of course, hot) 20-somethings who have too much money and time on their hands. To fill that time, and spend that money, they rotate doing elaborate pranks and hosting secret events for each other every week. 

When one of their weekly excursions goes terribly wrong, all five of them wake up as vampires. Determined to discover the limits of their powers, the gang each embarks on their own series of escalating tests. Which elements from different media about vampires are actually true, and how will their relationships change as everyone spirals down dark and violent paths?

I really, really liked this film. It was, all at once, exactly what I imagined it was going to be, but it also surprised me in ways I wasn’t anticipating. But that also makes it quite hard to talk about without giving any spoilers. I will say, though, that I feel like the story is one that will hold up to multiple viewings once you know the answer to the questions. Even the ones you didn’t know you were asking. A feat which is shockingly rare, though it should be the standard when building out stories like these. 

The film is beautifully shot and takes its time getting to the thing which sells it: vampires. I do wish we’d gotten more time with some of the characters. They’re rendered well enough, but it never hurts to flesh out character motives and drive a bit more, especially before the shit starts hitting the fan. However, the finale of the film is one of those things that’s just gonna sit with me for a while. As will Aviis Zhong as Lulu, who’s clearly the lead of the film. She’s the only one whose family net worth is simply “unknown” and she’s stuck in a love triangle between Mason (Gijs Blom) and Alex (Yen Tsao). The former she’s clearly interested in, and the latter is interested in her. As the twists and turns pick up speed, it becomes clear that not a single person’s feelings align with each other. Lulu spends most of the film making attempts to get Mason’s attention, only to have Alex ask the same of her. The three of them become stuck in a pattern of escalating trials which becomes the emotional core of the film. It’s less about whether any one of them will get what they want and more about the violent and bloody ends that come with it.

Between the promo images for this film and the pitch of it, I knew it was going to be something I would like. Dead & Beautiful is a wonderful mix of Only Lovers Left Alive and Gossip Girl with a very specific voice that feels like a fever dream. It’s emotional, but also cold in ways that feel off-putting, detached from brutal and violent actions and the consequences that come with them. This film is filled with the longing that comes from the listlessness of money and of the possibility of eternal life.