First look: Creep Creepersin’s ORGY OF BLOOD
Written by Samuel Zimmerman
Thursday, May 07, 2009 02:52 PM
News - Film News
Fango recently heard from the creators of ORGY OF BLOOD, the latest from indie writer/director Creep Creepersin, whose O.C. BABES AND THE SLASHER OF ZOMBIETOWN just got announced for DVD (see info here). His new movie (see exclusive photos below) is an erotic vampire opus starring and executive-produced by Italian actor Domiziano Arcangeli.
The story centers on Fosco (Arcangeli, first photo), a 300-year-old bloodsucker who lives a lustful lifestyle in an opulent mansion with his wife Sabina and their son Dimitri. Their lives are a nonstop orgy where anything goes—until the human Fauna and her boyfriend Micah arrive and begin turning the trio violently against each other. While Creepersin (second photo) scripted, it was Arcangeli who brainstormed the concept and story idea. “When I was growing up in Italy in the ’70s, there was this very famous adult-themed comic strip called VAMPIRELLA,” he tells Fango. “It was just wonderful: a true kaleidoscope of exploitation and genius, a bit like a movie by [CALIGULA’s] Tinto Brass [with whom Arcangeli worked on his 1991 film PAPRIKA). All the kids were trying to buy copies of VAMPIRELLA at the newspaper stands, but it was difficult because they were forbidden to minors. Whenever someone was able to steal one from their dad or older brother, we would pass it along to each other like crazy. It was like a dream, for me at least. Like a Gothic erotica, strongly influenced by the pop art and B movies of the time.”
VAMPIRELLA prompted Arcangeli to believe that was how vampire lore should be told. “I loved the classic Bram Stoker novel, of course, and had a certain fascination for Anne Rice at some point,” he says, “but for me, the perfect vampiric story had to be like an episode of VAMPIRELLA—the most politically incorrect type of sexuality, formally and visually gorgeous to look at, with a decadence and Gothic darkness in it.”
“When I spoke with Domi,” Creepersin says, “he really wanted to see a very erotic vampire film that was full of mystery. So that started the wheels turning. Another thing we both agreed on was that we wanted this to be very shocking—not in the aspect of normal shock value, but in the form of the art we portray. Part of this involved bringing in a bisexual angle, as well as the incest theme. We both wanted it to feel like a foreign film in regards to making everything from the sexuality to the killing extremely beautiful. Once we got the location, and seeing Domi in his wardrobe, the film immediately had a feel that encompasses things like silent Lon Chaney films, Hammer horror and even the art of Dario Argento. It is really something beautiful to see.” The cast also includes indie-horror habitués Lorielle New, Randal Malone, Jeff Dylan Graham, Phoebe Dollar, Elissa Dowling and Ariauna Albright, with appearances by fetish performers the NecroGirls.
ORGY OF BLOOD was shot on Sony’s 4K RED hi-def camera, of which Arcangeli says, “It’s like my baby. I love the quality, and I prefer it even to film. It’s so clear, crisp and deep. As an actor, I must say: You’d better look good and be careful with the makeup, because the RED is great, but it does not forgive face wrinkles, lines or makeup imperfections. It sees everything.”
Producer Aine Leicht echoes his sentiments, explaining, “This was my first feature using the RED, and I couldn’t be happier with the results, the way it picks up colors and light. Plus, the depth of quality is beautiful, especially in low light and when using candles.”
“We were trying to make an American-foreign film, if that makes any sense,” Creepersin adds. “When writing the treatment, the only two films that we were trying to blend were THE HUNGER and EYES WIDE SHUT—not so much in story but in feel.” Aside from VAMPIRELLA, Arcangeli cites literature from the period and setting they were trying to embody. “My strongest influence has been the decadence of certain rare Gothic gems from the 1700s or 1800s,” he says. “I think about novels like THE MONK by Matthew Lewis, which is a true masterpiece. All of that obscure literature, mixed with the erotica of pop art and certain European films from the ’70s and ’80s, which are also part of my professional background.”
The result of so many inspirations and ideas has resulted in a movie that Creepersin, Arcangeli and Leicht truly believe to be something special. Creepersin notes, “The story itself is very different from any other vampire film out there, while still giving genre fans the bit of lore and visuals that they have become familiar with.”
“ORGY OF BLOOD is very much a return to a darker, more Gothic and sexually perverse world of vampirism,” adds Leicht. “So many vampire films right now are more action- or teen-oriented, and we really wanted to put their dark and sexual nature back into the mix. This story focuses much more closely on a family of vampires and their own inner conflicts, dealing with their mortality—or lack thereof—and how they cope when an outside element comes in and turns their world upside down.”
ORGY OF BLOOD looks to satisfy and revel in our darkest sensibilities, while putting a smile on our faces. “It should at least bring to audiences’ attention a different point of view on the classic vampire story,” Arcangeli says. “We all saw UNDERWORLD and such; now let’s go for something more gaudy, saturated, sleazy and gory! Can you tell how much fun I’m having?” You can read more about ORGY OF BLOOD at its MySpace page.
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