Ronit J

Humanist Vampire (2023) Synopsis:

A young woman vampire is unable to kill to meet her need for blood, but may have found a solution in a young man with suicidal tendencies.

Humanist Vampire (2023) Review:

A friend of mine recommended this one to me while drinking at a house party. He said it’s right up my alley, and he was so damn right. 

The strange and long title (I’m a sucker for long titles) is just the beginning of what makes this movie so beautiful. Imagine dark and brooding themes presented in an aesthetically pleasing manner that leaves you with a warm smile. That’s Humanist Vampire for you.

A Hilarious Moral Dilemma

The opening scene of the film was exactly what I expected—a horrifying twist that progresses into our protagonist Sasha (6-year-old Sasha played by Lilas-Rose Cantin) being revealed to have… empathy. The film takes its time showing us this tumultuous time in the Vampires’ lives, the dissonance in the treatment and subject matter creating a hilarious yet thought-provoking melange. Cut to Sasha’s adulthood (played by Sara Montpetit), where she still hasn’t grown her fangs, and continues to feed off blood bags. Her empathy makes it impossible for her to follow her community’s way of life (hunting and feasting on humans). Yet, she needs blood for sustenance, putting her in a real life-death quandary.

Things change when she encounters Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard), a suicidal person whose accidental bump and resulting cut prompt Sasha’s fangs to come out. Where the vampire doesn’t want to kill, the human doesn’t want to live. They both are outcasts in their respective worlds. Their meeting isn’t just a clash of perfectly fitting puzzle pieces, but one that raises several philosophical questions of ethics, morality, and empathy. Yet, the film doesn’t indulge in philosophy as much as it lets its characters accept their predicaments with simplicity and warmth.

The resolution that comes from this conflict isn’t all too surprising. Yet, the way the filmmaker, Ariane Louis-Seize, embraces it forces you to think. What’s stopping our current society from finding a likewise merciful solution for people on their deathbeds just waiting to pass?

Dark Themes, presented with Warmth & Empathy

What I really loved about Humanist Vampire was its simplistic treatment. The French Arthouse cinema aesthetic serves the narrative well. There aren’t any flashy scenes that provoke an adrenaline rush. Instead, you get character-focused scenes that are paced exactly as they should be to favour the depth and complexity of their inner turmoils. Of course, there are moments of high tension, where emotions run high, but they too are presented with empathy and warmth. Even the performances are relatively muted, again a feature of many arthouse films. But that diverts focus towards the dilemmas that the characters are going through. 

If I didn’t know better, I’d say this is a cosy fantasy film with some very dark and thought-provoking themes. Living for both Sasha and Paul is exigent. For Sasha, because she doesn’t approve of the vampiric ways, and for Paul because he can’t find meaning in his human existence. Yet, their solution makes their respective existences a little more palatable (pun intended). SPOILER: Sasha can consume human blood knowing it comes from mercy and empathy, not cruel murder. Paul, on the other hand, has found his calling, no longer feeling suicidal. It’s absurd, if you think about it, but thematically makes complete sense. After all, you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

Humanist Vampire (2023) Ending Explained (SPOILERS)

Sasha turns Paul into a Vampire because that’s the only way they can get away from his miserable life. While Paul is struggling to adapt to his new genes, Sasha finds Paul’s notes, including “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person”. Once everything is settled, we have a small time-skip, after which we find Sasha and Paul going to Paul’s mother’s hospital. There, they greet an old woman on her deathbed, ready to accept mercy. The vampires help her pass and, with her consent, take her body and blood for their nutrition. 

A strangely humane ending provided for by supposedly inhuman monsters. Is this the filmmaker’s way of telling us that refusing euthanasia to those at the end is cruel? That “mercy killing” is more of the former and less of the latter? That maybe society should embrace such killings because that is real mercy?

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Humanist Vampire (2023) worth the watch?

Yes. If I had watched this at a film festival, I would’ve loved it so much! I really want to take time out and burn through the filmmaker’s filmography because I really enjoyed watching Humanist Vampire. 

In Conclusion:

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is a film whose title is also its elevator pitch. And it delivers exactly what it promises: a poignant film that explores dark and heavy themes with warmth and empathy.

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Have you seen Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023)? What did you think about this movie? Let me know in the comments below, along with any film recommendations you’d like me to watch/review.

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