Only Lovers Left Alive – Review

Only Lovers  Left Alive is a beautifully subtle film from Jim Jarmusch.

Set against a desolate and ruined Detroit and Tangier, love struck vampires Adam and Eve, played by Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton, reunite to continue their centuries old love affair. Adam is a depressed underground musician in Detroit, while Eve spends her time reading and relaxing in Tangier.

These are not your Twilight lusting teenagers, nor your violent and blood thirsty True Blood vamps. There’s a calm around the presence of these majestic characters who have lived and seen so much, oozing a sense of respectful superiority. They despair at the state of the world and the ‘Zombies’, their nickname for humans, who have managed to ruin everything including their own blood. As a consequence these vampires live a cautious and low key existence, surviving on clean blood obtained from doctors or hospitals. Once reunited in marital bliss their cosy love nest is disturbed by Eve’s sister, the younger and more careless Ava, Mia Wasikowska.

The film is both mature and tongue in cheek, with endearing humour and excellent one liners that are perfectly delivered by Tom Hiddleson and Tilda Swinton. Both actors are perfectly suited to the parts and give excellent performances . Hiddleson as depressive, frustrated and urber talented musician Adam is wonderfully melancholy, which is complimented by Swinton’s more enigmatic, accepting and serene Eve. These attractive outsiders draw you in via the films hypnotically slower pace with some beautiful desolate shots.

Don’t be put off by the vampire love story, this is not a cheesy teenage flick. Only Lovers Left Alive is a smirking reflection into human society and has fun playing with the traditional Vampire stereotypes.

Adam and Eve are the coolest of lovers in this smart, funny and visually addictive film.

Only Lovers Left Alive is out in NZ cinemas from 1 May.

Reviewed by Ingrid Grenar

4.5 stars

4.5 stars

4.5 stars

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