Vampire Carnival
Step right up for a bloody good time with directing duo David Charbonier and Justin Douglas Powell’s entertaining sideshow.
Sword Play: Kieron Moore and Alicia Sanz
Image courtesy of Aura Entertainment
by CHAD KENNERK
Recalling the 1972 Hammer Horror Vampire Circus, the equally literal Vampire Carnival follows a travelling attraction that serves as a front for the undead. An ideal gig for working nights and skipping town, it’s a wonder there aren’t more vampire carneys roaming around. David Charbonier and Justin Douglas Powell, the filmmakers behind The Djinn and The Boy Behind the Door, provide a compelling case in their steamy take on the greatest show on earth. Originally titled Crave, the story hails from sibling scriptwriters Jason and Peter Filardi, the latter of whom brought us such 90s gems as Flatliners and The Craft. The cinematic version of a fun-size candy bar, Vampire Carnival may not be worth the calories, but it’s a guilty pleasure worth biting into.
Haunted by the loss of her father, Gemma (Thanksgiving’s Nell Verlaque) buries her grief in the stacks of the local library, while her mother (Elizabeth Sanjuán) busies herself with work and wine-aided naps. As fall descends on their picturesque New England town, Gemma is encouraged to join friends Ryan (Corrado Martini) and Olivia (Paulina Chávez) at the Carnivale Gothique, which has just staked a big top on the outskirts of town. Jason Isaacs (aka Lucius Malfoy) is back in long locks, presiding over his children of the night as the benevolent ringmaster and hypnotist Toussaint. Having run away to join the circus, bad boy Eric (Kieron Moore) is back in town and on the hunt for his ex-flame, Gemma.
50 Shades of Red for the Twilight set, Vampire Carnival is led by an inordinately attractive cast. From eye candy to salty snacks like muscle-bound carney Sebastian (Alvise Rigo), the carnival has something on offer for everyone’s taste and sweet tooth. Billed as a horror movie, there are perhaps too many elements in the mix here as the story glides between trauma drama and erotic fan fiction. Despite some solid world-building, things ultimately devolve into a telenovela as the past bares its teeth. Filmed on location in Spain, Charbonier and Powell make great use of their locale, including a ‘one take’ tracking sequence over the opening credits. Stefani Germanotta (aka Lady Gaga) gets a special director’s thanks.
Cast: Nell Verlaque, Jason Isaacs, Kieron Moore, Paulina Chávez, Corrado Martini, Alvise Rigo, Elizabeth Sanjuán, Cedrick Cooper, Alicia Sanz, Darren Cullen, Sergio Momo.
Dir David Charbonier, Justin Douglas Powell, Pro Roger Corbi, David Hillary, Christian Mercuri, Dominic Rustam, Screenplay Jason Filardi, Peter Filardi, Ph José Luis Bernal, Pro Des Guillermo Llaguno, Ed Stephen Boyer, Costumes Natalia Vega, Sound Jorge Alarcón, Brendan Golden, .
Asphyxia AIE-Aura Entertainment.
106 mins. Spain. 2026. U Rel: 9 October 2026. Cert. R (US).
