“Theresa & Allison” is an American horror-drama film from 2019 produced by Jerome Kipp and featuring the screenplay of Charles D. Lincoln. Different from most vampire movies that emphasize the horror and action elements, Theresa & Allison offers an unusually slow-paced blend of horror, eroticism, and existential dread that focuses on character development. set against a backdrop of vampirism, the film’s compelling narrative and rage-filled performances submerges the audience into the depths of struggle, identity, desire, and metamorphosis.
Synopsis
The film starts with Theresa, a moderately attractive young woman, lonely and navigating through the urban maze of New York City. After a bruising one-night stand, she wakes up to discover she is no longer human and has become a vampire, something she never saw coming. Unlike other films, Theresa’s story does not meander through needless plots; it dives straight into her mind as she grapples with the realization of her new identity.
Allison, an alluring yet powerful vampire, reveals to Theresa the often brutal and secretive realm of the undead. Throughout the plot, Allison serves as a mentor and a confidant to Theresa, developing romantically with her as well. Their dynamic serves as the driving force of the film, depicting the complex interplay of power and dependency.
Theresa is first struggling to accept her supernatural condition; however, she becomes thrust into a hidden world with ancient rules and dangerous hierarchies of vampires. Struggling to command herself alongside the rituals of feeding, domination, and personal betrayal, Theresa slowly devolves into a blend of who she once was and whom she is forced to become. The once humanity Theresa desires is opposed by an overwhelming lust for blood that consumes her, forcing her into existential and morally challenging dilemmas that test her strength.
Cast and Crew
Bringing rawness and depth to the film is its dedicated indie cast using their versatile skills, such as:
Arielle Hope plays as Theresa and brings Theresa’s character to life through her nuanced depiction of vulnerability. She powerfully expresses the emotional burden of a figure trapped between doing human no more, and being a monster—a submissive and powerful creature—lost to the world only to be reborn.
Sarah Schoofs plays Allison, the second lead character. Her performance is alluring and intricate, granting to Allsion a presence that is multi-faceted and capable of challenging and empowering Theresa over the entire film.
Alyson Danielczuk as Miranda serves the role of a vampire supporting character with striking impacts, also walking the fine line between protector and manipulator.
Charles D. Lincoln, who also wrote the film, plays Tony, whose role is pivotal since his conversations with Theresa at the beginning of the movie prepares the audience for her metamorphosis.
With the other vampires, the cast is rounded out by Amy Jo Jackson and Pooya Mohseni, each portraying different facets of the hidden world of vampires and the supernatural society.
Jeremiah Kipp actually directed the feature, a filmmaker infamous for boldly, and unconventionally confronting elements of horror. In Theresa & Allison, he directs and places greater focus on mood and tone, psychological realism for the sake of the characters, as opposed to spectacle supporting the character arcs verhemently.
Themes and Tone
What differentiates Theresa & Allison from the rest of vampire movies is how it shies away from cliches. Instead of focus on classical transformations and battles, the film deals with psychological horror and the trauma of change. The transformation into a vampire is more of an identity crisis, a metaphor for trauma, alienation and recovering from societal expectations.
Theresa’s transformation aptly narrates loss of control and later struggle for empowerment. The rest of the story weaves an emotional relationship with Allison which adds sensuality and romance to the film making it as much romance-drama as horror. Feminist as well as queer themes run throughout the movie. The female body, desire, power, and control are touched upon in shower scenes and other intimate scenes filled with symbolic gestures.
Theresa’s world is muted in color and emotion, so using a gritty urban style starkly contrasts the vampire society she finds herself in. This makes their society far from glamorous–it is dirty, bewildering, and filled with dangers. The lack of budget is quite helpful for this film, ensuring that the story is truly grounded in reality.
Critical Reception
Even though Theresa & Allison may not be for everyone, it has certainly received attention for its ambitious story and unique approach to vampire lore. Overall reception of it seems to be mixed. A subset of views appreciate its storytelling, emotional depth, and unique take. On the other hand, several people seem to think the film puts too much focus on character drama instead of horror thrills, calling the pacing slow.
At the very least, critics do agree that Arielle Hope and Sarah Schoofs gave strong performances, and outstanding chemistry as well. Much of the emotional resonance in the film also comes from their interactions. Spending just a bit more time explaining scenes does help set a tone, no matter how verbose the writing is. The film strives to deliver psychological contemplation instead of stilted dialogue or gore.
Choosing to keep the pacing slow may not sit well with adrenaline junkies, but it definitely helps with the evocation of discomfort and emotional claustrophobia. This change also supports the narrative of the film, as the development from human to vampire is reframed as burdensome instead of liberating. This choice allows the film to maintain its dull and grittiness, while also making it more somber and grounded.
Conclusion
While unconventional in its style and approach, Theresa & Allison certainly sets its mark with a story that is unlike any other. Its mixture of horror, vampirism, and socially relevant psychology drama places it outside customary constraints of the vampire genre. It is a uniquely refreshing departure from the norm as it centers on characters’ internal struggles and emotional complexity instead.
Theresa & Allison offers a captivating experience for those who seek intimately horrifying narratives, as its chilling story echoes long after watching. It meticulously explores the inescapable harsh cost of change—supernatural or metaphorical—and the painful road to self-acceptance in a world rife with power struggles.
Whether viewed as an unconventional dark romance, a tale about feminism, or psychological horror focused on loss and identity, it is impossible to deny how strikingly memorable and ambitious indie horror cinema manifests itself in Theresa & Allison.
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