Wannabe
Review by Nick Peron
Not too long ago I was contacted by James Mannan, the creative mind behind the new short film Wannabe. If Jame's name is familiar to you, that's because he is the driving force behind Liberty or Death Productions Inc., an independent film company that runs out of Indianapolis, Indiana. If the name doesn't strike you as familiar, his work is no stranger around here at Micro-Shock. We have reviewed a few of his previous works. I myself have done a review of W The Movie (directed by Alfred Eaker) a film that James was a jack of all trades (he had a part in just about every aspect of the film) and our very own Isabelle Da Morte did a review of Foxxy Madonna vs the Black Death (released by Cinephreak Pictures) which James takes the make-up and special effects credit. (You can read both reviews here and here.) So when James got in touch with me to review his new film Wannabe it was an offer I did not wish to refuse. As soon as I expressed this, James had a copy of the yet-to-be-released film sent up to me.
Wannabe follows a girl named Viola (played by Steffani Pieart) , an young woman with no family and little friends, who wants nothing more than get be granted the gift of immortality. Through he online chatting she gets in touch with Nyx (Brianna Michaels), a supposed vampire, who offers Viola what she desires most: to become a child of the endless night. After a rigorous screening process Viola is allowed to meet with the ancient vampire one night to receive the gift of eternal life.
After being further questioned by Nyx's man-servant Andrew (Robert Webster), and given one last chance to turn away. Steady in her resolve, Viola decides to go through with the transformation and is instructed to go into the basement. There, she is once more put through a mental and psychological test by the ancient vampire Nyx before giving the girl more than she bargained for.
I will stop here, as the film has a number of twists and summarizing further would only give them away. What I can say however, is that if you like vampire films, you may want to check out this unique short film.
In it's 19 minute run, it succeeds in placing you right in there along with Viola: In a dark, compromising place, where you are at the mercy of all those around you -- and they aren't necessarily very nice. The innocence that Pieart portrays as Viola is wonderfully contrasted by Michaels' and Webster's manipulations and subtle cruelties.
The film mostly takes place in tight quarters, the entry way of a home, and later a basement and gives you that creepy cramped feeling you get when someone is to far into your personal space. While most of us would rather avoid someone getting this close, Viola -- all be it hesitantly -- allows Andrew and Nyx to violate that space, and it is that slight fear, that slight hesitation that they use to their advantage.
Wannabe itself is a multifaceted short film that brings to face the brutality and cruelty that is usually absent from the sugar coated Hollywood garbage that passes for vampire fiction today. This movie doesn't give you vampires that sparkle with deep emotions, but raw, carnal and brutally sadistic vampire that will bleed you dry and wouldn't think more than dump your body in a gutter because that's all your worth to them. Food to be consumed and discarded.
So if you like vampire tales with a hint of cruelty and brutality, keep an eye out for Wannabe, it may be just what you're looking for.
