PERFECT CREATURE
(R)
MOVIE: *** (out of 5)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5)
STARRING
Dougray Scott as SILUS
Saffron Burrows as LILLY
Leo Gregory as EDGAR
Scott Willis as JONES
Stuart Wilson as AUGUSTUS
Created by: Glenn Standring
Studio: 20th Century Fox
BY KEVIN CARR
Even when a movie doesn’t have the strongest plot ever assembled, it can skate by on visionary creativity alone. Often, this isn’t enough, but for a film like “Perfect Creature,” I found a lot to like about its premise.
The film takes place in an alternate reality where genetic experiments began in ancient times to create vampires. However, instead of these creatures becoming monsters, they became religious leaders, protecting the humans who worshipped them. As Victorian times fall on England, one of the vampires is starting to run amuck, killing people without permission. One of the vampires (or Brothers, as they’re called) is assigned to track him down with a female policewoman.
Dougray Scott plays Brother Silus, who is tracking down the rogue vampire, who happens to be his half-brother. Saffron Burrows, who is normally pale and weak as an actors, works right into her type in this bleak society.
I can’t say this movie was a gripping action piece, and I did lose some interest in the last act. However, the unique vision of this alternate reality was strangely compelling. It’s not exactly a horror piece as much as it is speculative fiction. The film not only offers a twist on the standard Jack the Ripper story, but also gives us a unique vision of vampires, something new we haven’t seen since all this Anne Rice gothic nonsense began.
The DVD comes with two documentaries, a basic making-of featurette and a spotlight on the production design.