She Walks Alone

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) Review

Cinematography by Lyle Vincent

There's a few things i consider on why I'm so excited about seeing this movie. First it's a vampire movie, i haven't seen a good vampire movie for a long time and i have hope that this movie is going be a good Vampire film, Second it was shot Black and White, there is something on Black and White that i really love, it's just for me Black and White represents the atmosphere more subtle, Third and the last it was an unconventional Vampire film, that reminds me of old horror vampire movies like Nosferatu and Dracula, yet this movie has Iranian actors that was very unique in terms that we usually see vampire movies if not american it's English. It was one of the most complex and unconventional vampire film i have seen.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a feature film debut by Ana Lily Amirpour and the way she made this movie are so bold. If you really look at the aspects of this film it's just vampire film or not really a vampire movie at all but a Film itself. Vampire was only used an expressionism to tell the elements of this movie, It wasn't also a horror film but rather a Film that has the elements of horror, romance and many more, not really combining them but putting them inside of a singular film that focuses in one main premise. A premise with ton of elements from pop culture genre in other words.

The movie is about a leather jacket wearing guy named Arash (Arash Marandi) who had a drug addictive father Hossein (Marshal Manesh) who he was taking care of, until he met a Girl (Sheila Vand) who wanders a night, she vampire who victimize men that treats woman disrespectfully. They grew a very unconventional romantic understanding to each other, while Arash have no idea what the Girl really is, while The Girl have to accept was just there already. It became a tale of facing consequences in life.

A Girl Walks Home alone at Night is perfect example of a film that introduces any audience into an art form Motion Picture, that unlike others it wasn't that hard to appreciate. It's a very minimalist film that features a complex premise with complex characters. It was slow moving film yet it doesn't stop you to build a care with the characters. It puts you into curiosity, thinking what this people is going to do next. The characters showed a very authentic vibe performance that it feels like realistic which is very rare to a film that also features a vampire story. The way the film showcases the expressions of the characters are enough for us to root on their feelings without words to convince us.

It one of the most visually enthralling film, that every single frame was fantastically shot and the stillness of every single shot helps the viewer to steady, because every frame has a lore to tell, The Decision to make the whole film Black and White was perfect to the tone of it. It's atmospheric film and that atmosphere was told by color that this movie represents. The music is fantastic, a combination of Techno and more it has very distinguished backdrop music to fit on  every moment, Even when shot in black and white the music and visual had make still feel so modern. In terms in Music once again, you can just to it because the music choices that was put on this film was incredibly fantastic.

The number aspect why this film works so well is that embraces the unorthodox look with enthusiasm. It is an Iranian film that filmed in western, with a western pop culture inspiration. It's modern Pop Culture, you see a shape shifting woman skateboarding vampire, a guy with an inspiration from James Dean, Cocaine addict person and all sort of that pop culture weirdness, it was all combined this wide shot black and white film. The movie knows where its going to put itself, it knows what it is and what it should be and by that it just amazingly enough.

I also notice the simple message that was put on this expressionistic looking film, It's those consequences we face when we do things we like. Just like what's was quoted on the start of the movie which says (not exact but it's the same) "Don't count on things you don't have, count things you still have that was left to you" and it was all concluded in the final act of the movie, it was one of the best slow pacing final act i have seen, the way the main character decides a thing at the end when he discover something. That's the message: The Greatest consequence of loving someone is to accept who ever that person you love is, and it was told in dark grueling romantic, vampire type film. It was so appealing.

Overall the film was well directed and well written. I haven't seen any Ana Lily Amirpour short films but as her first featured debut, this one is a really well done movie. I'm not trying to overpraise it but it just really works. It's like a film you have never seen before.

I Give A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night a solid 9.5/10
I recommend it to everyone, it's a pop culture film but with an Artistic approach that anyone could  be introduced with the appreciation of the real art in motion pictures.

A Girl Walks Alone at Night is directed and written by Ana Lily Amirpour starring Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Mozhan Marno, Domic Rains and more.