Nadja

The Movie

Twin brother and sister vampires struggle against each other - and the ancient curse that binds them, set against the concrete canyons of modern-day Manhattan. Nadja (Elina Lowensohn), and brother Edgar (Jared Harris), spend their days entombed in darkness, and their nights hiding in the heart of the New York afterhours scene. But Edgar is haunted by the painful duality of life lived in the shadows - and troubled by his twin's relentlessly evil nature. Nadja weaves her sensual spell around the niece and nephew of vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Fonda), Edgar joins forces with his would-be-assassin, plotting to bring down his sister.

• Cast List
  Elina Löwensohn as Nadja
  Nic Ratner as Bar Victim
  Karl Geary as Renfield
  Peter Fonda as Dracula/Dr. Van Helsing
  Martin Donovan as Jim
  Jack Lotz as Boxing Coach
  Galaxy Craze as Lucy
  David Lynch as Morgue Receptionist
  Isabel Gillies as Waitress
  José Zúñiga as Bartender
  Bernadette Jurkowski as Dracula's Bride
  Jeff Winner as Young Dracula
  Sean as Bela
  Suzy Amis as Cassandra
  Jared Harris as Edgar
  Bob Gosse as Garage Mechanic
  Rome Neal as Garage Mechanic
  Giancarlo Roma as Romanian Kid
  Anna Roma as Romanian Mother
  Thomas Roma as Romanian Policeman
  Aleksander Rasic as Romanian Policeman
  Miranda Russell as Lucy's Baby
• Director: Michael Almereyda

Review

Oh dear. The movie starts with the death of Dracula, and the retrieval of his remains from the morgue. Every now and then, Big D - or his ashes - get a mention, but he really has nothing to do with the plot.

Sadly, nor does anything else, much. Peter Fonda meanders gloomily through the works, never really showing much enthusiasm (or skill) for the job in hand, while the 'evil' seductress Nadja looks like she let her library books get overdue. Again.

Often describes as 'erotic', one suspects the critics meant 'anaesthetic', which would, at least, have been a kindness.

The cinematography is dull and downbeat, adding to the listlessness of the whole thing, rather than creating an atmosphere. The director used a Pixel 2000 when telling the story through Nadja's eyes, giving a grainy, pixellated view but the trick is overused - and inconsistently, so merely distracts.

Overall, a disappointment. The flimsy storyline was badly acted and directed. After 200 vampire movies, when will they ever learn; if you don't have a powerful story, forget it.

The DVD

• Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
• Format: Color
• Rated: Not for sale to persons under age 18.
• Studio: Pioneer Video
• DVD Released July 25, 2000
• Run Time: 92min