THE THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE * USA 2022 Dir: Joshua Nelson. 94 mins
Alongside Werewolves and Zombies, Vampires form the foundational pillars of modern horror. These icons of the genre have had numerous waves of success interspersed with eras of cultural indifference and disregard over the last 100 years. As such, there have been thousands of unique takes on these monsters and the worlds they inhabit. Lore has been crafted by incredible authors and filmmakers, including Danny Boyle (28 Days Later), George A. Romero (Dawn of the Dead), Sang-ho Yeon (Train to Busan), Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers), John Fawcett (Ginger Snaps) and John Landis (An American Werewolf in London). But it is the Vampire that has the richest history, deepest roots and most extensive scope for satire, exploitation, violence and subtext, as evidenced by F.W. Murnau (Nosferatu), Anne Rice (Interview with the Vampire), Kathryn Bigelow (Near Dark), George A Romero (Martin), Park Chan-Wook (Thirst), Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive), Taika Waititi (What We Do In the Shadows), Thomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night) and William Crain (Blacula).
Writer-Director Joshua Nelson has thrown his hat into the ring and made an ambitious bid at adding his name to the creatives who created a unique, singular vision within the Vampire’s illustrious legacy. The Things We Cannot Change follows a myriad of remorseful, blood-sucking Vampires, who regret the directions their lives have taken since being turned into creatures of the night. They attend Alcoholic Anonymous style therapy sessions with Dr. Abraham (Richard Rampolla), who walks them through techniques to understand and combat their experiences with depression, anxiety, blood-withdrawal and guilt. Dr. Abraham, himself a vampire too, believes that their lust for blood is not a prerequisite of their condition, but instead, a compulsion that can be effectively resisted with the right interventions. However, one of the clients, Veronica (Laura Lemire), remains devoted to the murderous lifestyle and the freedom it holds. Veronica’s views on vampires being superior to humans and her lack of penance for feeding on them, leads to a deadly encounter with the therapist.
The ambition shown by Nelson is admirable. Although vampirism have been linked to addiction and the real-life implications of the condition has been explored in cinema and literature, The Things We Cannot Change has an unprecedented take on the conflicts inherent in being a vampire. Each individual case is explored in a realistic and contemporary mental health context, including homophobia, sexism and gender politics, which feels suitably considered in our current climate of social consciousness and individual introspection.
But unfortunately, ambition is not the ultimate measure of success or attainment. The vignette-style execution of the film, although not completely anomalous, feels unfinished and unvarnished. The viewer is confronted with scene upon scene that feels, and looks, identical to the preceding one. The film was obviously produced on a zero-budget, which would not necessarily be cause for concern, but the lack of any discernible movement from the static camera makes for a monotonous and lifeless experience. The film is mercilessly dialogue heavy, with each therapy interaction searching for purpose and underlying subtext with the subtlety of a swift kick to the groin. The playful pursuit of satire is a fun touch, but the most fatal, unforgivable flaw, is the almost non-existent violence, viscera and bite. The best, and most effective, way to hide a low budget and non-professional acting performance, is the addition of creative and gory deaths. The vampire mythology lends itself to menace and staggering opportunities for fountains of blood, but in the search of an original dramatic hook, Nelson forgot that it is the fangs that pull us all in.
Review by Louis Du Toit
THE THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE is out now on Blu-ray (Region Free) in the USA and Streaming Platforms worldwide from VIPCO and BayView Entertainment.