Plot Summary
The film opens with Theresa, a college student leading a relatively insipid and emotionally detached existence. Isolated and longing for intimacy, she stumbles onto an exciting but perilous romance with Allison, an alluring and sinister woman with magnetic head-turning charm. A night of lavish partying filled with sexual overtones very quickly escalates into something far more sinister.
Amid the after-party frenzy, Theresa discovers that her alluring new friend Allison is simply not human; she is part of a secret society of vampires that lurk in the dark crevices of New York City. Following a particularly passionate and brutal altercation, Theresa is turned, and it is her transformation that serves as the catalyst for the rest of the tale.
Now enmeshed in a suffocating shroud of blood thirst, eternal life, and emotional turmoil, Theresa grapples with her new self. Unlike most vampire flicks where the main focus is on the primal hunger for blood, in Theresa & Allison, the focal point is instead on the emotion aftermath of the change: guilt, searing rage, incendiary shame, and all-consuming longing.
While Theresa attempts to come to terms with the vampire class system and the dangerous political power plays unfolding over her head, she and Allison share a touch-and-go relationship which is at times tender. Therissa’s journey with Allison is emotionally grueling because she is forced to contend with monsters, both literal and metaphorical monsters.
The film does not shy away from showing the audience graphic violence, power plays, tenderness, and psychological strife that Theresa deals with as she grapples with the reality of her losing humanity and deciding what kind of creature she wants to transform into.
Arielle as Theresa
Acclaimed actress Arielle Hope portrays Theresa with visceral emotional vulnerability. Hope captures her character arc from a naive girl to a feral, conflicted, blood sucking vampire with a lot of intricacy and intensity. The film’s emotional weight stems from her portrayal of fear, lust, pain, and self realization.
Sarah Schoofs as Allison
Alluring, dangerous, and extremely layered, Schoofs’s Allison packs a punch into the role with skilled sensuality that comes with a distinct menacing undertone. Not defining her motives completely adds to the charm and makes her an excellent foil to Theresa, whom she tries to seduce.
Secondary Character
Incorporating the rest of the members of the vampire society further enhances and broadens the depth of the story. These characters denote different philosophies of vampirism; some take on the aspects of cruelty and domination while others hint on regret and moral ambiguity.
Main Themes and Symbolism
Further exploring the film, Theresa & Allison is more than just a horror movie; it is more of an in-depth analysis on metamorphosis, character, as well heart’s convolutions together.
Queer Identity and the Concept of Love
A very important plot of the film revolves around Theresa and Allison’s intimate and romantic relationship beyond the bounds of friendship. It highlights the passion in their connection but with a sense of peril, like true-life cases of abusive or damaging relationships. The film shows both the violent pleasure and the painful anguish that accompany such entanglements, particularly with regard to self-perception and change.
Metaphor for Trauma and Rebirth
Theresa’s story can be used as an example of trauma with her transforming into a vampire because of her going through a horrifying experience. She has to adjust to a completely different feeling and in the context of the movie, one cannot go through trauma and claim to be their old self but rather a new self.
Power and Control
Vampire society functions with a system of hierarchy and control much like that of the real world. As Theresa evolves into her new form, an initially powerless figure, and starts to unlock her potential, she begins to rediscover her agency, furthering the struggle between submission vis-à-vis control apparent in vampire politics and her dynamic with Allison.
Feminism and Liberation
The film is riddled with glaring sexual violence and Theresa’s character arc accompanies her disempowerment. By the end though she is, as an outcome of her various lived experiences, no longer a passive victim, but someone transformatively forged and deeply feared, deemed unrecognizable in her acceptance of becoming.
Visual Style and Direction
Grindhouse and experimental horror features are what Jeremiah Kipp, the director, chose to emphasize in the film. With dim lighting, neon colors, and handheld camera work, it evokes a feeling of a more claustrophobic urban setting while simultaneously producing manual footage. It’s clear the film is low budget, but this perceived shortcoming enhances the bumpy, underground aesthetic which aligns the film with its themes.
The blood and gore effects were practical, depicting violence in a chaotic and personal manner, mirroring the graphic imagery found in exploitation horror films of the 70s and 80s. Far from acting as mere stag shock components, these effects bolster the and emotional weight and thematic significance the narrative centers around. Theresa & Allison showcases violence that is intertwined with the characters’ internal struggles—deeply painful, intimate, and multifaceted.
Theresa’s struggles are emphasized through the use of narrational and dreamy flashbacks, which highlight her darker thoughts and immersion into her own reality. Coupled with expressive music, non-linear editing gives the movie an otherworldly and engrossing quality.
Reception and Impact
Theresa & Allison debuted on the independent film circuit and later became available on numerous digital download sites. Underground fans of the genre enthusiastically welcomed the film, praising its striking narratives and raw emotionality.
While some mainstream viewers might object to the film’s unrelenting violence and abstraction, critics widely applauded the movie for its raw treatment of sexuality, horror, and self-identity. Not only does the film claim the title of the first queer vampire film, but it simultaneously counters Hollywood’s forced norms.
Theresa & Allison is a gem for LGBTQ+ audiences, as well as fans of women-driven horror, offering stunningly honest and intricate representation of metamorphosis and resilience in a ruthlessly hostile environment.
Conclusion
Fearless and daring, Theresa & Allison (2019) is an evocative indie horror which takes the age-old vampire story, and explores themes such as trauma, queer love, identity, and personal power. The film features standout performances from Arielle Hope and Sarah Schoofs, whose skills are matched only by the vision of the director. Their collective creativity breathes diabolical sensuality into the film and fosters an experience that haunts its audience long after the credits roll.
Theresa & Allison certainly cannot be described as an easy watch, nor is it for those who expect typical jump scares, but for those willing to challenge themselves, the film is a beautifully brutal exploration of what it truly means to change oneself—while questioning if love can endure the void.
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