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Kiss of the Damned

Play trailer Poster for Kiss of the Damned R Released May 3, 2013 1h 36m Horror Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When a handsome young writer falls for a gorgeous, seductive vampire, their wild romance seems destined for the ages -- until the appearance of her cruel, sex-crazed sister threatens to unravel it all.
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Kiss of the Damned

Kiss of the Damned

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Critics Consensus

This one bites in a mostly good way: Kiss of the Damned is an erotic gorefest reminiscent of gaudy '70s horror flicks, presented in plain packaging and not meant for direct sunlight.

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Critics Reviews

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Soren Andersen Seattle Times "Kiss of the Damned" is rather a hoot. Rated: 3/4 May 9, 2013 Full Review Tirdad Derakhshani Philadelphia Inquirer An ambitious, if deeply flawed, vampire love story ... Rated: 2.5/4 May 9, 2013 Full Review Amy Nicholson Los Angeles Times The confident, female-driven sensuality of "Kiss of the Damned" anchors this handsome nonsense. Rated: 3/5 May 3, 2013 Full Review Marya E. Gates Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack) A great pick if you want a side of lust with your bloodletting. Feb 13, 2024 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Embraces all of the best elements of gothic horror movies, serving as a love letter to Hammer, while injecting plenty of contemporary perspectives to make for a spooky and sexy experience. Rated: 4/5 Sep 20, 2023 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com A deliciously vintage throwback to the erotic horror output of the Hammer studio heyday. Aug 12, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Amanda k I really, really love this movie. And I would have loved if it continued in a book series with the same characters from the movie Because I would definitely read all of it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/14/24 Full Review Azizkhuja T "Kiss of the Damned" is the feature directorial debut of Alexandra Cassavetes, presenting an American vampire horror film filled with eroticism reminiscent of the Gothic vampire movies of the 1970s. The narrative centers on a love story between a human and a vampire, complicated by the sudden arrival of her unruly sister, who begins to wreak havoc in their lives. The characters, Djuna and Paolo, embody forbidden love that transcends the boundaries between the living and the undead. Their relationship starts with disbelief and doubts but soon evolves into a passionate bond, affirmed by a mutual acceptance of the "kiss of death." This plotline goes beyond mere romance, offering a deep exploration of acceptance, trust, and the sacrifices sometimes necessary to preserve love. The arrival of Mimi, Djuna's sister, introduces significant turmoil into their idyllic life. Mimi, who flouts community rules by feeding on human blood and seducing Paolo, becomes a catalyst for conflict, forcing the characters to reconsider their values and principles. Her fatal choices and the consequences thereof highlight themes of self-destruction and the repercussions of irresponsible behavior. Visually, "Kiss of the Damned" is imbued with Gothic atmosphere and 70s aesthetics, making it not only engaging but stylish. Scenes are filled with graphic violence and eroticism, paying homage to classic vampire films of the past while offering a contemporary take on vampire mythology. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics, described as "biting in mostly a good way." Its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival and nomination for the Queer Lion, along with winning the Octopus d'Or at the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival, affirm its significance and quality within the horror genre. In conclusion, "Kiss of the Damned" attracts attention not only with its storyline and characters but also with its unique atmosphere, blending classic Gothic elements with modern touches. It is a work that will appeal to both horror genre enthusiasts and those who appreciate cinematic style and character depth. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/24 Full Review Audience Member Can a small kiss be enough for someone who's damned to eternity? Xan Cassavettes tells a love story of passion, bloodlust, and dark desires Milo Ventimiglia is the only recognizable face here A screenwriter Paolo meets a European woman Djuna She tells him she has a skin condition making her photosensitive But it isn't long until he finds out she's a vampire He decides he wants to be a part of it and enjoys all its splendors She even explains the rules that he has to feed when it occurs otherwise he'll grow out of control But when Djuna's sister arrives she appears to be unstable possibly wrecking everything The undead have a thirst for life but also an appetite for destruction Being one of these people you're left with being seduced, tempted, damned or hunted This is treated like a mature love story only mildly hinting at the supernatural The filmmakers definitely don't shy away from the sex and the blood The sisters have quite the rivalry, there's a nice 1970s retro vibe to the whole thing, and the characters contemplate whether being immortal is better or worse than the humans they have to coincide with Gothic vampire movies of the 70s era truly influenced this you can tell Cassavetes almost fully succeeds here making the vampire genre fresh as she can with sophistication and sensuality Vampire flicks can be still intelligent and evoke erotic ness Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review KARL O Not so much a movie as an imitation of pieces of far better (not difficult) movies. Remarkably awful acting. The writing is juvenile. There's a dude in the party scene looks like the accordion player from The Godfather. The moralizing conversation is a$$bleed dreadful. Maybe if you've never seen a single vampire movie you'll get value. There's even a synthetic blood rip off. God. All the worse because it takes itself seriously. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/22 Full Review Audience Member More built in atmosphere and in its characters because, as a story, it has been told many times. Not a bad combination of sex and vampires in a B-series production. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member There are zero stakes here, literally and figuratively. At no point are any of the vampires in any danger from others. At no point are any of the human characters anything more than fleeting, superficial moments of violence. It's only at film's end that anything approaching urgency occurs given to us as an accident, a grotesquely unsatisfying randomness masquerading as sinister comeuppance. full review: https://misanthropester.com/2017/10/14/october-horror-day-13-kiss-of-the-damned/ Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Kiss of the Damned

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Cast & Crew

Kiss of the Damned

Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Bloody Nightmare Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Bloody Nightmare 2:09 Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Vampire Makeout Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Vampire Makeout 1:58 Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Dating a Vampire Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Dating a Vampire 1:40 Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Death in the Alleyway Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Death in the Alleyway 1:02 Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Drunken Dinner Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Drunken Dinner 2:29 Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Mastering Humanity Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Mastering Humanity 1:54 Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Kissing Through the Door Kiss of the Damned: Official Clip - Kissing Through the Door 1:39 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis When a handsome young writer falls for a gorgeous, seductive vampire, their wild romance seems destined for the ages -- until the appearance of her cruel, sex-crazed sister threatens to unravel it all.
Director
Xan Cassavetes
Producer
Jen Gatien, Alex Orlovsky
Screenwriter
Xan Cassavetes
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Deer Jen Films
Rating
R (Language|Bloody Violence|Nudity|Some Drug Use|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre
Horror, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 3, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 24, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.3K
Runtime
1h 36m
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