For those who dig teen scream style flicks, The Moth Diaries by Mary Harron (2011) would make an excellent addition to your horror collection. Though some of the plot is predictable, there is enough intrigue and blood in this movie to keep viewers interested. A young girl named Rebecca searches for the hidden truths about the new girl Ernessa, who has won the heart of Rebecca’s best friend Lucie. Ernessa slowly takes over Rebecca’s place as Lucie’s best friend, and Lucie begins to grow paler and less hungry as she spends more time with this mysterious new girl. Rebecca, played by Sarah Bolger, is a believable and interesting character who appears to be the most rounded of all the characters in the film. Ernessa, portrayed by Lily Cole, is somewhat strange looking (which totally adds to the creep factor her character already reeks) and seems to know a lot about many things at a young age. It is not hard for viewers or Rebecca to become suspicious of this so-called ‘young’ lady.
Scott Speedman makes an appearance in the film as the new English teacher Mr. Davies, which was a nice surprise. Mr. Davies immediately takes a liking to Rebecca’s character because he admired her father, who was a poet before tragically taking his own life. But after Rebecca begins to confide in Mr. Davies, he first attempts to kiss her and then reveals her confidences to other staff members at the school (which actually did come as a surprise to me). Because of this plot twist, I began to get the impression that not only was Ernessa a vampire, but so was Mr. Davies (after all, they were both new to the school). But I digress. Bodies begin turning up everywhere, but Rebecca’s concerns are brushed off through the entire film as girlish jealousy. As everyone Rebecca loves either gets kicked out or dies, Rebecca begins to realize that the real victim of the story is herself.
The goriest parts of the film are no doubt involving Rebecca’s fantasies and memories, so not much of it exists in the reality of this film (as far as blood goes, anyway, which is what I look for in vampire films above all else). Rebecca’s daydreams are full of blood, some that she remembers (her father’s) and some that arrives in rifts as though being thrown on her in buckets. But I must say I was rather disappointed in the lack of blood in the ‘reality’ of this film. The score was really rather unmentionable, but it wasn’t unpleasant either so that is a plus. Setting and costume were cliché, but fit the storyline. Number of killers? Two. Body count? 5+ Boob count? One. Cheap thrills? Maybe one. Actual spooks endured: Zero. Entertainment? It’s fun and intriguing, but not exactly scary. Raven’s Scream Meter says: 2.5 out of 5 screams. Almost a psychological thriller, at the end I am not sure whether the antagonist(s) are vampires or some strange moth-creature that can become human. Thoughts?
