Film Review: ALL THE MOONS: The Best Vampire Film in Years [Fantasia 2021] – FilmBook

All the Moons (2020) Film Review from the 25th Annual Fantasia International Film Festival, a movie directed by Igor Legarreta, and starring Haizea Carneros, Josean Bengoetxea, Itziar Ituno, Elena Uriz, Miriam del Prado, Justi Larrinaga, Ane Biain, Udane Elosegi, Andere Garabieta, Iraia Serrano, June Larranaga, Erik Probanza and Olatz Beobide.

All the Moons is a movie rarity- a vampire film that works. A story about a young girl who is turned into a vampire, director Igor Legarretas movie focuses in on the pain the girl experiences in her life as a result of her inability to age and her loss of the mortal (and immortal) human beings she meets along the way. What makes the film so good is the performance by young actress Haizea Carneros. Named Amaia by a farmer she meets down the line, Carneros has a difficult part to play. She is aging emotionally while her body never gets older. Carneros nails this role and delivers one of the finest performances of the year thus far.

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The film begins in Spain towards the end of the Third Carlist War. A church/orphanage is bombed and one little girl (Carneros) is left alive. She encounters a woman who offers to save her. This woman makes the young girl a vampire as they soon form a special bond. When a group of townsfolk come after the two vampires, the little girl is separated from the woman who apparently dies. The young girl learns how to survive on her own and several years pass. She encounters a farmer named Candido (Josean Bengoetxea) who names her Amaia and soon becomes a father figure to the girl.

Candido is a well developed character. As a man who has suffered the loss of a wife and a child, Josean Bengoetxea delivers a unique, touching performance. Candido has lost faith in God and comes to form a bond with Amaia that is truly special. There are some scenes that show Candidos frustrations. One such scene comes when he tries to feed Amaia garlic soup. Of course, vampires cant eat garlic so she turns the meal away. Candido also has to deal with Amaias unusual reaction to the communion she receives at church. But, through it all, Amaia is like a daughter to Candido so he accepts the challenges that come with raising her. Little does he know shes a vampire until she cries out for blood.

The plot thickens as Amaia forms a friendship with a young boy in the town named Miguel. Amaia always thinks about the woman who turned her in to a vampire but shes apparently long gone. Or is she? As the plot progresses, the movie brings us to the Spanish Civil War many years later where the film begins to unveil some delicate sequences all of which the cast handles superbly.

More must be said of the performance given by Carneros in the film. As the young girl who comes to be known as Amaia, the actress adds intelligence and depth to the role making us want to see her happy throughout although that is easier said than done for this character. As she forms the bond with Candido and yet another with Miguel, we know time will not serve them well as Amaia will not age or die, and the other two will. Carneros masterfully conveys the characters passions and despair. She truly grows to see Candido as something of a father to her, and that part of the film is very deeply moving.

This movie avoids a lot of vampire movie cliches which makes it a lot more thoughtful than your typical horror picture. The direction by Igor Legarreta lets the audience feel all the requisite emotions that make for an excellent film-going journey. While Kathryn Bigelows 1987 masterpiece, Near Dark, is the definitive vampire movie, in my opinion, All the Moons is right behind it. It is definitely more character driven than most other vampire movies and makes the audience experience a wide range of feelings regarding its well-written characters throughout. It is highly recommended.

Rating: 8/10

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Film Review: ALL THE MOONS: The Best Vampire Film in Years [Fantasia 2021] - FilmBook

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero