Review of BloodRayne: A Fan Film

Done on a low budget with obvious passion and enthusiasm, this neat little horror/action/comedy short relates the story of BloodRayne (a lively performance by ravishing Russian redhead Vera Vanguard, who also wrote the script), a feisty half-human, half-vampire warrior woman who vows to get revenge on her evil and powerful vampire father Kagan (Jack Vegas) for raping her human mother (Jasi Cotton Lanier) and killing her whole family. Competently directed by Edward G. Negron, this feature moves at a brisk pace, delivers a handy helping of graphic gore, and offers a cool and exciting set piece with BloodRayne singlehandedly butchering a bunch of no-count Nazi soldiers in a back alley (the movie takes place in Nazi Germany in 1935). This film earns extra points for its neat sense of black humor and a funny surprise last reel cameo by Captain America. Alas, the pounding techno soundtrack seems out of place with the period setting (although I dug the use of Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" just the same) and the cut-rate CGI effects are pretty cheesy. Still, Vanguard looks positively smashing in her hot leather outfit (she swings a mean sword, too) and the picture overall certainly has its cheerfully macabre heart in the right place. A rather flawed, but overall solid and entertaining romp.