Movie Review: Therapy for a Vampire (2014)

Therapy for a Vampire (2014) written and directed by David Ruhm

A vampire couple moves to Vienna in the 1930s. They've been together for hundreds of years and have become unhappy with each other and themselves. Count Geza (Tobias Moretti) goes to therapy with Dr. Sigmund Freud (Karl Fischer) and is as honest as he can be about his problems--Freud obviously doesn't believe in vampires and is too busy scribbling in his notebook to notice the Count levitating above the couch. The Count tells how Countess Elsa (Jeannette Hain) is very concerned about her appearance which she cannot see. Freud chalks it up to a mental illness that she doesn't perceive her own reflection and recommends an artist paint her to show her true self. He has just the painter--Viktor (Dominic Oley) has been doing sketches of the dreams that Freud's patients have had. Viktor has made many paintings of his girlfriend Lucy (Cornelia Ivancan), though he often changes her appearance which is frustrating for Lucy. Why can't Viktor accept her the way she is? Viktor had given a painting to Freud. When Count Geza sees the painting in Freud's office, he thinks Lucy is the reincarnation of his true love who had died before he met Elsa. He's been waiting a really long time for their reunion and hopes to make Lucy into his original love, Nadila. The Count sends Elsa to the painter as he tries to woo Lucy.

Given the premise and the fact the movie is a German production, I was a little worried that it would be too sexualized or overly Freudian. The movie is a comedy tinged with the tragedy of not appreciating other people, especially those closest to us. Everyone, except for Viktor, wants more out of their lives that they cannot quite achieve on their own. They have a hard time understanding themselves (the inability to see a reflection leads into self-unawareness for the vampires, but other characters also seem self-unaware). The movie has a lot of farcical elements and scenes, giving it a light touch. The sexuality is very discreet, surprisingly so for a twenty-first century production. The actors do a great job with their characters who are interesting and sympathetic; they are not stock goodies and baddies. The viewer understands the frustration that leads to acting out in inappropriate (but often comic) ways. The movie and cast are very charming without the bleakness or gore that a lot of modern vampire films go for. I was surprise by how enjoyable it was.

Recommended, highly for vampire/horror fans.