Italian
The Radleys: Balancing Family Drama and Vampire Thrills
Based on Matt Haig’s novel, “The Radleys” attempts to blend horror and comedy but frequently finds itself lost in a middle ground. This British production boasts a cast led by Damian Lewis and Kelly Macdonald, who portray Peter and Helen Radley, vampires in recovery striving to maintain a facade of suburban normalcy. However, their hidden natures and their children’s burgeoning vampirism ensure that their secret won’t stay hidden for long.
A family in recovery
In the film, Peter and Helen Radley are depicted as recovering vampires, a concept that mirrors the struggles associated with substance abuse. This metaphor adds depth, with vampirism referred to as a “family disease” that is both inherited and behavior-altering. Their teenage daughter, Clara (Bo Bragason), learns of her true nature in a distressing scene of turned sexual violence, prompting the family to seek help from Peter’s punk rock twin brother, Will (also played by Lewis), who maintains an active vampiric identity.
Subtext and symbolism
The Radley parents’ struggle extends to their other child, Rowan (Harry Baxendale), who hides his attraction to the neighbor boy, Evan (Jay Lycurgo). This storyline introduces a poignant comparison between vampires hiding their identities and queer individuals remaining in the closet. Unfortunately, such thematic allusions fail to fully develop, remaining vague and under-explored.
Visual and auditory disconnect
From the outset, “The Radleys” offers a visually plain experience that lacks energy and dynamism. While Keefus Ciancia’s stirring score seeks to inject vitality, there exists a noticeable disconnect between the music and the film’s visual presentation. The editing and camera work struggle to match the audio’s excitement, further weighed down by dialogue that at times fails to align with the film’s imagery.
One notable instance is the neighborhood’s description of Clara as particularly pale, yet the difference between her and other white characters remains indistinct. This inconsistency sets a pattern that persists throughout the movie.
The struggle with vampire lore
The film’s attempt at integrating vampire lore is equally confusing. It cherry-picks elements like mind control, the need for invitations to enter homes, and garlic aversion while omitting others such as a lack of reflection and vulnerability to sunlight. This patchwork approach leads to a perplexing narrative, with critical details introduced only when necessary for immediate plot resolution, resulting in brief referential comedy and fleeting drama.
Performances hindered by script
Despite the uneven script, the cast delivers commendable performances. Damian Lewis effectively differentiates his dual roles of the conservative Peter and the free-spirited Will. Yet it is Kelly Macdonald who truly stands out, tapping into the addiction subtext with a raw performance that teeters on the edge of chaos. However, the script offers her character no release, leaving her portrayal confined and unfulfilled.
Failed potential
Viewing “The Radleys” becomes an exercise in unmet expectations. The film fails to deliver scares or a sense of a broader world beyond the household. Its laughs stem solely from Lewis’ exaggerated reactions to blood, and even these moments are surrounded by naturalistic tones that blur intentionality.
Steeped in genre hallmarks, “The Radleys” lacks the mischievous or intriguing spark necessary to elevate it. Instead, it often abandons promising subplots, leaving the characters’ understanding of vampirism inconsistently evolving, causing the narrative to lose coherence.
Missed opportunities
“The Radleys” squanders its potential through its inability to commit to a consistent tone or deeply explore its rich symbolic possibilities. The fluctuating meaning of vampirism, whether for adults struggling with control or adolescents experiencing personal discoveries, reflects this missed opportunity. By zig-zagging away from nearly every subplot it introduces, the film obstructs its own storytelling, resulting in an ultimately disappointing experience.
Despite its shortcomings, “The Radleys” stands as an attempt to examine the intersection of everyday life and the supernatural, albeit with varied success.
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