Not the worst vampire film I've seen. But not the best either

Rating: 5/10 (22 December 2008)

The vampire genre is something that peaks every few years. The 1980s brought about a new take on the whole vampire ethos. Films where vampires have adjusted to their modern surroundings and have no trouble at all using them as they're hunting grounds. Fright Night and in particular Near Dark provided fresh perspectives and bold ideas.
The 1990s gave us the brooding, conflicted vampire. Ones not too comfortable with killing. Like the underrated Interview With the Vampire, and the whole Buffy phenomenon, where Sarah Michelle Gellar carries on a relationship with one.
Indeed Twilight bears more than a few resemblances to Buffy's relationship with Angel. And I'm almost certain that's where Stephanie Meyer drew inspiration from when she wrote the novel the film is based upon. I haven't read any of the books, in spite of they're huge success as a franchise. So I can't debate how faithful the film is to the novel. But judged on its own merits, Twilight is a passable, if not overly brilliant tale. Certainly undeserving of the applause showered upon it by the mostly teen, female audience its clearly aimed at.
The film charts the growing relationship between new girl in town Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). They both go to the same high school, where they notice one another in corridors and canteens, but Edward keeps her at arms length. When he saves her from being killed by a car, his speed and strength clearly mean he's not human. And when he confides in her his secret, the two fall in love, but Edward can't risk getting too close without endangering her.
The whole theme of a vampire with a conscience is not a new one. Interview With the Vampire delved into some fascinating areas. Of a vampire ultimately trying (and failing) to assimilate into humanity. And Buffy did some equally brilliant things. Exploring the various pitfalls to be found when a human tries to get it on with one. But Twilight never really knows what to do with its idea.
The whole relationship between Bella and Edward lacks conviction because unlike Buffy & Angel, I never sensed much chemistry between them. Twilight has all the things you'd expect. Bella finding Edward's dark nature a turn-on. Edward trying to restrain his bloodlust whenever he's around her. But I probably would have liked the film more had it embraced danger rather than just flirted with it.
The 12A certificate really holds Twilight back. Imagine how much better, how much edgier it would have been on an 18 certificate. Or even a 15! The film could have really pushed the envelope and taken us on a searing, bloodthirsty journey. But that type of story doesn't get innocent tweenies to the cinemas. Since the producers had them in mind when making Twilight, its a strictly tame vampire picture. Very little blood, no fangs(!!!), and soft violence. I've seen more blood and gore in episodes of Buffy then there is in Twilight.
As is usually the case of modern vampire stories, writers like to update the myths and include new novelties. Here, they don't sleep in coffins or gloomy mansions. Just up-market ones. They're familiar with Google. And in the film's most striking innovation, vampires can move about in sunlight without burning up. They just light up instead like a Christmas tree! I have nothing against fresh revisions on the old myths and legends, but this is one that just feels wrong. Its certainly original, but I'm not sure what Stephanie Meyer was going for here. Its what a vampire film might be like if made by Steven Spielberg!
Twilight is a very calculated film too. Its designed to bring in big box-office numbers by casting attractive actors, hip songs and cool fashions. And in the case of Robert Pattinson, he's only been brought in to glower handsomely from the shadows. He doesn't really have much in the way of talent. Nor does his inner struggle convince because he doesn't have the acting ability to pull it off.
Kristen Stewart on the other hand brings an effective presence to Bella. She at least doesn't play her as a swoony schoolgirl. She's an intelligent, driven young woman who doesn't throw herself at Edward. She takes the time to sort out her feelings first. The first half of the film is quite effective the way she pieces together what Edward is from the different clues that come her way. But the problem with Twilight is once she knows what he is, there's nowhere else for the film to go.
The 12A certificate limits the film's options. And when we start getting rival vampires with zero inhibitions, the potential buried within the story can't be acted upon because the material is kept on a short leash. The result is a really quite anodyne vampire picture. In the end, Twilight is a vampire film for those who don't like too much blood and guts. Which is a contradiction in terms. You can't have one without the other. Twilight seems to think you can.
Twilight is not an awful vampire film. But it is a disappointing one. It does make an admirable effort to invest vampires with depth, (unlike a truly awful one like The Lost Boys) but its all played far too safely. The ending leaves the door open for a further saga, but unless they raise that rating, I won't be rushing to see the sequel in the foreseeable future.