Neil Jordan does an excellent directorial job with this elegant, subdued and melancholy take on vampirism. Tonally, Byzantium is not as dull as Jordan's previous Interview With The Vampire, as Moira Buffini's well-considered script is often quite beautiful to listen to, as is Javier Navarrete's haunting score, and the mix of modern horror/thriller tropes with the well-mounted historical costume-drama scenes is very effective. Saoirse Ronan more than makes up for her weak showing in The Host, Gemma Arterton steps up and for the most part delivers in a complex role, with interesting supporting work by Caleb Landry-Jones, Jonny Lee Miller and the ever-watchable Daniel Mays. The fading seaside town setting is used evocatively, tying in nicely with the elemental motifs, and the recurring themes of storytelling and identity work well within the overall narrative. The somewhat deliberate pacing may put off some viewers, but Byzantium is a thoughtful, adult and admirable film.
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