Drink, Slay, Love

Drink, Slay, Love is a captivating 2017 TV movie directed by Vanessa Parise, featuring a cast that includes Steve James, Cierra Ramirez, and Zack Peladeau. This film combines elements of fantasy, comedy, and romance, adapting the popular novel of the same name by Sarah Beth Durst, into an engaging visual experience.

The story centers around Pearl, portrayed by Cierra Ramirez, who is not your average teenager. She is a vampire, part of a wealthy vampire family, and her life revolves around hunting for human blood. Pearl’s entire world changes one fateful night when an unidentified unicorn stabs her, setting off a chain reaction of events that would challenge everything she has known.

After her encounter with the mythical creature, Pearl astonishingly begins to develop a reflection in mirrors and becomes immune to sunlight. In any other scenario, this would have been a cause for joy, but in Pearl's vampire world, things are more complex. As she starts to understand what these changes mean, she finds herself in a gradual transformation that challenges her core vampiric nature.

Cierra Ramirez delivers a substantial performance as Pearl, mastering the complexity of a vampire who starts off as unabashedly predatory but, as her humanity starts to creep in, she begins to question her whole existence. Steve James portrays Pearl's father, who presents an authoritative figure, revealing the impositions and control in vampire culture and family dynamics. Zack Peladeau features as a human who helps Pearl in navigating her new world, adding romantic intrigue to the story.

The film has a unique positioning and treatment given to the vampire lore and mythology. It combines the sunny world of human regularity with the dark and mysterious vampire realm, where there is a constant tussle between humanity and monstrosity. Drink, Slay, Love uses the vampire genre as a platform to explore themes of self-discovery, morality, and identity while maintaining a balanced blend of humor and light-hearted moments.

In addition to the traditional vampire lore, the movie introduces an ethereal quality with unicorns, transforming the narrative into a more magical realm. The inclusion of unicorns also serves symbolically in the storyline, allowing a clear juxtaposition between the world of sunlight and the dark life of a vampire.

Like many teenage dramas, the film features high school as a key part of its setting. However, in the case of Drink, Slay, Love, the typical teenage angst gets an uncanny spin owing to the vampire-human cultural clash.

The cinematography plays a pivotal role in setting the contrasting tones for human and vampire worlds. While the human scenes are warm, vibrant and filled with sunlight, the vampire sequences veer towards darker, colder hues, echoing their nocturnal lifestyle and predatory ways.

The film is a visual treat with grand palatial vampire houses, enchanting costumes, and the magical portrayal of unicorns. The special effects, particularly in showing vampire abilities, are striking and not overdone.

Drink, Slay, Love is more than just fantastical lore. It resonates with its audience through its thematic undertones of accepting oneself despite how one is perceived by the community, exploring the boundaries of morality, and choosing one's own destiny against parental and societal expectations. It is sure to delight viewers who love movies that break the norms without being overly heavy or dark.

Despite the serious subject matter, the film is cleverly peppered with humorous moments and comic relief, which greatly enhances its overall charm. It allows the audience to enjoy the narrative without becoming weighed down by its darker themes.

The movie attracts a broad range of viewers, from teens seeking an unconventional high school drama to fantasy enthusiasts intrigued by the fresh take on vampire mythology. It also appeals to romance lovers looking for an extraordinary love story and comedy fans in search of a good laugh. In summary, Drink, Slay, Love is an impressive and fantastical tale of a vampire's transformation, expertly blending comedy, fantasy, and romance, making it an enjoyable watch.