Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been completely obsessed with vampires. If you ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you the same. I’ve watched nearly every vampire movie ever made, from the early classics like Nosferatu to more modern takes such as What We Do in the Shadows.
I even have a tattoo of fangs on my forearm, so my love for vampires is clear. It all started when my mother let me watch Van Helsing at a very young age. Since then, my passion for vampires has only grown, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
With this deep love for vampire movies, I’ve also become very particular about them. It takes more than just slapping some fangs on a serial killer and calling it a vampire movie to impress me. A truly great vampire movie has to respect the long history of vampire lore that goes back hundreds of years.
There’s so much rich history, culture, and storytelling tied to vampires, and a good movie needs to honor that. For me, it’s difficult for new vampire films to make it onto my list of favorites. That’s why I was so pleased when I discovered Euros Lyn’s The Radleys. This movie was able to make it onto that list of favorite vampire films, which doesn’t happen often.
The Radleys is adapted from the young adult novel by Matt Haig of the same name. The story centers around what seems like a typical suburban family living in England: a father who’s a doctor (played by Damian Lewis), a mother involved in the Parent-Teacher Association (played by Kelly MacDonald), two children, and the stereotypical white picket fence. On the surface, everything about them looks normal.
However, they are far from it. This family is hiding a dark secret—they’re vampires. But they don’t drink blood anymore. They’ve committed to staying away from it, much like a sobriety program for alcoholics. The family tries hard to be perfect members of society, but when their daughter Clara (played by Bo Bragason) has a violent and bloody encounter with one of her classmates, things start to fall apart.
Matters get worse when Peter, the father, calls his twin brother Will (also played by Damian Lewis) for help. Will doesn’t share the family’s commitment to staying away from blood. He’s the opposite—fully embracing his vampiric nature. When he arrives, the family’s carefully constructed normal life starts to crumble.
Still from the movie (Sky Cinema)
The film falls under the category of “domestic monsters,” a horror subgenre that I love. However, it’s rare to find a film that gets this blend of horror and normal family life right. Balancing the real with the supernatural is difficult. It’s easy to go too far in one direction and ruin the story. But The Radleys pulls it off with skill. The film turns supernatural vampire problems into issues that feel very human.
The movie touches on a variety of themes like puberty, infidelity, and addiction, but it doesn’t do so in an overly obvious way. You won’t feel like the movie is beating you over the head with its messages. It handles these subjects with a lot of care, weaving them into the story naturally.
The idea of using monsters as metaphors is something I feel has been lost in recent years, especially with all the CGI available in modern films. But The Radleys doesn’t rely on flashy effects. Instead, it delivers its messages in a thoughtful and clever way. The movie has a dark, comedic tone and a strong sense of British humor, without turning the whole story into a joke. It keeps enough serious moments to ensure that the deeper themes come across without feeling forced.
The Radley family is so determined to seem normal that the film barely needs to let their true nature show for it to be effective. When they finally lose control, they really lose it, and this restraint works much like it did in the classic Dracula story. The fear comes not from the immediate action, but from the anticipation. You’re always waiting for something to go wrong, and that suspense builds throughout the movie.
Horror, especially in the best vampire stories, often thrives on this tension—the sense that something terrible is just around the corner. The Radleys’ everyday life is filled with dark humor, which only enhances the underlying fear that something bad is going to happen. The film even uses a clever visual metaphor of a nice red wine to hint at what the real danger might be. Is it wine, or is it something else entirely?
The cast of the movie is clearly having a great time, especially Damian Lewis, who plays both Peter and Will. His performance as the more feral of the two brothers is particularly entertaining. There’s a wild, rock-and-roll energy to his portrayal of Will that reminds me of Lestat from Interview with the Vampire, mixed with a bit of Marc Bolan’s glam rock vibe.
Still from the movie (Sky Cinema)
It’s clear that Lewis is having a lot of fun playing this character. At the same time, his more subdued performance as Peter showcases his range as an actor. He shifts effortlessly between the two roles, and both characters feel distinct and fully developed.
Kelly MacDonald, who plays Peter’s wife, also delivers a great performance. She holds her own against Lewis, despite his characters being so dramatically different from each other. MacDonald’s character, along with Shawn Parkes, who plays a paranoid neighbor, helps ground the film in reality.
Their performances provide a solid contrast to the more chaotic and supernatural elements of the story. They add a layer of humanity that makes the whole film feel more relatable, even as it gets increasingly wild toward the end. The supporting cast, especially the characters who aren’t vampires, plays an important role in bringing the story to life. Even the humans in the film are well-developed and add depth to the story.
Although The Radleys is adapted from a young adult novel, the film is much darker than you might expect. It’s clear that the story has been tailored for an older audience, even though its roots in YA fiction are still present. I can imagine that I would have loved this story as a teenager, but it holds up just as well for adults.
There are moments in the film where the script feels drawn out, as if the filmmakers wanted to make a larger point about life. The third act of the movie, in particular, could have been trimmed down a bit. But even though the pacing slows at times, the overall structure of the film works well.
It builds tension gradually, giving viewers small look into the Radleys’ true nature before fully revealing it. This slow, deliberate pacing adds to the movie’s effectiveness, making the final act all the more impactful.
One of the things I appreciate most about The Radleys is that it doesn’t try to be something it’s not. In a time when it feels like we’re constantly bombarded with new types of movie monsters, it’s refreshing to see a film that takes a more straightforward approach.
The Radleys doesn’t try to outdo other vampire movies or create a completely new take on vampires. Instead, it focuses on telling its own story and doing it well. It respects the long tradition of vampire lore but isn’t afraid to make the story its own. The film’s creators understand what makes vampire fiction so compelling, and they pour their hearts into the project. That’s what makes it so enjoyable for fans like me.
Still from the movie (Sky Cinema)
At its core, The Radleys is a vampire movie with a heart. It blends humor, horror, and humanity in a way that feels fresh without losing sight of what makes vampire stories so timeless. Whether you’re a longtime fan of vampire lore like me or someone who’s just looking for a fun, well-made movie, The Radleys has something to offer.
The film’s dark humor, combined with its grounded characters and engaging storyline, makes it a standout in a genre that’s often filled with clichés. It’s a movie that understands its audience and knows how to deliver a satisfying vampire story without overcomplicating things.
The movie’s third act does take some wild turns, but it never loses sight of its main characters or the core of the story. While the action ramps up and the family’s secrets are fully exposed, the film maintains its sense of humor and heart. This balance between the supernatural and the everyday is what makes The Radleys so effective. It’s a story about vampires, but it’s also a story about family, identity, and the struggles we all face in trying to fit in.
The Radleys is a welcome addition to the vampire genre. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a fun, engaging movie that respects its audience and its source material. The cast, especially Damian Lewis, delivers fantastic performances, and the film’s blend of humor and horror works well.
While it may not be the most groundbreaking vampire movie ever made, it’s one that I’ll definitely be watching again. For anyone who loves vampires or just enjoys a good horror-comedy, The Radleys is worth checking out.
The Finnish metalhead sequel, Heavier Trip, is directed by Juuso Laatio and Jukka Vidgren. This movie picks up right where Heavy Trip (2018) left off, continuing the wild and hilarious story of the fictional band, Impaled Rektum.
If you’ve seen the original movie, you’ll know that Heavy Trip was about the unlikely rise of this amateur metal band from Finland. It wasn’t as serious as Lords of Chaos by Jonas Åkerlund, nor was it as drenched in horror as Deathgasm by Jason Lei Howden. Instead, Laatio and Vidgren delivered a goofy musical comedy filled with headbanging beats and slapstick humor.
While the sequel doesn’t quite match the charm of the original, that only speaks to how remarkable Heavy Trip was. Heavier Trip keeps the same spirit alive, bringing back the characters and humor that fans loved, and it’s still very much enjoyable. The filmmakers have proven that they understand the metal culture, and this movie shows that they’re still in tune with the heavy metal scene.
The Band Reunites in Heavier Trip
In Heavier Trip, we meet Impaled Rektum again, but this time they’re stuck in a prison off the coast of Norway. This prison is no ordinary jail though. It’s got a fancy seafood buffet, which adds a humorous twist to the setting. The band gets an unexpected opportunity when super-producer Maxwell Efraim Fisto (played by Anatole Taubman) shows up with an offer.
He wants the band to perform at Wacken Open Air, a famous heavy metal festival in Germany. If they accept, they’ll earn €50,000. However, the band’s bassist, Xytrax (played by Max Ovaska), dismisses the festival as “overcommercialized” and calls it an event for “wannabes.” Plus, they’re behind bars, so the lead singer, Turo (played by Johannes Holopainen), decides to turn down the offer.
Things take a turn when guitarist Lotvonen (played by Samuli Jaskio) finds out his family’s slaughterhouse will be taken away unless they pay €30,000. This forces the band into action. Impaled Rektum has no choice but to break out of prison, track down Fisto, and hope the offer is still on the table. But escaping won’t be easy, especially with prison security guard Dokken (played by Helén Vikstvedt) standing in their way.
Still from the movie (YouTube)
A Film for Metal Lovers
Heavy Trip showcased Laatio and Vidgren’s knowledge of the metal scene, and Heavier Trip doesn’t stray from that. The directors continue to approach the heavy metal genre with a sense of humor that’s widely accessible. Most of the jokes are easy to understand, even for those who may not be hardcore metal fans.
That said, there are moments that only true metalheads will appreciate, but even those come with enough context for casual viewers to follow along. For example, there’s a reference to Jimi Hendrix’s famous guitar-burning moment, and it’s a joke that will land with just about anyone.
The film also touches on different subgenres of metal, which adds variety. One of the best scenes involves Xytrax encountering the Japanese Kawaii metal sensation, BABYMETAL. Xytrax has strict opinions about what “real” metal should sound like, but he can’t help but tap his foot to BABYMETAL’s hit song, “Gimme Chocolate!!” As a fan of BABYMETAL myself, I found this moment incredibly fun and satisfying. Whether you’re into classic Metallica or more niche genres like Norwegian black metal, there’s something for everyone in this movie.
The Challenges of the Music Business
The partnership between Impaled Rektum and Fisto is central to the movie’s story. Fisto represents the sleazy side of the music business, and his actions show how he tries to manipulate the band. He even tries to scrub away their individuality, pushing them to conform to the commercial side of the industry.
It’s not a new story by any means. We’ve seen it in other films about bands, like Rock Star by Stephen Herek and Suck by Rob Stefaniuk. But seeing it through the lens of Impaled Rektum adds a fresh, comedic twist to the familiar story.
Fisto’s name is a play on Mephisto, the “Monarch of Evil,” and it’s clear that he’s not interested in the band’s artistic integrity. He only cares about making money. The band members—Turo, Xytrax, Lotvonen, and their drummer Oula (played by Chike Ohanwe)—start to see how their identity as a band is being threatened. The spotlight begins to seduce Turo, but the others aren’t so easily swayed. The tension within the group builds as they realize Fisto’s influence is turning them into something they’re not.
Familiar but Fun
Even though Heavier Trip follows a storyline that’s been done before, it still manages to keep things fun. The movie stays true to the characters that fans of Heavy Trip came to love. Xytrax is still brutally honest, Lotvonen remains obsessed with Dave Mustaine, and the band continues to face absurd challenges. There are also some nice nods to rock n’ roll legends, like a prop that includes Lemmy Kilmister’s iconic hat. These little touches add to the charm of the film.
New characters also help keep the sequel fresh. Fisto’s shady actions and the introduction of Blood Motor, a rival band led by a growling frontman named Rob (played by David Bredin), bring new dynamics to the story. While these additions are welcome, it’s still clear that this is Impaled Rektum’s story. The band doesn’t lose its identity, and the humor is consistent with the original movie.
Still from the film (Making Movies)
Music and Metal
One of the highlights of Heavier Trip is its soundtrack. The original movie had a killer metal score, and the sequel doesn’t disappoint in this department either. Mika Lammassaari, who steps up as the composer for the sequel, delivers an awesome collection of songs. The soundtrack is filled with crunchy guitar riffs and heavy bass lines that will get any metalhead pumped up.
The music is not just a backdrop to the film; it’s an essential part of the experience. Heavier Trip is a love letter to metal fans, and the soundtrack reflects that. The energy and intensity of the music add to the film’s overall excitement, making it a must-see for fans of the genre.
Is Heavier Trip as Good as Heavy Trip?
While Heavier Trip is definitely a fun movie, it doesn’t quite match the originality of Heavy Trip. The first film was unique in how it balanced metal culture with quirky, offbeat humor. It had a rebellious spirit that made it stand out from other music comedies. In comparison, Heavier Trip feels more predictable. The plot follows a more traditional route, with the band facing typical obstacles like shady producers and the temptation of fame.
That being said, Heavier Trip still has plenty to offer. Fans of the first movie will enjoy seeing Impaled Rektum’s continued adventures, and the humor remains as ridiculous as ever. The film doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have to. It’s a solid sequel that stays true to what made the original special.
The Cast Shines Again
The cast of Heavier Trip brings the same energy and charm that they did in the first film. Johannes Holopainen is once again great as Turo, the awkward but lovable frontman. He’s the heart of the band, and his character’s journey in this sequel is engaging, even if it’s a bit more predictable.
Max Ovaska as Xytrax continues to steal scenes with his deadpan humor and metal purist attitude. His interactions with BABYMETAL are some of the funniest moments in the movie, especially as he tries to maintain his metalhead identity while secretly enjoying their catchy tunes.
Samuli Jaskio as Lotvonen and Chike Ohanwe as Oula also give solid performances, rounding out the band’s lineup. The chemistry between the cast members is evident, and they all work well together to bring the absurdity of Impaled Rektum to life.
Newcomers like Anatole Taubman as Fisto and David Bredin as Rob add fresh energy to the film, playing off the main cast with ease. Their characters add to the chaos and humor of the story, ensuring that the sequel feels lively and entertaining.
A Sequel Worth Watching
Heavier Trip may not surpass its predecessor, but it’s still a worthy follow-up. The film delivers the same kind of chaotic energy that made Heavy Trip a cult favorite, with plenty of laughs and headbanging moments along the way. The metal soundtrack, the humor, and the lovable characters all come together to create an entertaining sequel that fans of the first film will appreciate.
In the end, Heavier Trip is a fun, lighthearted metal comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a movie made for metalheads by metalheads, and it doesn’t try to be anything else. If you enjoyed Heavy Trip, you’re sure to have a good time with Heavier Trip.
It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a solid sequel that keeps the headbanging fun going. The film delivers a delightful continuation of Impaled Rektum’s journey, blending humor and metal culture seamlessly, making it a must-watch for fans seeking laughter and headbanging excitement.
