FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/el-conde-venice-film-festival-review-a-vampirically-efficient-satire/ "El Conde delivers an effective, brutally gory sociopolitical satire packed with sarcastic commentary, offering an amusing narrative that compares the eternity of vampires with the impunity of the Chilean dictator's crimes. Technically wonderful, employing a stunning black-and-white canvas that will leave any cinephile delighted, as well as excellent contributions from cinematography, score, and editing for a captivating immersive experience. Underdeveloped characters and repetitive messages remove some of the biggest impact the film could have had." Rating: B+

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Discussed on the 10th September 2023 Awesome Friday Podcast! While we both love the visuals and the performances, we did not vibe with the movie. And it's definitely a vibes movie. Listen to the show here: - Home: https://awesomefriday.ca/2023/09/podcast-the-meg-2-the-trench-el-conde/ - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/awesome-friday/id480100293?i=1000627430169 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3G2sJ5Erqyj01tUI02bD67?si=RDX8scb_SC2ugvPBzopRVg - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqkNj-bTxvM

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Are politicians fundamentally just vampires, in disguise? El Conde crafts a clever tale that weaves the life of the vampire, with that of the politician. It draws on two, well known, right wing, political figures, from Chilean and UK politics. The notorious Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet and the iron lady of UK politics, Margaret Thatcher. This is a surreal, highly watchable experience, that's at times brutal, and visually, compellingly beautiful. Its not perfect. Its starts and ends convincingly, cleverly drawing together the threads of the story. What happens in between, can come across, as a little too diffuse and disordered, at times, to really represent anything contextually cohesive. In summary, this is a highly original, stimulating piece of film noir, that stays with you, long after the closing credits. Its ambition can and does outshine it achievements. That said, what it does achieve, is well worth your time.

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