The Next Reel Film Podcast

The third of six in our Horror Debuts series. People call Ana Lily Amirpour’s film ‘A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’ an Iranian Feminist Vampire Spaghetti Western Movie. But is it horror? We dig into this movie on the show this week!

Show Notes

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a unique take on the vampire mythos.

Ana Lily Amirpour had written a dozen screenplays but wasn’t getting any traction with getting them made. That’s when she had the idea for her Iranian vampire story. The script came easily and was something she could make in the small town of Taft CA on an ultra-low budget. Watching the film, though, Amirpour clearly had a vision and was able to bring it to screen. The film is hypnotic, dark, full of mood, and surprisingly romantic. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Horror Debuts series with Amirpour’s 2014 film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.

They don’t say much in Amirpour’s film, but we have a lot to say about it.

It’s an interesting film in its simplicity and pacing. Combing through reviews, it seems a good number of people find issue in the slow pace and long takes. Even Pete initially reacted this way. But this film has a way of sticking with you. Both of us found the film to be one that lingers, and in the end, we both ended up big fans of Amirpour’s vampire story. Is it the fact that it’s horror-lite? Or perhaps that we connected with the romance, which Amirpour herself talks about as being like in a John Hughes film? Regardless, it’s a bit hypnotic spending time in this film and one we’d return to readily.

The black-and-white cinematography by Lyle Vincent paired with Amirpour’s story as well as the soundtrack fully immerse us in this town of Bad City. It helps that Sheila Vand plays such a compelling vampire, stalking the streets in her chador and on her skateboard. And we’re intrigued by the larger messages Amirpour puts forth in the film, even if she’s not overtly trying to make comments on these things.

Things like the oppression of women in Iran and other Middle Eastern countries. Addiction. Social isolation. Depression. Social status. Even the way we drain the land of its oil like vampires on the Earth is emphasized over and over again with the shots of the oil pumpjacks moving up and down. But it’s not a message movie. Amirpour includes those elements as themes to look at and think about, but we think she’s really focused on the love story and these two lost souls trying to find a connection in a dark town.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is really a love story.

That connection between Arash, played by Arash Marandi, and Vand’s vampire (called simply The Girl) is the beating heart in this dark, cold movie. The scenes the two of them have together – at the street light, in her place, and at the power plant – create strong moments that are some of the more unforgettable moments in cinema.

We found a strong connection to this film. It’s one we’ll likely jump back into sooner rather than later to reconnect with Arash and The Girl. We have a great conversation about Amirpour’s film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. Check it out and tune in to this week’s show. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership — visit TruStory FM.


Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:
The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:
Connect With Us:
Shop & Stream:

Creators and Guests

Host
Andy Nelson
With over 25 years of experience in film, television, and commercial production, Andy has cultivated an enduring passion for storytelling in all its forms. His enthusiasm for the craft began in his youth when he and his friends started making their own movies in grade school. After studying film at the University of Colorado Boulder, Andy wrote, directed, and produced several short films while also producing indie features like Netherbeast Incorporated and Ambush at Dark Canyon. Andy has been on the production team for award-winning documentaries such as The Imposter and The Joe Show, as well as TV shows like Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Dentists and Nat Geo’s Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers. Over a decade ago, he started podcasting with Pete and immediately embraced the medium. Now, as a partner at TruStory FM, Andy looks forward to more storytelling through their wide variety of shows. Throughout his career, Andy has passed on his knowledge by teaching young minds the crafts of screenwriting, producing, editing, and podcasting. Outside of work, Andy is a family man who enjoys a good martini, a cold beer, a nice cup o’ joe. And always, of course, a great movie.
Host
Pete Wright
#Movies, #ADHD, & #Podcasting • Co-founder @trustory.fm🎥 The Next Reel Family of #Film Podcasts @thenextreel.com🎙️ Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast @takecontroladhd.com📖 Co-author of Unapologetically ADHD • https://unapologeticallyadhdbook.com

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

A show about movies and how they connect.
We love movies. We’ve been talking about them, one movie a week, since 2011. It’s a lot of movies, that’s true, but we’re passionate about origins and performance, directors and actors, themes and genres, and so much more. So join the community, and let’s hear about your favorite movies, too.
When the movie ends, our conversation begins.