Ambrogio: The First Vampire

I recently watched a new vampire film called Ambrogio : The First Vampire, and it was SO different than what I expected it to be. We've all seen a vampire movie before, and they all tend to be fairly similar to one another. You go into the film with an expectation.

Well, Ambrogio : The First Vampire completely blew that away. Far different than the average blood sucker flick, this movie is completely original, beyond pleasantly original!

It's a really exciting movie made completely independently, the whole cast and crew are all indie gems.

The movie features a really rich story filled with vibrant characters, incredible locations, ace cinematography; it's exciting and you can visibly tell while watching this how much effort and time and hard work the cast and crew put into making the film.

For me personally, when I watch a movie like this I feel so rewarded by the end, just being able to watch independent artists making art, and Ambrogio : The First Vampire definitely makes you feel that way while watching!

I had such fun watching this movie, and I'd love for you to take a BITE out of Ambrogio : The First Vampire!

Get it? Bite? Cuz vampires, they..bite. It's funny!

Okay, I'm sorry. I wanted to end it with a laugh. I tried. Watch the movie, it's a refreshing new take on the vampire genre with a lot of heart made by some really strong artists. I hope you see it and enjoy it as much as I did.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. I did not know the story of the "original" vampire, so kudos for writing a good story! There were some memorable dialogue and lines. I must admit, I turned on closed captions to appreciate the dialogue. The character Sarah was interesting and well acted. While Hades and Dracula were important to the story, I never fully got the evil vibe from them. Special effects were good. I wasn't able to feel connected to the character Ambrogio. His troubled soul yearned to be free, but it took a long time for him to find his peace. Nice touch to include some Italian and Greek dialogue in the movie.

Ambrogio is a very impressive achievement for a first-time feature-length director, writer, and crew. Coming in at about 1 hour and 10 minutes, it's a respectable length that doesn't try to go too high too quickly. Even with the small budget, the story and its implications carry greater weight and scope, and the effective location choices help lend the right amount of credibility to these elements.

I was also impressed by the unique take on the vampire mythos by taking things back to their furthest roots and developing a character whose origins lie in the birthplace of vampirism. That sort of ancient mythos and lore is always exciting in fiction and fantasy.

I think the most successful elements of Alex Javo's film are the actors (especially Mitch Lemos as Hades and Niko'a Salas as Dracula), the music, and the costuming.

My one critique for the film, given the subject matter, is I wish a darker lighting scheme and perhaps even color palette had been used to accentuate the macabe and gothic nature of our vampire characters, especially in Ambrogio's home. The use of high contrast or back-lit shots would have lent to showing us a creepier or more mysterious side to Ambrogio.

That said, I think Alex and the film greatly succeed in what they set out to do, and its praise and accolades from the indie film community are well deserved.

Probably one of the best Vampire films I've seen since Bram Stoker's Dracula, starring Gary Oldman. Greatly recommend this to all lovers of the genre, and if you're not into it, this film may bring you closer to changing your mind.

I don't easily recommend films, as my tastes differ greatly from most everyone out there but I do recommend this one. Heck, if you rent/buy the stream or venture into Walmart and buy the dvd, I wouldn't be opposed to hanging out and watching it again with you. Given the distance, of course.

I hope that tells you how strongly I feel about this incredible film.

Congratulations to the cast and crew.

Producers and Directors, take note-Alex Javo is the next Crowe in filmmaking. He doesn't just play a character; he brings them to life with depth and presence that jumps off the screen. When Ambrogio needed a lead with an "old soul," Alex delivered, bringing a rich, layered performance that truly makes this film a must-watch.

Angelina brings a natural charm to her role as Alex's love interest, and their on-screen chemistry is undeniable. Their connection feels effortless, with every interaction feeling authentic and compelling. Alex keeps Ambrogio's character grounded, remaining both relatable and deeply human, even amidst the film's supernatural elements.