Who among us has not at some point been frustrated by an overly zealous safety regulation or product safety feature? Draculaw takes this experience that we've all had and turns it into fuel for comedy. It turns out the driving force behind all those overweening rules and regulations is one particular lawyer. A lawyer who is not quite human.
We all know that vampires drink blood, but this lawyer - the Counselor - is a bloodsucker of a different type. Much like a psychic vampire (and we meet one of those, too) the Counselor draws his sustenance from draining your money and time. As you can see, the metaphor of the lawyer as vampire really isn't too much of a stretch.
Not all lawyers are evil, though. Pitted against the devilish Counselor is a lawyer who is rather heavy-handedly named Arc Gabriel. Unlike the lawyers and legislators who enact laws that seem to be intended to help people but which have costs that outweigh any real benefits, Arc really does want to help. The battle between Arc and the Counselor plays out in court with lots of clever twists.
Draculaw is a low-budget indie film, but the producers have clearly put a lot of time and effort into making it. The actors are all top notch, the location scenes add to the authenticity, and the writing and directing by Scott Deschaine is always admirably clear and direct. A number of clever sight gags add to the fun. The visual effects aren't Hollywood quality, but they are excellent for a low-budget film, and the foley work is outstanding by anyone's standards.
If you enjoy comedy-infused horror, you're bound to like this little jewel. Stick around though the closing credits and music for a funny stinger at the end.
