Wednesday, April 8, 2009

True Blood review: When vampires walk among us


Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOS ANGELES—What would you do if vampires came out of their coffins to live with humans?

Or, just think of the possibilities when they no longer need humans for their nocturnal fix and, in fact, are served bottled artificial blood in any bar they frequent.

Would women flock to prospective vampire boyfriends for their first taste (okay, first bite) of a preternatural affair?

HBO viewers in the Philippines, a country rich in stories and myths of a vampire-like creature variously known as the aswang, tik-tik, or wak-wak, will witness the adventures of another type of blood-suckers via the all-new HBO series, “True Blood,” which premieres tonight at 9 p.m. on MAX.

Telepathic waitress

Starring Golden Globe winner Anna Paquin (Best Actress in a Television Series-Drama) and created by Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under”), “True Blood” is based on Charlaine Harris’ popular Sookie Stackhouse novels, about a perky waitress with telepathic gifts and her relationship with the vampire Bill Compton, portrayed by Stephen Moyer (“The Starter Wife”).

Synthetic blood

“True Blood” portrays vampires who are able to live with humans following the formulation of a mass-produced synthetic blood which regulates their craving for human blood. Set in the backwoods of the Louisiana town of Bon Temps, the story revolves around Sookie Stackhouse, whom the 173-year-old Vampire Bill finds very attractive on account of her gift, which she considers a “disability.”

In an exclusive interview recently with Inquirer, “True Blood” creator and director Alan Ball explained what attracted him to the story: “I could not put the books down. I am not the kind who would usually read vampire stories, but it was a total impulse to buy the novels and I loved every word. They were funny, sexy, romantic, scary, dramatic—I really got lost in these little paperbacks. By the time I reached the third book, I said, there is a TV show in this … The images would just pop up on me so I could visualize what I had to do. Most of the characters were very vivid. I cared for them.”

Phenomenon
Ball, who personally met with Harris, revealed that the suspense-thriller will “explore the phenomenon of the vampire cult and the psychology behind it.”

Why do vampire stories work so well? He tries to explain: “I have my theories. They live forever. They are not constrained by conformity and moral codes. They are sexy. We live vicariously through them because they can be themselves and nothing else. Many women look at vampires as great fantasy objects. Vampires suck the life out of us, a potent metaphor indeed.”

Completely drawn

Anna Paquin, who portrays Sookie Stackhouse, told Inquirer in a separate interview: “I saw the script and I just loved it. I already love HBO since I watch everything on it, so working on a series was exciting for me. I also adore Alan Ball. I love Sookie because she is alternately tough, sweet, kind, innocent, knowing, sexy — and does all sorts of things that you don’t usually do as a girl. Then there is the vampire whom she befriends, and others she gets to know through him, who are dark and twisted. I am just completely drawn to the role.”

The actress, who won her first Oscar for “The Piano” when she was only 11, revealed: “There is something fascinating about vampires. For them, anything is possible and that is very attractive to many. ‘True Blood’ has it all — sleuth, women obsessed with vampires, fanatics, cute waitresses, and diehard rednecks.”

Good-looking cast

Joining Paquin and Moyer in the cast are Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse, Sookie’s older brother who is a babe magnet; Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte, owner and operator of the local watering hole; Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton, Sookie’s loyal childhood friend; and Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette Reynolds, the shady short-order grill cook. Janet Susan R. Nepales

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20090408-198607/When-vampires-walk-among-us

0 comments: