Vampire in modern cinema has gone through quite a unique transformation in the near hundred years of movies. From being creatures of myth and lore of evil to teen idols, the vampire is an easy subject to cover for television and films. With the unprecedented success of Twilight in theatres, leading to a franchise focusing on a more tween friendly blood sucker, a decidedly more adult version has hit the small screen in True Blood.
The series follows the small town Louisiana adventures of waitress Sookie (Anna Paquin) and her friends and family in a world much like our own but with one decided exception: vampires are real and in their midst. With a Japanese company inventing a blood synthetic substitute, vampires are “coming out of the coffin” en masse.
The interesting thing is that Sookie is a psychic, able to hear the thoughts of those around her. Like when a 173-year-old vampire named Bill (Stephen Moyer) comes to their small town. With Bills arrival comes a series of murders that seem to implicate her brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten). What follows is an investigation of sorts by the pair into the murders with a twist that’s hard to see coming.
An adaptation of the “Southern Vampire Mysteries” novel series by Charlaine Harris, and broadcast on HBO, this is decidedly not teen friendly as the series is perhaps the opposite of Twilight featuring an impressive amount of profanity, blood, nudity and sex situations as one can fit in an hour-long dramatic format. It makes the scenery impressive, of course, but like most things HBO has done in episodic television the heart is in the story.
If you take out the vampire aspect it stands up as a great procedural film with whodunit tendencies mired in small town drama. Think of a more mature Andy Griffith Show meshed with bloodsuckers.
The series has a great story to it and a slow build; while the mystery is going on we are presented with the characters incomplete. As the series builds, theyre also not intent on building the status quo. Main characters die enough to keep the pace up and tight.
True Blood may be a bit graphic, but its bloody good viewing.
Presented in a Dolby Digital format in a full screen format, True Blood has a terrific transfer. HBO has a knack for high quality releases and this is another in that long line. This is a show with lots of vibrant colors and a colorful location and it comes through wonderfully.
There are Commentary Tracks on selected episodes as well as various PSA style extras that can help you can get acquainted with the world of the series.
With a bare minimum of extras, the first season of True Blood doesnt contain much for those looking for extras. The show itself is quite wonderful, though, and well worth the viewing.
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HBO presents True Blood (Season 1). Starring Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Chris Bauer. Created by Alan Ball based off The Southern Vampire Mysteries novel series by Charlaine Harris. Running time: 100 minutes . Not Rated . Released on DVD: May 19, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
