501:, but the main problem with the film is its script. Noting that Drew Cullingham was writer, director, producer, and editor, Simpson stated, "When a single individual has that much input into a film, there's potential for a pure, unsullied, personal vision to shine through - but there's equal potential for major problems to be glossed over or ignored." Simpson described the "threat" in the film as "ill-defined", a serious flaw for any horror film. He wrote that none of the film's characters have a clear motivation for their actions. As examples, Simpson gave the lack of any logical reason why a husband and wife expecting their first child together would decide that the middle of winter would be a good time to move to an "isolated 17th century farmhouse 20 miles from the nearest town which has no telephone connection and no mobile signal"; why two adult men would decide to camp together in a wood in the middle of nowhere; why one would become so immediately enamored by a total stranger that he would follow her into the woods for a tryst; or why, after that friend is horribly maimed, the second man would abandon him and hike away with that same woman looking for help. Simpson noted that several more incongruous scenes served a purpose in progressing the plot, but had "no purpose within the reality of the film". The repeated flaw, he stated, is that "ime after time, characters behave in a way which is illogical, inexplicable or just downright nonsensical - but expedient. ...
449:
occasionally promising piece of work," that it was not lacking in well-conceived individual elements, and the backgrounds of the characters are decently explored. But the major problem was in the director's inability to deliver on the potential of those elements, with his efforts "cack-handed at best, and laughable at worst." The reviewer appreciated his "eye for cinema" and his ability to make the film look like it cost more to produce than one might have expected from its small budget. Further, the cast "for the most part" performed admirably; Bradley "seems to be having a lot of fun in a 'normal' role" as opposed to his usual genre fare, and carried his character of a family man with aplomb. His co-star Rita
Ramnani was "effectively annoying and self-centered as Rachel," but was let down by the screenplay, not by any failing on her part. The review considered Jonnie Hurn's Phelan to be "the most interesting character here, both on page and screen," and a well-nuanced and suitably impressive anti-hero. Natalie Celino as Lilith was faulted for her "constantly off-kilter, disinterested line delivery and a Scottish accent so thick it proves almost impenetrable."
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had explained to the audience that the film was "never really intended as a vampire film and stressed that neither is the word 'vampire' used anywhere throughout the film's duration", and that his intention was to "take the monster out of the genre and turn this particular type of horror creature into a proper, well developed character," creating a likable anti-hero. Of Hurn's Phelan, the review stated that he gave "an outstanding, multi-dimensional performance," which "makes the character appear fascinating, entertaining and sexy," in a manner missing from
310:, ruler of shadows, slaughterer of children, and consort to the devil himself, she had been re-awakened by, and drawn to the location of, the occult power inherent in the mirror carried by Jacob. Phelan has been harboring a centuries-long grudge against her for she having "turned" him 120 years earlier, and he had been tracking her for decades, equipped with the one relic that might finally kill her... a bone splinter from the rib of Adam himself.
286:, but immediately there is a blood curdling scream. The other camper, Stanley (James Fisher), rushes toward the sound and finds his friend mutilated and near dead. Near Travis, Lilith explains to Stanley that the shadows had come to life and attacked them, and the two set off to seek help. When they end up at Jacob's cabin, the entire group comes under attack by supernatural forces of darkness. Rachel discovers
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panned the film for not meeting its potential, stating that the film's trailer had him anticipating release of the feature, but the film itself was "disappointing, frustrating and ultimately unsatisfying," despite feeling that it did well in trying "to do something different." Simpson wrote that it
505:
is a mishmash of ideas that hasn't been properly worked out." Summarizing, Simpson stated, "If you want a
British vampire western, this is probably the best you can pick. Doug Bradley buckles down to his usual reliable performance, some of the other acting is also good (some less so) and there are
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film festivals, the film was more of a "supernatural/fantasy type of film, featuring plenty of banter and a playing against type performance from the legendary Doug
Bradley," and it runs "against a lot of the horror genre's conventions, and also a lot of film conventions in general." The director
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received mixed reviews from critics which praised the acting talent of Jonnie Hurn. At
Horrortalk.com, Charlotte Stear wrote, "Basically, this film tried too much to do lots all at once and with its obviously small budget, its main failure is how ambitious it is for what it can realistically do."
448:
described the film, Drew
Cullingham's first directorial effort, as "ambitious," and that the film was an "eclectic mix of family melodrama, vampire action, supernatural horror and Western styling." The review stated that these diverse elements were its downfall, "leaving a wildly inconsistent yet
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some clever moments. But
Umbrage could have been so much better and its problems stem not from any unexpected snowfall or malfunctioning generator but from a poor script which was nowhere near ready to shoot."
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by a noisy pair of friends hiking through the woods. Gaining their confidence, she and one of the men, Travis (Scott North) go into the woods for a quick
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was a "good-looking movie", due to the cinematography of James Friend, the production design by
Charlie Falconer, and the gore effects by
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expected. Upon the film's UK DVD release in
October 2011, Fangoria revisited the topic to share an exclusive video excerpt and photos.
258:) is an antiques dealer who sets off with his new young and pregnant wife Lauren (Grace Vallorani) and his stepdaughter, Rachel (
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471:"a very unique type of horror film, if that's even what you want to call it." The review stated that despite screening at
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in a hopeful effort to heal bonds between feuding family members. He also carries a large, mysterious and ancient
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film festivals through 2009 and 2010. The film became available on DVD in the UK in
October 2011, with a
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Horrorphilia gave the film 5 stars out of 10 and referred its "unfortunate wasted potential."
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and himself a former vampire hunter. He tells Rachel that the real danger to everyone is
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written and directed by Drew Cullingham as his directorial debut. The film stars
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cowboy Phelan (Jonnie Hurn) hanging out in their barn. Phelan is a
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719:"Doug Bradley Starrer 'Umbrage' Trailer Debut"
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348:Scott North as Travis (as Scott Thomas)
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653:"Horror all-nighter a Halloween treat"
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680:Gingold, Michael (21 November 2010).
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813:Stear, Charlotte (20 October 2011).
611:Gingold, Michael (18 October 2011).
246:for 2011 and 2012 DVD distribution.
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574:"Review of British vampire fantasy
389:on 31 October 2009 and screened at
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533:Jones, Gareth (11 October 2011).
651:Bitel, Anton (4 November 2009).
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387:London FrightFest Film Festival
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240:London FrightFest Film Festival
174:London FrightFest Film Festival
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748:Barton, Steve (28 July 2011).
363:Yoram Halberstam as older Adam
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967:English-language horror films
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467:and called Drew Cullingham's
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270:mirror, smuggled out of the
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490:style presence on screen."
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846:Umbrage: The First Vampire
817:Umbrage, The First Vampire
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947:British vampire films
937:Films shot in England
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351:Jonnie Hurn as Phelan
848:(2009) Movie Review"
686:, with Doug Bradley"
222:, is a 2009 British
121:Motion Picture House
962:2000s British films
682:"Distributor takes
794:on 12 January 2012
629:on 22 October 2011
441:Critical reception
413:first wrote about
354:Natalie Celino as
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724:Bloody Disgusting
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185:Running time
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89:James Friend
79:James Fisher
75:Rita Ramnani
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453:Quiet Earth
435:Hokie Joint
272:Middle East
224:horror film
132:(festivals)
130:Left Films
108:Huskie Jack
57:Produced by
41:Directed by
922:2009 films
916:Categories
862:23 October
828:23 October
798:23 October
787:MJ Simpson
761:22 October
730:23 October
702:22 October
662:22 October
633:22 October
587:22 October
550:22 October
517:References
494:MJ Simpson
368:Sammaelson
335:as Stanley
268:Babylonian
189:90 minutes
168:2009-10-31
114:Production
49:Written by
539:(UK DVD)"
535:"review:
499:Scott Orr
405:in 2012.
403:Lionsgate
375:as Voices
329:as Rachel
280:bird hide
264:homestead
244:Lionsgate
140:Lionsgate
95:Edited by
691:Fangoria
622:Fangoria
483:Twilight
410:Fangoria
323:as Jacob
202:Language
150:release)
103:Music by
67:Starring
902:Umbrage
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684:UMBRAGE
615:Umbrage
576:UMBRAGE
510:Umbrage
503:Umbrage
480:in the
469:Umbrage
415:Umbrage
381:Release
342:in the
308:Succubi
292:vampire
254:Jacob (
205:English
194:Country
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116:company
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952:Lilith
399:Canada
356:Lilith
344:Garden
296:Lilith
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464:Angel
288:Irish
284:tryst
142:&
896:IMDb
864:2011
830:2011
800:2011
763:2011
732:2011
704:2011
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635:2011
589:2011
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461:and
397:and
340:Adam
314:Cast
300:Adam
250:Plot
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
