RELEASING:  IFC FILMS

CREW: Director/Screenplay - Dennis Gansel; Screenplay - Jan Berger; Producers -; Cinematographer - Torsten Breuer; Score - Heiko Maile; Production Designer - Matthias Müsse; Costume Designer - Anke Winckler; Editor - Ueli Christen; Special Effects Supervisor - Dirk Lange; Visual Effects Supervisor - Alex Lemke

CAST: KAROLINE HERFURTH... Lena; NINA HOSS... Louise; JENNIFER ULRICH... Charlotte; ANNA FISCHER... Nora; MAX RIEMELT... Detective Tom Serner; WALÉRA KANISCHTSCHEFF... Wasja; SENTA DOROTHEA KIRSCHNER... Spusi Frau; ARVED BIRNBAUM... Detective Lummer; STEFFI KÜHNERT... Lena’s Mother; IVAN SHVEDOFF... van Gogh; JOCHEN NICKEL... Lenas Bewährungshelfer; NIC ROMM... Olsen.

SYNOPSIS: A provocative gang of female vampires is living by their own rules and leaving a merciless trail of blood throughout Europe. They return to Berlin where 20-year-old Lena (HERFURTH) survives as a petty thief. On her nightly run through an underground club, she meets 250-year-old Louise (HOSS), a vampire vixen, who is not only the owner of the club, but also the leader of this all-female vampire trio - the other two members are the wild Nora (FISCHER) and elegant Charlotte (ULRICH). Louise falls head over heels in love with the scruffy Lena and bites her during their first night together. Lena quickly discovers the curse and the blessing of her new, eternal life. She revels in the glamor, parties and infinite freedom. Nevertheless, she discovers that the endless blood lust she shares with her new girlfriends comes at a steep price. When she resolves to turn her back on the bloodsucking band of sisters, Louise's temper explodes in a blood fury. When Detective Tom Serner (RIEMELT) begins investigating a series of gristly murders it is just a matter of time before the blood trail leads him to Lena and the other vampires in an out of control showdown between the undead an the police.

REVIEW: Think “Near Dark,” “Innocent Blood,” a sprinkling of “The Hunger,” and a dash of “True Blood,” minus the testosterone and werewolves. Start with sexy European actresses, a lesbian overtone, bucks of blood, and an action packed final shoot out on par with a Tarantino film. I think you get a sense that Dennis Gansel’s WE ARE THE NIGHT is a guilty pleasure that is sure to satisfy a variety of genre cravings, not simply the vampire fans.

Gansel has gathered an amazing cast. This female leads are as tough as they are sexy. To single one performance out would detract from this ensemble cast. The male cast members are effective, it’s simply that these female characters over shadow the male roles.

And while you could easily draw references to even more films then I’ve already mentioned, you could even make the case that “Lost Boys” was to “Peter Pan” as WE ARE THE NIGHT is to “Wonder Woman.” This band of female vamps is a similar metaphor as the Amazons in Wonder Woman’s universe. It’s a tad more contemporary given the film’s sexuality and conflicts. True these vamps have no golden lassoes, invisible planes, or metal cuffs to deflect bullets. However, given the vampire mythology and how it is weaved into this plot, it does make for interesting analysis. Added into the mix are some interesting layer characters and a main plot that is nicely juxtaposed to several subplots.

Gansel has some captures several interesting locations that he accents with his choice of cinematography to blend a European feel with a Hollywood action film, making WE ARE THE NIGHT extremely engaging. The action sequences are well choreographed and there are some solid visual and special effects.

This is Gansel’s fifth feature, and is as solid visually with a narrative acumen similar to his critically acclaimed 2008 film “The Wave.” WE ARE THE NIGHT is a more commercial film then his previous endeavors and an impressive/entertaining film. Some elements are near perfect and could have been stronger, but I think could have been more inventive if the filmmakers weren’t trying so hard to be so commercial. Still, WE ARE THE NIGHT is a savory genre film that is superior to any of the American made genre films that mysteriously appear at your local video retailer, Red Box, or on Netflix. If you have the chance catch Gansel’s film on the big screen, but catch it regardless. WE ARE THE NIGHT is a genre film you can sink your teeth into!

Official website - http:// www.ifcfilms.com/films/we-are-the-night

**Based on the regular $13.00 ticket prices at a Manhattan Theater.