From Jeff Nelson

Pablo Larraín put his own spin on historical figures in 2016’s Jackie and 2021’s Spencer, anchoring them with Natalie Portman and Kristin Stewart’s respectively powerful performances at their core. Now, he digs into his Chilean roots with El Conde. This outlandish vampire tale combines fantasy and comedy to create something both evocative and fresh.

Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet (Jaime Vadell) is an ancient vampire with roots of cruelty running deep into his past. He lives in a mansion on a large plot of land along with his wife, Lucia (Gloria Münchmeyer), and his loyal butler (Alfredo Castro). After more than 200 years of terrorizing this world and feasting on the blood of his victims, Pinochet comes to the decision to die. His greedy adult children gather at their parents’ home to claim the remnants of his fortune. However, the arrival of a young French accountant named Carmencita (Paula Luchsinger) inspires a sudden change of heart.

El Conde centers its narrative around a man who ruled through terror and brutality that scarred an entire country, but Larraín adds a vampiric twist that further expands on Pinochet’s thirst for innocent blood, power, and wealth. His real-life atrocities loom over the film, occasionally earning mention in dialogue. Larraín doesn’t downplay his savagery, but he offers pops of comedy that rightfully goes for chuckles involving the fantastical elements over outright laughs leaning on triggering evils.

The concept of “good” doesn’t exist so plainly in this world, centering on unspeakable real-life terrors, which even the bloodiest of vampiric tales could never hold a candle to. Larraín shifts the scope to Pinochet’s evil within and its impact on those within the closest proximity to him, rather than the atrocities he committed across Chile. 

El Conde strikes compelling character dynamics between Pinochet and his butler, as well as Pinochet and Carmencita. However, the drama within his family isn’t quite as gripping. The supernatural aspects lead with a creatively fierce energy that doesn’t translate to the family drama. 

Cinematographer Edward Lachman’s gorgeous black-and-white photography brings the audience back to another era of monster movies. Larraín’s direction wears its classic inspirations on its sleeve, capturing flying and gory sequences with breathtaking style that impresses on every level.

El Conde is a highly unusual, blood-drenched throwback to the traditional vampire flick oozing with style. The historical storytelling doesn’t quite have the same impact, falling to a messy third act with an underwhelming climax. Nevertheless, the journey along the way is engaging and unique.

Rating: 3/5

El Conde hits theaters on September 8th, 2023 before it streams on Netflix on September 15, 2023.

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