Byzantium

Name: Byzantium
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Released: June 28, 2013
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Gemma Arterton, Sam Riley, Saoirse Ronan, Thure Lindhardt

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 77 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 77 Ratings

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Byzantium

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: June 28, 2013 | R

Starring: Caleb Landry Jones, Gemma Arterton, Sam Riley, Saoirse Ronan, Thure Lindhardt

Summary: A mother and daughter vampire duo settle in a small seaside town where the daughter strikes up a relationship with a sick boy.

Director: Neil Jordan

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 118 min

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Manohla Dargis

Jun 27, 2013

Again and again, as the story shifts between women, times and moods, Mr. Jordan adds a punctuating flourish...that exquisitely illustrates the once-upon-a-time mood. Read full review

Bruce Ingram

Jun 27, 2013

It takes a while, but the old-fashioned pleasure of watching a well-told story unfold eventually becomes the chief satisfaction in Byzantium, though there are other things to enjoy as well. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Jun 25, 2013

Byzantium isn't Jordan's first movie about bloodsuckers—that would be 1994's Interview with the Vampire—but it's the right vampire movie for today, poetic and elegant in an artfully tattered way. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Jun 27, 2013

Byzantium's appeal is not so much its bite, which could use some refining, but the emotional journey its undead take. In Jordan's hands, the vampires are so very human. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Jul 11, 2013

The joke seems to be that in 2013, it’s hard to teach an old bloodsucker new tricks. Still, Byzantium has a few moves that might surprise you. They have nothing to do with blood, but everything to do with the heart. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

May 28, 2013

Forlorn depictions of love and death may dignify Neil Jordan's film, but narrative withholding ultimately drives a stake into its unmistakable heart. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Jun 28, 2013

Neil Jordan’s Byzantium dares to rework “Twilight” with twice the teen moping and Robert Pattinson replaced by a guy with the sexual magnetism of a sickly Ron Weasley. Read full review

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User Reviews

30la

Aug 15, 2013

This movie had a feeling of specialty, it had a whole new world of vampires and their living. Saoirse Ronan is electric.

Beautifully told, the story of Clara and Eleanor's past unfolds on the background of developing young love.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

BeccaG

Dec 26, 2018

A fresh and interesting take on the vampire genre. The film’s beautiful aesthetics, original story and brilliant acting from the two female leads create a compelling story that anyone can enjoy.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kmtoner

Nov 6, 2013

Unless you're looking for a fantasy romance like Twilight, Byzantium is a must-watch for those who want to see a different, well thought out take on the genre.
Whilst this film is rather slow paced, I feel that only enhanced the telling of the story we aren't told everything in one go, andUnless you're looking for a fantasy romance like Twilight, Byzantium is a must-watch for those who want to see a different, well thought out take on the genre.
Whilst this film is rather slow paced, I feel that only enhanced the telling of the story we aren't told everything in one go, and as a result I became more invested in the characters and their stories.
Overall a good story beautifully told.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

forTheNom

Aug 20, 2013

A fresh take on the vampire movie genre, shown from a more "realistic" perspective. I put that between quotes as this is still a movie about vampires of course. It shows us a story about 2 female vampires that are trying to survive in today's world and all the social conflicts that come withA fresh take on the vampire movie genre, shown from a more "realistic" perspective. I put that between quotes as this is still a movie about vampires of course. It shows us a story about 2 female vampires that are trying to survive in today's world and all the social conflicts that come with it. Think more 1994's "Interview with a vampire" than 1998's "Blade".… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HotelCentral

Oct 23, 2015

It's about character. It's about how you get by when no one did anything to prepare you for a life measured in centuries. It's about the choices you make and what's right and what's wrong.

This is not Coppola's Dracula. It's not Lestat. It's not Underworld or Blade. It has more inIt's about character. It's about how you get by when no one did anything to prepare you for a life measured in centuries. It's about the choices you make and what's right and what's wrong.

This is not Coppola's Dracula. It's not Lestat. It's not Underworld or Blade. It has more in common with Near Dark and The Addiction in that it's a small story focusing in on fine details. A film best viewed by fans of the genre but not a bad film by any means.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Longo12

Feb 15, 2014

Very good vampire movie. Something I feel isn't said very often anymore. I thought it was very interesting and well done. The acting is good and the story is interesting. I'm really not sure why it took so long for me to hear about because I think it's very good and deserves some attention.Very good vampire movie. Something I feel isn't said very often anymore. I thought it was very interesting and well done. The acting is good and the story is interesting. I'm really not sure why it took so long for me to hear about because I think it's very good and deserves some attention. Also Gemma Arterton is not hard to watch either.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Delling

May 22, 2016

At last something worth (although different) of Interview with the vampire. Forget special effects, this is mostly about what being a vampire would mean.

A must see.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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