So Vam

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So Vam
So Vam film poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Alice Maio Mackay
Written byAlice Maio Mackay
Benjamin Pahl Robinson
Produced byAlice Maio Mackay
Ben Yennie
StarringXai
Grace Hyland
Tumelo Nthupi
Chris Asimos
Erin Paterson
CinematographyAaron Schuppan
Edited byDaniel Vink
Music byAlexander Taylor
Distributed byMutiny Pictures
Release date
  • 2021 (2021)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$12,000 [1]

So Vam is a 2021 Australian horror film directed by Alice Maio Mackay, and co-written by Alice Maio Mackay and Benjamin Pahl Robinson. It stars Xai, Grace Hyland, Tumelo Nthupi, Chris Asimos, and Erin Paterson. The film's cast also includes drag performers BenDeLaCreme and Etcetera Etcetera.

Contents

Its plot features Kurt (Xai), a bullied teen who dreams of moving from his conservative town to become a famous drag queen in the city. After falling victim to a predatory vampire (Asimos), he joins a coven of queer vampires who feed on bigots. [2] [3] [4] The film blends elements of the supernatural, horror, and coming-of-age genres. [5]

Cast

Production

Mackay claims that the idea for So Vam came from her desire to create a "diverse and authentic/unique horror film" [5] that included vampires, drag, trans leads, and a camp sensibility. [6] She also cites The Craft: Legacy and Black Christmas (2019) as influences for So Vam. [7]

Mackay shot the film when she was 16 years old and had just dropped out of school. [8] Shooting occurred over seven days in the summer, [6] with production wrapping in mid-January 2021. [9] It is Mackay's debut feature film. [10]

Release

So Vam held its world premiere at the Salem Horror Fest on October 9, 2021. [11] The film was distributed by Mutiny Pictures [4] and was released digitally on August 25, 2022 via the video streaming service Shudder. [10]

Reception

So Vam has garnered positive reviews. Matt Donato of Paste rated it 6 out of 10. He critiques some of the technical aspects of the film–attributing these shortcomings to Mackay's lack of experience–while praising its vision and narrative components. He states, "Its technical motions are janky and unpolished, but that doesn't discredit Mackay's stronger voice as a storyteller and scene composer. So Vam is a tale of intent versus execution, masking low-budget gumption with passionate narrations." [10]

Saul Muerte of Surgeons of Horror expressed similar views, praising its LGBTQ+ themes despite low budget limitations. He states, "Director Mackay paints a perfect metaphor for transitions and change for a community trapped by their identity through the tale of vampire mythology. Despite its limitations, there is measure to be had here and a narrative that has been crafted with a learned voice." [12]

Jennifer Bonges of PopHorror lauded the film, celebrating its performances and technical aspects. She writes, "So Vam didn't disappoint me in any way! I loved every minute of it." [13]

References

  1. ↑ "So Vam". FilmFreeway . Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  2. ↑ Gislason, Lor (20 December 2021). "So Vam Director Alice Maio Mackay Talks Queer Horror and Future Projects". HorrorObsessive.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  3. ↑ Lucas, Mattie (4 February 2025). "The Radical Queerness of Alice Maio Mackay". FromTheFrontRow.net. Archived from the original on 22 November 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 Miska, Brad (22 June 2022). "Exclusive 'So Vam' Clip Discusses the History of Vampires". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 Chaffey, Jesse (31 March 2021). "Adelaide-Based Filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay On Her First Feature Film 'So Vam'". Frooty.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  6. 1 2 McAndrews, Mary Beth (24 June 2022). "'So Vam' Director Alice Maio Mackay On Drag and The Importance of Queer Filmmaking". Dread Central . Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  7. ↑ Jara, R.C. (20 July 2023). "Stabbing Back At Bigotry With 'Bad Girl Boogey' Director Alice Maio Mackay [Interview]". Dread Central . Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  8. ↑ Kramer, Gary M. (25 August 2022). "Teen Transgender Writer/Director Talks About Her First Full-Length Film So Vam, Which Features a Drag Queen Vampire". San Francisco Bay Times . Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  9. ↑ Allen, Tracy (21 April 2021). "Interview With 'So Vam' Filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay". PopHorror.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 Donato, Matt (23 August 2022). "Amateurish Queer Vampire Horror So Vam Revels in Camp Carnage". Paste . Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "2021 Program". Salem Horror Fest. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  12. ↑ Muerte, Saul (24 August 2022). "Movie review: So Vam (2021)". SurgeonsofHorror.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  13. ↑ Bonges, Jennifer (29 October 2021). "Alice Maio Mackay's 'So Vam' (2021) – Film Review". PopHorror.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
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