If you’re looking for something a bit more light and funny at this year’s Overlook Film Festival, the French Canadian film Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person might be just what you’re looking for. It’s the feature-film debut for director Ariane Louis-Seize, who also wrote the film alongside Christine Doyon. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person tells the story of Sasha, the youngest in a family of vampires. She is the black sheep of the family for one vital reason: she refuses to hurt or kill humans to feed. Getting too old to rely on her parents, she finds a potential solution to her problems when she meets a suicidal teenage boy.

Despite the rather dark-sounding premise, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is an absolute delight. The filmmakers dive into a lot of rather serious topics, such as feeling like an outcast and suicidal thoughts, but they are conveyed in a darkly humorous way. There is an honesty to the way these themes are presented, conveying a type of comedy that feels more self-deprecating, rather than making fun of those who suffer. It also helps that the main characters in Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person are odd, yet lovable. Most horror fans will likely feel connected to one or both of the protagonists, understanding that feeling of not having a place in the world.

By layering in various vampire horror elements, the filmmakers are able to inject plenty of laughs into this dark comedy by placing the characters in outlandish situations. When it comes to the vampires, the filmmakers also created an interesting lore that has elements of vampirism audiences will be familiar with, but with a few unique twists. The darker themes, horror elements, and comedy intertwine into to create a charming coming-of-age story for those who like a bit of blood with their humor.

Both leads in Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person light up the screen. Sara Montpetit (White Dog, Falcon Lake) plays Sasha, the young vampire. After a traumatic childhood birthday party, Sasha finds herself unable to harm humans, even if that means she doesn’t feed. Montpetit’s performance conveys her character’s empathy and compassion, sometimes leaning into naiveté, and her performance makes it easy to fall in love with Sasha. Félix-Antoine Bénard (Maria, The Wall) plays suicidal human teen, Paul. Bénard portrays Paul in a way that has a similar kind of innocence seen in Sasha, but he’s already at a point in his young life where death seems preferable. He’s so compassionate that he’s even willing to let Sasha feed on him, allowing her to feed without guilt and giving him a way to die without actually killing himself. Sasha and Paul are both outcasts in their communities, making this unlikely duo fit together perfectly. Montpetit and Bénard are a delight to watch, having a chemistry that will take audiences back to their first high school crush.

As with many vampire films, the vampires in Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person can generally blend in with the human population. The only real way to identify them as different is the pasty skin, fangs that only come out when it’s time to feed, and their fashion sense. The costume design is a standout in the film. For Sasha, her wardrobe is mostly all black and nondescript, as she spends more time around humans and needs to blend in. As for the rest of her family, their clothes are a bit more eccentric and look a few decades behind the times. It’s a clever way to acknowledge the vampires are quite old and likely don’t pay attention to modern trends, while also making them seem just human enough to not stand out. This also extends to the set design, with the human homes looking modern and typical, while the vampire homes have older items and other odd hints to their bloodthirsty nature.

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is an endearing, quirky coming-of-age story with a darkly comedic spin. It says goodbye to the “manic pixie dream girl” and hello to the “goth empathetic vampire girl.” Louis-Seize clearly has a unique cinematic voice, and it’s one many audiences will hope to see more of in the future. Along with Doyon, the filmmakers have a good understanding of how to balance the darkness and the light. Because of the themes of suicide and death, there are sure to be some audience members who have a difficult time with the film, but others will immediately connect to these characters and their journey. With the compelling plot, enchanting performances from Montpetit and Bénard, and a whimsical aesthetic, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is on the path to becoming a cult classic.

OVERALL RATING: 8/10