Styria (2014)

Depicts the intense and fractured relationship between a lonely teenager and a beautiful stranger.

Directors:

Mauricio Chernovetzky, Mark Devendorf

Writers:

Karl Bardosh (dramaturge), Mauricio Chernovetzky (screenplay)

Stars:

Eleanor Tomlinson, Stephen Rea, Erika Marozsán

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Eleanor Tomlinson	...	Lara
Stephen Rea	...	Dr. Hill
Erika Marozsán	...	Miss Eva Pasztor
Jules Willcox	...	Mother
Katie Silverman	...	Young Lara
Julia Pietrucha	...	Carmilla
Miklós Székely B.	...	Miss Eva Pasztor's Father
László Kádár	...	Guard
Claire Castillo	...	Feral Girl
Jacek Lenartowicz	...	General Spiegel
Gerda Pikali	...	Lara's Mother
Sándor Tüzkö	...	Janos
Seren Back	...	Young Lara (voice)
Leah Castillo	...	Feral Girl
Dora Bekesi	...	Sophie

Storyline

Lara (Eleanor Tomlinson) and her estranged father, Dr. Hill (Stephen Rea), travel behind the iron curtain to a decrepit castle outside the Hungarian town of Styria. In the nearby woods, Lara witnesses a car crash. Carmilla, (Julia Pietrucha), escapes from the wreckage as a driver attempts to run her over. When Lara hides this beautiful and mysterious stranger in the castle, the two start an intense and chaotic friendship. As their relationship deepens, the young women of Styria begin to go mad. When local girls are found dead from apparent suicides, Lara wonders if Carmilla is to blame or is there a darker secret behind the mass hysteria destroying the town.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | decapitation | lesbian kiss | blood | gothic | 

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Taglines:

Love requires sacrifice.

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Hungary

Language:

English Hungarian

Release Date:

21 August 2014 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Angels of Darkness

Filming Locations:

Aszód, Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Like Fire Productions, MCMD Films, Pioneer Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

How many people know the origins of the vampire legend, and not only the modern vampire stories, which has only been around for about 200 years. The ideas of vampires has been around for far longer. Styria (2014) or "Angels of Darkness" depicts the earlier superstitions of vampires. The house they live in was used as a place for people with consumption, or tuberculosis as we call it now. When people were ill with this, it was thought they were being drained by a "vampire" though that term was never used until later in history. In the movie they dug up the bodies, examined them, then cut off the head and burned the bodies. It was thought that if the body looked fresh, it was enough proof they were a vampire, just like it was shown in the movie when fresh blood came out of the girls mouth. With all the knowledge we have now it sounds crazy that this would ever happen, but it did along with many other gruesome, superstitious rituals . It didn't help that after "patient 0" or "vampire" was cut up and burned, the sick sometimes got better. It's only the odds of surviving, but back then they thought they cured it. Random information, but worth knowing while watching.

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Goofs

The real Styria is both a town (Steyr) and a state (Steiermark) in Austria. It borders Slovenia but not Hungary, nor has it ever been behind the iron curtain or a part of east Europe.

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Quotes

Lara: In 1861, a young woman, Petra Vlanja, killed herself. She later reappeared and convinced twelve other girls to commit suicide.

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Soundtracks

Beat And Pulse
Written by Katie Stelmanis
Performed by Austra

User Reviews

Incredibly well-crafted Gothic film!

Styria (Aka Angels of Darkness) is a superbly made independent Gothic thriller. I noticed one of the reviewers was thoroughly confused. I guess some people like movies like their chain restaurants. Not me. I was excited to let go and experience something unique and unexpected. The title of Angels of Darkness doesn't do this film justice. It's way to generic and unsubtle. This film is more like a classic supernatural tale. It's very dreamlike and beautifully shot. The acting is wonderful as well. I think the key to watching this film is letting go of expectations about what a supernatural movie or a vampire story should be about. There are lots of ideas and well explored themes. But I think the the thing that I loved the most was the overall MOOD! I can't wait to watch it again!