Mimì - Il principe delle tenebre 4K 2023

Mimí: Revenge of a Vampire (Mimì, Il principe delle tenebre, 2023), the debut feature by Brando De Sica (grandson of neorealist icon Vittorio De Sica), was showcased at international festivals such as Sitges, Locarno, and the Festival de Cine Fantástico de Catalunya, where it received a special mention.

Co-written by Brando De Sica, Ugo Chiti, and Irene Pollini Giolai, the film follows Mimí (Domenico Cuomo), a kind-hearted young man working at a pizzeria in Naples. Raised by his adoptive father Nando and supported by Giusi, a trans seamstress (played by Spanish actress Abril Zamora), Mimí is bullied for his deformed feet by local thugs, reflecting a deeply sexist and violent society.

His life changes when he meets Carmilla (Sara Ciocca), a gothic girl claiming to be a descendant of Count Dracula. Enchanted by her, Mimí longs to become a vampire, believing in myths and embracing darkness. The film is rich in intertextual references, notably to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922), and The Crow (1994), touching on themes of transformation, immortality, and vengeance.

The story also functions as a Bildungsroman or coming-of-age tale, as Mimí’s journey into violence and self-discovery marks his psychological and moral evolution. Beneath its fantasy layer, the film critiques postmodern society, portraying Naples as a decaying, drug-infused, and intolerant environment. Mental health is stigmatized, and deviation is often suppressed with medication. The church is also subtly criticized, as Mimí's orphanage upbringing involved being told his feet were "a mark of the devil."

Mimí: Revenge of a Vampire blends gothic fantasy with gritty realism, leaving viewers questioning whether its surreal ending is real or imagined. A compelling debut, it’s a treat for fans of horror and the fantastic.