THE MOTH DIARIES directed by Mary Harron, written by Harron from the novel by Rachel Klein, with Sarah Bolger, Lily Cole, Sarah Gadon and Scott Speedman. An Alliance release. 83 minutes. Opens Friday (April 6). For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NNN
The Moth Diaries is part bubble-gum vampire romp, part study of a disturbed teen mind.
Rebecca (Sarah Bolger) enters boarding school reeling from her father’s suicide and unusually dependent on her best friend (Sarah Gadon), who is stolen away by a possibly blood-sucking new British girl (Lily Cole) in a manner reminiscent of the Gothic novels assigned in class.
The teenage vampire shenanigans soon turn into psychological horror, and there’s a possibility that the whole situation is Rebecca’s delusion. Harron’s memorably cracked approach to psychological horror in American Psycho works well in this twisted study of female friendship. Sadly, her characteristic dark humour isn’t present here, although some material will cause titters. Fanged teen melodrama with an emo voice-over can only be taken so seriously.
