Jason Isaacs sinking his teeth into a vampire role is already a solid reason to add a movie to your Halloween queue. But when you throw in Kieron Moore, a creepy traveling carnival, and the duo behind The Boy Behind the Door, you've got a recipe for a spooky night in. Vampire Carnival hits screens on October 30, giving horror fans just enough time to squeeze in one more bloodsucker before the big day.
Nell Verlaque, known for Thanksgiving, stars as Gemma, a young woman dealing with loss who finds herself drawn to a mysterious carnival that rolls into her town. Isaacs plays Toussaint, while Moore takes on Eric, a role that puts the Vampire Academy alum back in the supernatural spotlight. With a carnival setting and a cast that's no stranger to otherworldly trouble, directors David Charbonier and Justin Douglas Powell have crafted an enticing setup for a Halloween watch.
During a chat with Collider's Maggie Lovitt, Moore opened up about getting into character, right down to learning how to speak with his new chompers. "I had to beat the lisp pretty quickly," he admitted. "First put them in, I was like, 'Oh no, like this is gonna be terrible.'" The fangs required some homework, too. "I was practicing in my room with the fangs, like I took them home." The carnival itself offered a more welcoming introduction to the production, at least behind the scenes. "I love it when you don't have to pretend in regard to the scenery," Moore said. For anyone who ever dreamed of running away to join the circus, his enthusiasm will hit home.
Kieron Moore Had to Remind Himself He Was Acting Opposite Jason Isaacs
Then there was the matter of sharing scenes with Captain Hook himself. Moore had to get past the natural urge to just watch Isaacs work. "On the first day, I kind of caught myself being like, 'This guy is amazing, but get that out of your head,'" he recalled. "'Stop watching him, just be in there with him.'" The experience left Moore with more than just a cool credit. "I just walked away being like, 'That's the kind of actor I want to be,'" he told Lovitt. Even the comparison between this production and Isaacs' bigger projects made an impression: "Some people try and coast through stuff. Jason never did that."
As for Moore's own contribution to the carnival's dangers, Eric gave him plenty to sink his teeth into. "I definitely didn't come at him as a villain," he explained. "I really just tried to find the person in there." That approach still leaves room for a warning about the character: "I just think he's a man with an obsession, really." Vampire Carnival is at its most entertaining when it embraces the over-the-top nature of its premise, letting its gorgeous setting and dangerous vampires do the seducing. Moore makes Eric compelling even when he's making it very clear why Gemma should stay away. It's an easy pick for a Halloween movie night, especially if your taste in vampires leans toward leather coats and red flags.
If your Halloween plans involve staying home and watching attractive vampires make terrible decisions, Vampire Carnival deserves a spot in the rotation. And if you're craving more fang-tastic flicks, check out our ranking of the best vampire thrillers to keep the blood flowing all month long.
