Bearing the obvious influence of George A Romero's Martin and Abel Ferrara's The Addiction, writer/director Scott Leberecht's feature debut is a poignant study of a reluctant vampire's fear that his growing appetite for human blood will ruin his burgeoning romance. Anaemic security guard Jacob (Zak Kilberg) works the night shift and spends his spare time painting sunsets until he falls for a vivacious cigarette girl (Maya Parish). He finds himself being lured out of his nocturnal cocoon, and a chance taste of blood leaves him dependent on a hospital orderly (Jo D Jonz) and his murderously opportunistic brother (Arlen Escarpeta). Cinematographer Lyn Moncrief's views of the lesser-seen side of Los Angeles reinforce the sense of melancholic dread pervading the sombre screenplay, and Leberecht is well served by the neurotic Kilberg and feisty Parish, with Tracey Walter and Larry Cedar, respectively, providing deft support as a kindly janitor and a tenacious detective.