Only Lovers Left Alive

Married for centuries yet now separated by vast distances, two vampires rise as the sun retreats. In his cluttered Victorian home in Detroit, Adam sits with a lute, while Eve awakens in her book-filled bedroom in Tangier. Unlike traditional vampires, they rely on select suppliers for their blood, preferring the “good stuff” over the possibilities of modern contamination. Adam, a once-renowned musician, fears discovery and dons a disguise of “Dr. Faust” to buy his preferred O negative from a local blood bank, bribing the unsuspecting Dr. Watson. Meanwhile, Eve depends on their old friend, the author Christopher Marlowe, a figure who famously faked his own death in 1593 and now hides under the watchful eye of a protégé.

Despite having shaped the lives of many notable musicians and scientists, Adam is consumed by melancholy and thoughts of suicide. His longing to reconnect through music clashes against the risks of being recognized, as he mocks the so-called ‘zombies’—the humans he looks down upon. In the quiet of the night, he works on his music using outdated recording gear and collects vintage instruments, all while engaging Ian a naive music enthusiast, to find rare guitars and oddities, including a peculiar wooden bullet he entertains the idea of using on himself. His ingenuity has allowed him to harness old-world technology to energize his home and even his vintage sports car, inspired by the brilliance of Nikola Tesla. Yet his reclusive lifestyle only enhances his enigmatic aura, leaving him disturbed when curious fans show up on his doorstep. Ian promises to spread rumors about Adam relocating to protect him from the spotlight.

When Eve reaches out, she immediately senses Adam’s despair and resolves to visit him in Detroit. After her arrival, Adam ventures out for more blood, and upon searching his room, she discovers a revolver hidden beneath the bed with the ominous wooden bullet. Alarmed, Eve confronts him upon his return, criticizing him for squandering his chances to savor life and their relationship. Together, they explore the desolate streets of Detroit by night, engaging in games of chess and enjoying each other’s company. Their fragile paradise is disrupted by the arrival of Eve’s reckless younger sister, Ava, who indiscriminately consumes their supply of the “good stuff”. With an insatiable craving for adventure, she convinces them to join her at a local club with Ian, where the band White Hills plays Adam’s music. In a reckless moment, Ava tempts Ian with a taste from her flask filled with blood, yet Adam, demonstrating his supernatural reflexes, snatches it from her grasp and insists on leaving. Tragically, before dawn, Ava inadvertently takes Ian’s life by draining too much of his blood, prompting Adam to expel her from their home.

The couple, heartbroken, dispose of Ian’s body in an acid pool at a deserted factory. Following this grim event and the unanticipated intrusion of more of Adam’s fans at their home, they hastily decide to return to Tangier, taking only what they can carry. Craving sustenance, they pay a visit to Marlowe, only to discover that their old friend has succumbed to poisoned blood. Amusingly, they banter about his long-devised deception regarding his contributions to Shakespeare’s plays before his passing. With their last supply of the “good stuff,” they return to the bustling streets. At one point, Eve takes Adam’s cash, promising to procure a special gift for him. Captivated by enchanting music emanating from a nearby club where Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan ends her haunting song, Adam finds himself drawn into the moment. When Eve returns with a beautiful oud, they share a reflective silence contemplating their uncertain future. As they watch a pair of youthful lovers embracing, Adam poignantly observes, >“What choice do we have? I get the girl though.”

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 14:23