A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

For all the opportunists out there, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is finally available on Netflix. Written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, this eerie vampire film stays true to Amirpour's striking dystopian style and has been referred to as the first "Iranian Vampire Western". The film was shot at an American power plant, which in black and white serves beautifully in its depiction of the decrepit Bad City. The setting is timeless, as is Amirpour's unabashed and awe-inspiring artistic exploration. 

The vampire who stalks the streets of Bad City is unlike those that haunt our cinematic past. She feeds off the blood of pimps and freeloaders who debase the female form and consume to points of self-destruction, and she instills fear in those who have yet to fall in step with the infectious ways of the city. At home, she listens to some great tunes. The film blends Iranian and Western elements with music standing proudly at the forefront. The soundtrack features a seamless mix of artists from Iran, America, and Europe, and the music doesn't just complement the story but drives the pulse of its bloody heart. 

In the scene below, Arash, a drug dealer uninspired by his lackluster life, finds himself within the confines of the vampire's bedroom. Unlike the rest of Bad City, her personal space is vibrant with music posters that resemble the likes of Madonna and Michael Jackson. She puts on a record and "Death" by White Lies fills the static air, propelling uncertainty onwards. Arash is vulnerable. He is intoxicated, lost, and unequivocally infatuated with a vampire. The tension builds as this dreamy new wave song reaches heights of euphoria and pulls the unlikely pair closer. You can nearly hear the hunger in their breath. And the whole time, your anticipation drips with fear. Is she hungry as a woman or as a vampire? 

Full Tracklisting:
01. Charkhesh e Pooch by Kiosk
02. Gelaye by Radio Tehran
03. Sarcophagus by Federale
04. Dancing girls by Farah
05. Bashy by Free Electric Band
06. Black Sunday by Federale
07. Hishe Ayn Ore (Remember That Day?)  by Bei Ru
08. Bread Thief  by Bei Ru
09. Death (album version) by White Lies
10. Sisyphus by Federale
11. Khabnama by Radio Tehran
12. Thirsty's Return  by Federale
13. Cheshme Man by Dariush
14. Tatilat  by Radio Tehran
15. Yarom Bia  by Kiosk
16. The Veil  by Bei Ru
17. Tribe by Federale