Zombies took the country, but it’s the vampires you have to watch out for in writer-director Brett William Mauser’s Red Days 2: Cecilia. When one bite turns a young woman into the very thing she’s running from, is survival enough — or is there still a soul in there worth saving?
The United States is a very different world from the one we know. The West Coast has been overrun by zombies, and Homeland Security has the region on lockdown. Our heroine, Cecilia (Nicole Mattox), is homeless on the streets, and one night she is confronted by two mysterious assailants who are vampires. They didn’t do a good job draining her, as now Cecilia is a full-fledged vampire.
Now on the run, she crosses paths with a handsome stranger, Jim (Cliff Dean), who immediately recognizes what she is and offers to help. Cecilia rebuffs his offer and takes flight. Instead, Cecilia is recruited by members of The Corporation, who supply her with something they call beta juice — a serum that lets vampires live relatively normal lives. In exchange, she works for them as a corporate slayer alongside her new best friend, Kim (Lisa Butala).
Years later, Cecilia and Kim continue to work for The Corporation. While Kim turns out to be a loyal soldier, Cecilia starts to break down, becoming a bit too carefree and nihilistic. But what they soon realize is that The Corporation, which keeps them living normal lives through the beta juice, has ulterior militaristic motives.
“The West Coast has been overrun by zombies, and Homeland Security has the region on lockdown.”
I have not seen the original Red Days, and you don’t need to (though you probably should). What’s great about this indie production is its world-building. It imagines a dystopian world with zombies, vampires, and a host of unaffected humans. From there, we build on the idea that the three exist, then layer in an overarching conspiracy that merely sits back and lets these undead and living factions go at it.
Led by Nicole Mattox’s titular Cecilia, we have a band of scrappy misfits willing to take on the conspiracy if only they can learn to trust one another. The team’s mental imbalance makes this story unique. Mattox adds a childlike playfulness, while the rest of the cast goes deadly serious. The contrast is striking and brings energy to the tale.
Now add to that makeshift sets of a dark and grim future as only indie films can bring, and you’ve got not only a solid chapter two but the setup for something much bigger in the next.
Brett William Mauser gets a lot out of a little with Red Days 2: Cecilia, building a dystopian universe on an indie budget and letting Nicole Mattox’s oddball energy carry the day. If this is the middle chapter, I can’t wait to see where Mauser takes it.
For screening information, visit the Red Days 2: Cecilia official website.
"…They didn't do a good job draining her..."
