I’ve been thinking about My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To for days after viewing it. It’s a slow burn flick that I loved it for many reasons.
The film follows a family of three siblings. Thomas (Owen Campbell), the youngest, is chronically ill and depends upon his brother, Dwight (Patrick Fugit) and sister, Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) for survival. Dwight and Jessie must go to extreme lengths to meet Thomas’ needs, and it begins to take a toll on their family unit. While Dwight questions their methods and dreams of a different life, Jessie sees things differently. She’s determined to keep their brother alive and their family together at any cost.
Not far into this film, it becomes apparent that Thomas suffers from vampirism, despite the fact that it’s never spoken of. I love vampires, but have seen very few films in which their existence isn’t glamorized. This is one such film that deviates from the norm and turns the vampire trope on its head in the process.
Related: Five Vampire Movies That Don’t Make Their Vampires Sexy
Viewers are given a glimpse of vampirism from its downside. Rather than focusing on immortality and a life of decadence, we’re shown the condition as an affliction. Thomas has no one aside from his siblings. He’s stuck inside the house and never goes out. He watches neighbors when he can sneak a glimpse, and begs for his siblings to take him out.
I found the acting from all three leads to be phenomenal. Each portrays their character with strong emotion and such believability—I empathized with all of them on a deep level. Along with the acting, the film has an excellent score and the cinematography is great. The atmosphere is dark and brooding, and served my love of melancholic moods well.
If you’re into stories that make you feel, this film hits the mark. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a deep look at family dynamics and the impact of chronic illness on the caretakers and the patient.
In many ways, it also mirrors the scenario of a family dealing with addiction. Thomas and his vampirism represent the addict, while Dwight and Jessie are tangled in codependency. They are so caught up in keeping him alive that they don’t realize they’re killing themselves in the process.
See Also: Five Vampire Movies That Changed The Genre
Many films featuring vampirism have made me numb to the plight of the victims, as I’m usually enamored with the creature in question. This picture takes a closer look at the victims and my empathy for these characters was much stronger than in the past.
You will not find jump scares or any intense gore in this film. As mentioned, it’s a slow burn, but it’s worth the ride. The tension is constant and builds up to some unforgettable moments in and around the climax.
My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To is one of those features that deserves and possibly requires multiple viewings. I myself intend to watch it again, and I’m very interested in future projects from writer/director Jonathan Cuartas.
This film is available on Blu-Ray and DVD as of August 10.
WICKED RATING: 9/10
