THE FAMILIAR | Omeleto
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- Опубликовано: 8 янв 2025
- A young man becomes an assistant to a vampire.
THE FAMILIAR is used with permission from Kody Zimmermann. Learn more at ghostwoodfilms....
Sam has always been obsessed with vampires, fascinated by the magnetism and dark power of the creatures. On his 21st birthday, he meets a mysterious older gentleman at a movie theater, who offers him a rare opportunity as a vampire's human caretaker and assistant, otherwise known as a "familiar."
Eager to experience the vampiric life himself, Sam accepts, seeing it as his route to becoming a creature of the night. But life as a personal assistant to the vampire Bolivar doesn't quite live up to its initial promise. The work is drudgery; the days and nights are long. And worst of all, Bolivar is an abusive jerk and horrible boss. Sam hangs in there for the promise of otherworldly power. But when he realizes that day may never come and he's wasting his life in a dead-end job, he takes matters into his own hands.
Written and directed by Kody Zimmermann, this clever horror-fantasy short is an entertaining mix of old-school vampire drama and dark workplace comedy. With wry humor and cheeky knowingness, it chronicles one young man's adventures into the underworld only to discover it's just another mundane grind.
The storytelling knows its genre bona-fides, as it's packed with references to classic vampire stories. But it has fun with the lore, particularly through Sam, who is positioned as the ultimate vampire fanboy. He has clear expectations of what the vampire life will be, but as he gets acclimated to his new job as the familiar, those expectations deflate.
That downward spiral offers the storytelling the chance to send up vampire mythology with clever, often understated wit, whether it's deployed through Sam's superbly written voiceover or arch, tart dialogue. But it also shapes Sam's story into a relatable tale of someone trapped in a toxic, thankless job with no room for growth or advancement, and an abusive, neurotic boss at the helm.
Actor Torrance Coombs is the film's center and anchor, and his descent into work-induced boredom and listlessness gives the film its narrative spine. As the vampire, actor Paul Hubbard portrays Bolivar as a demanding, capricious wannabe alpha with a deep core of insecurity. He plays Bolivar with a relish -- it's tremendous fun to witness his enthusiasm for "harlots" -- but his awful treatment of his familiar is never in doubt. When a chance encounter with a vampire hunter allows Sam the chance to move up the ladder, Bolivar's toxic character comes to the fore -- and Sam must take action, or else languish in the vampiric equivalent of corporate hell for the rest of his life.
Well-crafted, consistently entertaining and affectionately irreverent, THE FAMILIAR has the saturated colors and gleaming cinematography of a tale like BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER or even BLADE, and in tone, the short falls into that breezy, witty and decidedly contemporary lineage. By telling a classic vampire story from the perspective of the underling, it injects a freshness into the genre, and a relatability for anyone stuck in unfulfilling livelihoods. The true horror for Sam isn't blood and death, but the fact that he'll be stuck with his toxic boss for eternity, doing the same thing over and over. To break out, Sam must find his path, but he learns plenty from his old one -- even if it's what he doesn't want in a career.
Love how the old familiar behaved more like a vampire than the vampire
Was his 'look' a deliberate homage to Jonathan Frid/Barnabas Collins?
@@shialtin I was wondering that too.
@@shialtin It was (I'm the writer/director). I'm a big fan of Dan Curtis productions, especially Kolchak.
@@kodyzimmermann6694 I wish their would be a true remake of Kolchak the Night stalker. The one series had nothing to compare to the original.
@@kodyzimmermann6694 Could you please tell me the name of the song used for the credits?
Not only is it well acted with an engaging storyline, it is the best vampire hunter origin story I have ever heard😳
Thanks, talus (I wrote/directed it). The series I had planned showed the other end of the spectrum. Would be great to show it one day. Thanks for watching!
@@kodyzimmermann6694 would love this to be a series!
@@kodyzimmermann6694 man loved it and even the name is engaging please doo
Better than blade??? Really
😎😎😂😂🤣🤣😜😜😀😀😬😬😋😋😋😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👌👌👌😫😭😭😘😘😘😅😅😅🤔🤔🙄🙄😏😏😏😂😂😂😂F
Okay this is just too good: " I wanted to serve Dracula and ended up working with Danny Bonaduce with fangs." I mean funny stuff. Good writing great acting.
Thanks, Peter (I'm the writer/director). Here's some trivia for you: when I made the film, I just ended a three-month stint as an assistant to a semi-well-known actor (not Danny Bonaduce but someone with the same temperament; he worked for Spielberg, Michael Mann, Lynch, etc). Most of the stuff Sam goes through is what I went through, without the supernatural shenanigans. Life is strange. Thanks for watching!
Great stuff! No one ever writes about the servant, much less one that goes rogue; he’s on a mission.
Thanks.
Kody.. did you also want to kill that "semi-well known actor"?.. since he's probably not a vampire, I guess it'll be easier without the stake & sunlight - just a very sharp knife will 'do'..
@@ivanobar1 of coarse no1 talks about the ones who serve ur food or clean ur clothes ... They only wanna know about the king's and queens, the rich and powerful... Maybe it's time to change that
@@xxkarlosxxxxxx7233 Agreed. We shouldn't idolize people who think we are beneath them. We make the world run. They just live off of us like parasites. And every now and then a little rebellion is in order.
This would be a perfect pilot episode!
Enjoyed it a hell lot!
Ever watched What We Do In The Shadows?
@@allisonshaw9341 Nah mate. Is it similar?
@@advitiayanand5974 It has a lot of the same snark and shows that the familiar is the one who keeps it together for the vampire in the house.
@@allisonshaw9341 Cool. Will watch it then 👍
@@allisonshaw9341 Vampire meeting only Guillermo!
I thought the lead actor look familiar. That's the second time his lover has lost her head .
Seriously good, I love how the vampire is the total posite of how a vampire is usually portrayed. And that it was a somewhat happy ending .
He was Bash in Reign
@@aheroinheroin He was also in the Tudors . Katherine Howards side piece
He was aslo in Vampire Diaries i think
@@hannahdyson7129 Yep he played Thomas Culpepper in Tudors, he's a good actor!
@@CeluiEtSeul Nope, but he was on The Originals which is a TVD spin-off
This needs to become a Mini-Series.
It needs to be made into a regular Series!
It is. What we do in the Shadows is the name of it
@@JustMarty thank you! I’m irritated
I would watch it, great idea :)
I feel you but let's not have a beautiful thing ruin only because we are greedy 🙂
Well done! I'm tired of all the romanticizing in the vampire genre. This was fun, interesting and kept my attention the whole time. I'm totally sharing it! Thank you!
Thanks in advance for sharing it (I wrote and directed it). I love seeing how many views it's getting -- makes all the hard work making it worth it..!
@@kodyzimmermann6694 honestly better than WWDTS
Yup, amazing. Every scene was engaging and important, the acting was ridiculously on point - I want more ;---;
Why that face?
Same
@@idontknowwhattodoireallydo6267 because we know we'll never get more. the ending of the video was the ending of the entire story. very sad.
@@flannelpillowcase6475 Its funny how often we get tired of too much of the same thing and yet we need more. The human condition.
The way this is filmed like an old school vampire movie is awesome
Absolutely awesome...
Non of those Vampire cliches and stereotypes in this movie....
"All my life I´ve been obsessed with vampires...
I even wanted to be one...
Now.....now I just want to kill the f.... things"
And thus, a vampire slayer was born 😏
They really nailed it with that final line.
Mila- Kinda like the intro to Goodfellas
Now that's the way to kick off a Friday!!!! WOW!!!! That was great! I loved every second of it, possibly because it seems to be one of the 1st ORIGINAL stories concerning the undead in a looooong time!! Very well done!!!
That's what I thought: refreshingly original.
I rematch it today. Still as good as I remeber. The acting, the dark humore, the camera work, the story and that theme song that reminds me of Deathspank... top notch still.
I really wish to see more but I rather have this gem then be ruined only for the sake of being prolonged.
I'm always amazed by how many people see something that is done well and can stand on its own--and their first response is "Oh, this would be a great series--give us more!!" If the film creator wants to do that, fine. He shows that he has talent and knows how to find talent. But I am satisfied with this lovely morsel and will savor it. Thanks for giving us something so fine.
Thanks, Gregory (I'm the writer/director). I really appreciate your compliments. Truth be told, I would love to have it made in a different medium (feature or series), but goddamn, is it difficult to find the connections (serious connections) in the part of the world I live in to get the machinery moving. But again, thanks so much for your words and for enjoying the film -- it's really great to see the response it's getting.
Haha, what can we say? We're greedy :D
You're right tho. This deserves applause regardless. Thank you, Mr. Writer :)
@@kodyzimmermann6694 -- Great writing, Kody! That's the thing I always look at first and most. I'm a (ferociously radical) writer myself.
@@kodyzimmermann6694 Seriously good effort, man! :D
@@advitiayanand5974 Or thirsty.
Let's get a part 2. This definitely had "Odd Thomas" vibes while looking like a 90s show. I hope there's more to come.
The acting was bomb. More like how people get when they've played the same role in a series for years. The minimalist approach managed to be elegant instead of annoying or confusing. Darn this was good.
Thanks, Ive -- I really appreciate that (I'm the writer/director). We did our best with the resources we had and am so glad people are responding to it.
@@kodyzimmermann6694 😃👍
This would make the perfect pilot episode to a Netflix series. Absolutely brilliant.
Thanks, Darkpaw (I'm the writer/director). Very, very happy you and others are loving it!
@@kodyzimmermann6694 i know its being a year since this was published but you are freaking Genius the writting was incredible i was hooked and at the end i was like where is the next part
@@kodyzimmermann6694Can I have the screenplay for this sir?
I would be intresting to see him as a vampire hunter. Yet, at the same time I am very happy with this gem the way it is right now. I rather have this the being prolong only to be ruin.
I don't know if those who work at Rendfild movie saw this masterpiece, but the concept is very similar.
To be honest Netflix would most probably ruin it like they did with other series like Witcher.
Great all around….acting, writing, production, directing…. love it!!! I’m hooked on this channel. Some amazing actors and stories.
thanks for watching and complimenting (I'm the guy who made it, and it's great to hear how many people are enjoying the work put into it)
This is just brilliant. Finally a vampire story that is really cool and original even with the same "vampire cliches" it's so fresh. And feels a bit like a cool 90s tv series homage. I want a full movie or series like that about vampires and hunters
Awesome original take on the vampire/familiar relationship. It kept me engaged from the beginning and wanting more at the end.
Thanks, Eric (I'm the writer/director). It means the world to me reading how many enjoyed something that pretty much came out of my worst job experience (being a personal assistant to a now-fallen-but-once-was-famous actor). Cheers!
@Kody Zimmerman
Thanks Kody! Enjoyed it very much!
Hope it turns into a full length feature or series.
@@kodyzimmermann6694 Have you guys considered turning it into a show?
@@LiveLongArtProsper Yeah, when I made it back in the day, I had a feature script ready to go and a TV bible. Kept running into partners where it couldn't work out for whatever reasons, which was really nerve-wracking. Let me know if you have anyone who can get it going..!
@@kodyzimmermann6694 Great work! And yeah it seems poignant as an analogy to "never meet your heroes".
WOW !!!!!! One of the best, superbly acted, and storyline Omelleto's I have ever watched !!! Highly entertaining 😊 DO a movie...PLEASE !!!!
This was a good one. The guy was really cute. At the end, Revenge is beautiful & he took it nicely.
Oooohhhhh I looovvvvveeee it!! So brutal! Perfect cast, scenario, well done!
Never bite the hand that serves you.
Well Said
Can we get a series where the familiar is hunting these things what a great origin story.
Yup...familiarity sure does breed contempt!
OK, Mr. Kody Zimmermann, now that was some great stuff! Creative, inventive. unique perspective on the vampire genre. Consider me thoroughly impressed. I will be looking you up and seeing what other work you have done.
Thanks for the compliments -- I've been very humbled how well people have taken to the short after all this time. I've been grinding and hustling to get a couple of my feature scripts going, but am also keeping busy directing some micro-shorts. We're wanting to get another 'bigger' short like The Familiar done again, hopefully sooner than later. Thanks again!
So the vampires basically....Karens. I like it.
I must admit, I enjoyed this more than I expected.
I also enjoyed the pop culture references, such as Buffy and Van Helsing. Of course, the older gentleman telling Sam that some things Bram Stoker got right, and others wrong was delicious!
An original take on vampirism from a Fright Night like angle! Awesome!
THIS should be a full fledged movie!!!
Agreed! Thanks for watching (I made it).
"Hey Sam! Check out the cool pants!" 🤣😂🤣
Sam has the most gorgeous eyes I’ve seen in a long time.
Well, now we know how vampire hunters are born.
I LOVED this one! Great Hunter origin story!
That was awsome.
Never come between a familiar and his woman.
That was fun. Nice nod to "Fright Night," among others.
This is probably one of the best one I've seen for the past few months
Thanks; I appreciate reading that! (I'm the writer/director).
No, this is one of the worst! Poor acting, bad story, weak development!
nice, when i saw that box held by the vampire ,i had a bad feeling it was the sweet girl's [Alice] head or heart. that finally broke Sam.
No bells and whistles. A fantastic orginal story. I am so glad you got to the vampire basics and did not romanticize the story. Great characters and overall feel. I am especially impressed with the detail you included like the bath scene and the hair styling. Hilarious and at the same time makes the viewer stop and say that makes a lot of sense. That rant about dirt in the coffin was a spot on Bonaduce impression. Thank you so much for allowing us to view your work.
Thanks for your words - I'm just getting to these comments now. (I wrote and directed it).
A fitting end for that obnoxious vampire! Excellent short film from the cast to the writing and directing of it.
Bro I just realized how perfect this matches with vampire the masquerade
That was EFFIN amazing. This should have been a TV series. Better than most shows out there.
Thanks, Devon (I wrote and directed it). I'd love for it to be a series too!
Great story. I had a feeling Sam had the leverage to take control but I didn’t see that last line coming. Neat and tidy and open-ended. Very cool.
3:00 normally I wouldn't entertain an old mans interest in a dark theater either 😅
Make this into one of those 8 episode miniseries. I would watch this tv show. Dark, funny, vengeance, shoved to the bottom, but came out on top! Loved it!
I like how the vampire was real douche. Something refreshing about that
As vampire enthusiasts, this was *PERFECT*
More please!
You claim to be an enthusiast but did not notice that the enthusiast in the story doesn't know what a familiar is ! SMH
@@Chris66able that’s because a familiar wasn’t a thing, until the movie Blade coined the phrase.
@@paulredinger5830 Wrong, very wrong..It was used way back right in to the 1960's.
@@Chris66able I had to double check because I'm more aware of a witches familiar and a vampires thrall.
@@paulredinger5830pretty sure familiars have been around for decades
The latest issue of Face Squatting Fems 😆 well somebody has a kink. 😌 And 14:25 when he's pulling those blue pants on 🤣 I about died. "This is ridiculous!" But this film is definitely ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ hilarious.
Hi, I'm the writer/director. And those incidents were based on real-life incidents (without the murder and supernatural elements). I was a personal assistant to a now-fallen-once-known actor back in the day and he had a lot of ... proclivities. It's a very, very strange world out there. Thanks for watching and enjoying!
The writing is amazing
Great Black Comedy Short! Loved the deadpan delivery. One little nitpick: someone really into vampires would know _exactly_ what a familiar is!
Thanks for the compliment, that means the world to me (I’m the writer/director). To answer your comment, when I made the film in 2009, the only mention of Familiars was an almost throwaway line in the original BLADE. The film had an amazing festival run all over the world, before the term Familiar was as commonplace in shows like WWDITS. But we’re proud of what we got done for the resources we had! I’m glad you liked it..! Thanks for watching.
I thought the same thing. How could he not know what a familiar is?
@@kodyzimmermann6694 this movie slayed.. nice job.
@@trenthammer4127 Thanks! We did our best!
Familiar IS a moderately common/familiar :)) term, if you know anything about the history of witch craft .
I must admit l can't remember when l first heard it in connection with vampires. Personally l've been a fan of them since discovering Bram Stokers Dracula at around 15,some 50 years ago. I even read 'Interview with the the Vampire' in when first published, before Hollywood decided to wreak it with some total miscasting
This was a great short, and although it could be extended, it's a perfect gem just as it is !
I guess this is where the inspiration for Renfield came from
i agree...
This would make a great series.
I just LOVED this!! 🖤
This was really good, thanks. Sam is a good actor and beautiful man
Torrance Coombs. He was also in Tudor
What a new and refreshing take on vampires. I kinda out grew the whole genre since its well saturated with the retelling the same arc, but this was surprisingly good. You all are some talented ppl, keep at it!
Oh, no kidding... I remember being there opening night for Underworld and loving theh hell out of it. Then, by the what, fifth one, just sitting there five minutes in, like "Can we just get this over with...?"
Great short film. Reminds me of Renfield.
This is the best Omeleto i've seen! Andcone of ghe best short films! Wish I could give it more "likes"!
Thanks for watching and commenting. I wrote and directed it, and love that it's getting the attention it is. Makes the work (and the hit on the bank account) worth it.
Very Kool story. Great job! I love how our new hero was an accomplice to numerous murders for over 5 yrs, and now he's changed his tone. Everyone has a past! Well done.
Well, that was the more serious version of "What We Do in the Shadows" - but since it was made long before even the movie, it seemingly heavily inspired the great series...
Amazing... Just Amazing.... Way better than many 2 hour longs
Wow the vampire acts just like my dad 👍
LOL
Damn! Ha!Ha!
This made me both, laugh 😂 and wonder 💭… 😳🤔🧛♂️
Wow I'm so sorry
A fresh take on an old genre. Excellent!
An oldie but a goodie!! Thanks, I loved it....it would be wonderful to have a sequel. Well done to all the filmmakers, cast and crew!!
Right up there with Rice and Harris (and Stoker ?!)
Thoroughly enjoyed. Kudos to all involved.
Love the compliment and being in iconic company -- much appreciated! (I'm the write/director)
This needs to be developed into a series.
Great story and acting, but I was enthralled by Sam's beauty.
This is fun short vampire film. The actor who played the familiar was perfect for the part. The vampire maybe should have been played by an actor younger than the familiar. But the current actor kind of grows on you when you think back of the film.
Hands down that was bad ass! Love it when new spins are put on old ideas, great short.
Thanks, Robert. I appreciate your compliments (I'm the writer/director).
Loved it!!! Wish it weren't just a one and done short...it would be a great full length movie or mini series... great acting too!!!
'great acting'??? yeesh
Finally a GREAT movie on this channel. 1 in a thousand, if not more.
This should be turned into a Series. Every episode, a new vampire to slay.
Thanks for saying that, Sidney (I'm the writer/director). Glad you enjoyed it..!
This was one of the best Shorts ! This One could quite easily become a Series .
This is better than any vampire movie I've ever seen. Needs to be a movie mini series.
looks like a young heath ledger when he smiled
Excellent writing. Stellar performances by all. And the crew did a spectacular job! Bravo!!
That was awesome, and I do not give praise that often. Honestly, the best video of the 100's I have watched on this channel.
I was fully engaged, and rivetted to the screen. The story well crafted with no unnecessary or distracting elements while presenting a new take in a very familiar genre. The acting was excellent. The cinematography was well done; in particular I lovedcontributed
I hope you do more, and I agree with one of the previous comments; this makes an excellent pilot for a story that needs more episodes.
Hey somedude! I'm the writer/director, and I cannot tell you how great it is to read what you wrote. My current producing partner is raring to go, off to find the right partners to get a continuation or adaptation into a feature or series for it. For me, it was a good exorcism of a horrible job I had once, assisting a narcissistic, batshit crazy actor. Thanks again for the compliments. It means the world to me.
Nothing like a good take on the vampire mythos; this one ROCKS!!
This will make a great TV show.
"what we do in the shadows"
@@jd5787 "harlet's panties"
Cool! A vampire slayer is born.
Dang, this should seriously be a TV show or movie. It was so good, and a really interesting twist on vampire hunters considering he actually wanted to be a vampire but decided against it.
Bravo @Omeleto - Needs a full length sequel without delay. This was way more entertaining than some of the other mainstream vampire films on Netflix.
Really, really good film-the story and the acting were great. Visual effects were great. So I want more.
Thanks, Scott (I'm the writer/director). Love to hear this. I'd love to do more too!
Great story, I loved it.
Guillermo finally got his own movie spin off. Nandor must be so proud.
As a quick kill count, I count all deaths I see, including those of vampires, as long as they stay dead.
Spoilers:
4 people died in this short film
3 males
1 female
with a runtime of 22 mins leaves us with a kill on average every 5.5 mins
Golden Chainsaw for coolest kill goes to the Vampire. This was a pretty satisfying death, and it was shot well and fulfilled most classic methods of Vampire killing.
Dull Machete for lamest kill goes to the Slayer. Being shot in a Vampire flick was going to earn this award by default.
Ha! Nice ending. That vamp got his. Great mini-movie!
Amazing story, i have so much fun while watching. It's unique and fresh and nothing like all the other romanticised other vampire movies. It feels like this is the true story behind it^^ No more Edward&Bella - instead a neverending nightmare for all human beeings! Great movie, great actors, great storys, thank you so much for sharing!!!
Thanks for the compliments, Lissi. (I'm the writer/director). I'm very happy you liked it!
Extremely Well Done! The whole storyline was truly creative and had me captivated every moment! The entire production exceeded all expectations! A real gem! I really applaud taking the initiative to make your vision into a reality, and the results were spectacular! Unique in so many ways! I loved the creativity that was so diverse from countless other vampire films and truly loved the originality being so well executed onto the screen! I do appreciate a lot of shorts on this channel. This one really was something different and special! Moreover, the acting, writing, cinematography and entire production was all carried out as nothing short of excellence! Thank You for Sharing Mr. Kody Zimmerman and all involved! All the best! 🧛♂️👍❤️💙!
Hi Amanda -- thank you so much for taking the time to watch the short and giving such a thoughtful compliment to me and the cast/crew. The last few weeks on Omeleto has been great exposure for the short, and am very pleased with how people are reacting to it. I hope I get to show some newer material sooner than later to you. All the best back to you. Thanks again, - K
This needs to be green lit for a full feature length movie, series, graphic novel, something.... I long for more
And it did. This is pretty much Renfield!
I'm ready for season 1! It was terrific and if it was the pilot for a series I would definitely watch it, great job!
Dude I knew I had already seen "Renfield". Glad I could find this video again. I hope this was the original
Hey Jon -- I wrote and directed this in 2009, even before WWDITS started with familiars. It was a cynical love letter to the time I was an assistant to a whacked out big-name actor. I was heavily influenced by Swimming with Sharks, the Devil Wears Prada, Goodfellas and Fight Club -- and the Renfield written in the Bram Stoker novel (which I was reading when I was personal assistant misery). Thanks for watching!
@@kodyzimmermann6694Thanks for your response. I just remember, while watching 'Renfield' with Nicholas Cage, I kept saying to myself "I've seen this?!". It felt like a play by play of this film, but I couldn't find your film mentioned anywhere in the wiki. Am I wrong in thinking 'Renfield' is taking directly from your work?
Robert Kirkman pitched the story right before it was announced in 2019 by Universal Pictures, wayyy after this was released.
That was rad. I liked the dark comedic /satire vibe it had going on.
Sweet! Loved the authentic 90's style.
How did I miss this one? It was great, and funny...thanks.
Looks like it was set in the mid 90s to early 2000's 😎.
this might be one of the best Omeleto films I saw so far.
Very well done ..LOVED IT! 😁👍❤ The lead actor 's eyes were EVERYTHING 😊
Excellent story, this could go either way. He either becomes a killer, you got a series, or that bleeding, he becomes one somehow ..and you got a series. Something decent, funny and dare I say, original here. Keep up the good work and get some more of these out !
Loved this!! Great job Kody and all cast and crew!!
Thanks, Bev! And thanks again for feeding everyone all those years back!
So this is that Nicolas Cage's movie idea coming from