You’ve seen the "vampire dinner party" trope a thousand times before. Usually, it's all velvet capes, Gothic mansions, and enough angst to choke a Victorian poet. But Eat Local movie 2017—or Eat Locals as it’s often stylized—decided to do something way more interesting with the concept. It traded the brooding romance for a farmhouse in the British countryside and a lot of guns. Honestly, if you’re looking for a flick that feels like Guy Ritchie decided to direct a Hammer Horror film, this is pretty much exactly that.
It's a weird one.
I remember when this first popped up on the festival circuit. People weren't sure what to make of it. Is it a comedy? A horror? An action movie? The answer is "yes," but it’s the kind of movie that works best if you don't take it too seriously. It’s got a grit that only low-budget British cinema can truly capture.
What Actually Happens in Eat Local Movie 2017?
The premise is deceptively simple. Every fifty years, the world’s most powerful vampires meet to discuss business. You know, quotas, territory disputes, the usual corporate HR nightmare but with more fangs. This time, they’ve gathered at a secluded farmhouse. They’re also planning to "turn" a new member, Sebastian (played by Billy Cook), who thinks he’s just there for a hot date with a posh woman named Vanessa (Eve Myles).
Sebastian is basically the audience surrogate. He’s confused, out of his depth, and very much not a vampire.
While the vampires are arguing over who gets which region of the UK, things go sideways. A heavily armed tactical team of vampire hunters, led by a no-nonsense commander played by Alistair Petrie, surrounds the house. Suddenly, the "apex predators" are the ones being hunted. It turns into a siege movie. It’s Rio Bravo or Assault on Precinct 13, but the guys inside the house can regenerate from bullet wounds.
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The pacing is frantic. One minute you're listening to a dry, witty debate about the logistics of feeding on the local population, and the next, there’s a massive shootout with high-caliber rounds tearing through the floorboards.
The Cast That Makes It Work
You can’t talk about Eat Local movie 2017 without mentioning the director: Jason Flemyng. If you recognize the name, it’s because he’s been in everything from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This was his directorial debut. Because Flemyng is so well-connected in the British film industry, he managed to pull in a cast that has no business being in a tiny indie horror movie.
- Charlie Cox: Before he was globally famous as Daredevil, he was Henry here. He brings a certain "tired professional" energy to his vampire role.
- Freema Agyeman: Doctor Who fans will recognize her immediately. She plays Angel, and she’s arguably the most intimidating person in the room.
- Mackenzie Crook: The man is a legend. Whether it’s The Office (UK) or Pirates of the Caribbean, he always delivers. Here, he plays Larousse, and he’s fantastic.
- Dexter Fletcher: Another veteran of the British gangster genre who shows up to chew some scenery.
The chemistry between these actors is what saves the film from being just another "monsters in a house" story. They feel like a dysfunctional family that has been stuck together for centuries. They’re bored of each other. They’re petty. They argue about the most mundane things while people are literally trying to blow them up.
Why the Critics Were Split
Look, if you check Rotten Tomatoes, the scores for Eat Local movie 2017 aren't exactly "Masterpiece" level. It sits in that middle ground. Critics often complained that the tone was inconsistent. Sometimes it’s slapstick, sometimes it’s bleak.
But I think those critics missed the point.
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British humor is often built on that exact cognitive dissonance—the mundane meeting the macabre. There’s a scene involving an elderly couple and a treadmill that is objectively ridiculous, but it fits the world Flemyng built. It’s a movie that knows it’s a bit silly. It isn't trying to be Let the Right One In. It wants to be a fun, bloody romp that finishes in 90 minutes.
The special effects are a bit hit-or-miss, which is expected for a film with this budget. Some of the blood splatter looks a little too "digital," but the practical effects—the makeup and the physical stunts—hold up surprisingly well. The farmhouse setting is used effectively to create a sense of claustrophobia. You really feel like there’s nowhere for these characters to run.
The Lore of the "Local"
One of the most interesting bits of world-building in Eat Local movie 2017 is how they treat vampirism. It’s treated like a franchise. There are rules. There are "areas." It’s a bureaucracy. This makes the vampires feel less like supernatural deities and more like middle managers who happen to drink blood.
They’re worried about "sustainability." If they kill too many people in one village, people start noticing. That’s a very modern, very human concern. It grounds the fantasy in a way that makes the comedy land harder. When Vanessa explains the "business" to Sebastian, she isn't being mysterious or alluring; she’s being pragmatic.
Practical Takeaways for Fans of the Genre
If you’re planning on watching Eat Local movie 2017 tonight, here’s what you need to know to actually enjoy it. First, don't expect a high-stakes epic. This is a "bottle movie." It stays in one primary location for the majority of its runtime. If you like Dog Soldiers, you will probably like this. They share a similar DNA—British soldiers (or mercs) vs. monsters in a rural setting.
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Second, pay attention to the dialogue. The best parts of the movie aren't the action sequences; they’re the bickering matches between the council members. Tony Curran as Peter is a particular standout. He’s got that weary, "I’ve seen it all" vibe that makes his outbursts hilarious.
Where to watch it?
The film has bounced around various streaming platforms like Prime Video and Shudder over the years. Because it’s a cult hit, it’s usually available for a few bucks on VOD. It’s the perfect "Friday night with a beer" movie. It doesn’t demand a lot of intellectual heavy lifting, but it rewards you with some genuine laughs and a few "oh damn" action beats.
Final Reality Check
Is it the best vampire movie ever made? No. Not even close. But is it a refreshing break from the sparkly or overly serious vampires of the 2010s? Absolutely. It’s a reminder that horror can be gritty, funny, and local all at the same time. Jason Flemyng proved he has a solid eye for casting and a great sense of timing.
The film serves as a time capsule for a specific era of British indie cinema where everyone was trying to blend genres. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. In the case of Eat Local movie 2017, it works just enough to be a memorable, bloody good time.
If you enjoy the intersection of British crime films and supernatural horror, your next steps are clear. Track down a copy, ignore the lukewarm reviews from 2017, and enjoy the sight of Mackenzie Crook and Charlie Cox trying to survive a tactical assault while arguing about dinner. Then, look up the rest of Jason Flemyng’s filmography; the man is a workhorse of the industry and seeing his directorial style helps you appreciate his acting roles even more. Check out Dog Soldiers or Severance (2006) afterward if you want to keep the "British Horror Comedy" marathon going.