There is something immediately refreshing about Vampires of the Velvet Lounge knowing exactly what kind of movie it wants to be. It is loud, weird, funny, bloody, and unapologetically off its leash. That clarity is mirrored perfectly in the way Mena Suvari and India Eisley talk about the film. Sitting down with both actresses, the throughline was clear. This is not a movie asking to be taken seriously. It is asking you to have a damn good time.
For Eisley, that expectation matters going in. She laughed while explaining that audiences should show up with the right mindset, stressing that people are not walking into a prestige drama. She said viewers simply have to understand that it is not that serious and expressed hope that people just have a fun time with it, calling the film a wild ride and a wild little story that she hopes audiences have a blast watching.
Suvari echoed that sentiment but expanded on what makes the film work beyond just letting loose. She described hoping audiences leave feeling energized and genuinely entertained, emphasizing how different this project felt from anything she had done before. What immediately drew her in was how many elements were being mixed together. From humor to horror to heightened style, she described it as unique, badass, and something she simply had not seen before. It was that combination of tones that excited her most, especially the humor, which she said she loved when she first read the script.
That energy did not come from accident. Director Adam Sherman’s vision plays a huge role in shaping the film’s tone, but interestingly, neither actress described him as someone who micromanaged that vision on set. Eisley explained that while Sherman did not sit them down to outline a strict tonal rulebook, the style of the film spoke for itself through the material. As filming progressed, she began to notice unexpected influences creeping in, everything from noir elements to grindhouse vibes, things she was not necessarily anticipating when she first signed on.
Suvari added that Sherman’s quiet confidence was key. She described him as a brilliant mind who does not always need a lot of words, suggesting that his trust in the cast allowed the performances to take shape naturally. She shared that rather than constant discussion, there was an unspoken understanding. If Sherman needed something adjusted, he would say so. Otherwise, she felt supported to bring her own interpretation to the character. That freedom, she said, was incredibly freeing and rare, allowing her to trust her instincts fully.
That trust shines through in Suvari’s performance as Elizabeth, a character she clearly relished inhabiting. She spoke about how much fun it was to lean into the film’s specific brand of humor while also embracing the horror side of things. Playing a vampire was exciting in itself, but what really grabbed her was Elizabeth’s independence and authority. Suvari described her as a boss figure, someone strong and commanding. On top of that, the role finally allowed her to do stunt work she had never been able to showcase before, opening up a new side of her abilities as a performer.
For Eisley, Vampires of the Velvet Lounge offered a very different kind of vampire than audiences might expect, given her past work. While many fans still associate her with the sleek, serious action horror of Underworld Awakening, she was quick to point out how far removed this character is from that world. She explained that while there was stunt work in Underworld, that film played things straight and humorless, whereas Joan exists in a far stranger emotional space.
Eisley said she is drawn to playing emotionally conflicted and unhinged characters, and Joan gave her the chance to fully lean into that chaos. She described the thrill of finally being able to play someone truly wild and admitted she would love to continue exploring different shades of that wildness in future roles. It was clear she had a blast letting Joan be messy, unpredictable, and unapologetic.
One of the most striking things about talking with Suvari was being reminded just how consistently strong her career has been. For someone who grew up watching her work, it is hard not to admire how effortlessly she continues to slide into roles that feel fresh while still carrying the weight of experience. This film is no exception. Her enthusiasm for genre filmmaking, particularly horror, feels genuine, and it shows in the way she speaks about the joy of mixing blood, humor, wardrobe, atmosphere, and character into something that feels cohesive despite its chaos.
Eisley, meanwhile, brings a surprising edge that fits the film’s tone perfectly. Even if Vampires of the Velvet Lounge is your first exposure to her work, she makes an immediate impression here. She fully understands what kind of ride the film is offering and leans into it without hesitation.
At the end of the day, Vampires of the Velvet Lounge is not trying to be timeless cinema. As Eisley put it, this is not Citizen Kane, and that is very much the point. It is a throwback style genre cocktail that wants you to laugh, cringe, squirm, and maybe recoil a little in your seat, all while having fun. After spending time with Mena Suvari and India Eisley, it is clear that energy was present both on and off screen. The result is a film that knows exactly what it is and two performances that completely understand the assignment.
Jessie Hobson