Vampires is a French-language horror series that wants to be a coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who is half human, half vampire. It mostly succeeds. The show is moody, atmospheric, and anchored by a strong lead performance from Oulaya Amamra. It also stumbles into a few tonal missteps that keep it from greatness.
The premise is simple. Doina Radescu (Amamra) is a teenager who is half human, half vampire. She takes pills to suppress her vampire tendencies, but the suppression is wearing off, and she is being hunted by a secret vampire community. Her mother, Martha Radescu (Suzanne Clément), tries to protect her while struggling with her own complicated history. The series follows Doina as she navigates her emerging powers, her family turmoil, and the growing threat from outside.
Doina and Martha
Amamra carries the show. She plays Doina with a quiet intensity that makes the character’s internal conflict feel lived-in. Clément gives Martha a weary, protective presence that anchors the series’ central relationship. Their scenes together are the emotional core of the show.
The supporting cast is solid across the board. Aliocha Schneider plays Ladislas Nemeth, a vampire who becomes involved with Doina. Kate Moran plays Csilla Nemeth, Ladislas’s sister. Mounir Amamra plays Andrea Radescu, Doina’s brother. Juliette Cardinski plays Irina Radescu, Doina’s cousin. Pierre Lottin plays Rad Radescu, Doina’s father. Dylan Robert plays Nacer, a friend of the family.
The Pill Mechanic
The pill-taking mechanic is the show’s biggest strength. It forces Doina to manage her identity in public, hiding her vampirism from everyone around her. This creates a constant tension that drives the narrative forward. The show uses the pills as a metaphor for repression, and it works.
The Vampire Community
The show’s handling of the vampire community is less successful. The secrecy surrounding Doina’s kind feels thin, and the threats from outsiders feel more like plot devices than real dangers. The show tries to build a sense of fear around these hunters, but the writing doesn’t quite land.
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Doina Radescu | Lead, half-human vampire teen |
| Martha Radescu | Mother |
| Ladislas Nemeth | Vampire ally |
| Csilla Nemeth | Ladislas’s sister |
| Andrea Radescu | Brother |
| Irina Radescu | Cousin |
| Rad Radescu | Father |
| Nacer | Friend |
Where It Falls Short
The pacing drags in the middle episodes. Some scenes feel padded, and the show spends too much time on exposition rather than action. The finale wraps things up quickly after a slow middle stretch, which leaves viewers wanting more resolution.
Final Score
Vampires is a promising start to a story that never quite reaches its full potential. The performances are strong, especially Amamra’s, and the pill mechanic gives the show a unique angle. But the vampire hunters feel like a forced element, and the pacing sags in the middle. It’s a watchable, sometimes excellent series, but it falls short of greatness.
The show is available on Netflix.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
