 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Valemont
Common Sense Media says
Moody vampire series relies heavily on mobile tech.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this short-form TV/online vampire series from MTV is sponsored by Verizon Wireless and prominently incorporates the company’s mobile technology into its storyline. The main character resorts to some sneaky ways of investigating her brother's murder -- given the subject matter, you can expect to see some violent/scary images of a mutilated corpse, bloody writing, and frighteningly distorted masked figures. Characters are occasionally shown in their underwear, and words like “ass” and “hell” are sometimes used.
What's the story?
Sophie Gracen (Kristen Hager) is a streetwise former foster child who wants to discover the truth behind her long-lost older brother Eric's (Eric Balfour) death. After identifying this mutilated remains, she steals his cell phone from his personal effects to look for clues about his final moments. What she finds leads to her Valemont University, the prestigious East Coast college that her brother had been attending when he disappeared. After enrolling in the institution as Sophie Fields, she starts meeting some of the school’s odder characters -- including her enthusiastic roommate, Poppy Baker (Nikki Blonsky); broodingly popular Sebastian Van Cleer (Dillon Casey); and rush chair “Queen Bea" (Jessica Parker Kennedy). As Sophie follows the hints left on Eric’s mobile, she begins to uncover the school’s terrifying connection to the vampire world.
Is it any good?
VALEMONT uses a combination of multiplatform delivery (viewers can watch episodes on TV, online, and via mobile technology), creative product placement, and well-designed interactive materials to appeal to today’s generation of vampire-loving, tech-savvy teens.The fact that it also has a young, hip cast and enough dark, ominous characters to keep it interesting doesn't hurt, either.
Still, while the overall show is pretty trendy, the plot is pretty predictable. The two-and-a-half minute short-form episodes are too brief to support a sophisticated storyline, making it hard to compete with the variety of vampire-oriented books, films, and TV shows currently available to "fang" fans. Bottom line? The narrative isn’t particularly unique, but the way it's being told is.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the way the show is tied to mobile technology -- both as a means to view it and, via Eric's cell phone, as a plot device. Does any of it feel forced, or is it a realistic reflection of the prevalance of mobile devices in today's world?
How realistic is the characters' behavior? What do you think the consequences of their actions might be in real life?
Why do you think so many vampire-themed books, TV shows, and
movies have emerged in the past few years? Why are vampires so
popular? Do you think the trend will eventually fade?Did you know that vampires were also popular in the United States in
the 1920s and '30s? Why do you think some trends/fads tend to repeat
themselves?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Bad, bad, bad apart from the good looking boys
I've only watched two episodes but let me tell you this, it is completley a waste of time to even watch those. The actors are extrememly bad if not good looking which i think is the only good thing about it, the story skips from one part to another and most of it is some guy speakings un convincingley scared into a fake video phone.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| TV rating: | NR |
| Networks: | MTV, Online |
| Cast: | Eric Balfour, Kristen Hager, Nikki Blonsky |
| Genre: | Drama |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
