Even though when you think about vampire films you’ll immediately think of Hollywood classics, we have a rich history with blood-sucking vamps on these shores.

Not only did Irishman Bram Stoker invent these creatures of the night with his 1897 novel Dracula, but a number of vampire films were made in the UK under the Hammer House of Horror banner, many of which (ten in total) featured the legendary Christopher Lee.

This Sky Original production continues the trend, with its thoroughly modern take.

Living in a quaint Northern coastal town are the Radleys, Peter (Damian Lewis) and Helen (Kelly Macdonald) and their two teenage children Rowan (Harry Baxendale) and Clara (Bo Bragason).

They live a very ordinary life, with Peter even the local doctor for the community. But Peter and Helen have a secret, that they have yet to tell their children, but they’re about to find out when Helen spends time with a guy in the woods, and the result is truly alarming – for them both.

Based on Matt Haig’s 2010 Young Adult novel of the same name, director Euros Lyn has delivered a painfully dull film. It feels like the pilot of a TV series, which is no surprise with Lyn’s impressive CV of working on various TV shows, including Doctor Who, Daredevil and Heartstopper. What he lacks is cinematic experience and it shows here.

Effectively he has made a disappointingly drab family drama, where they also just so happen to be vampires. Put it this way, it has a body count of one, which is simply unacceptable for anything touting itself as a vampire flick.

The fact is, even if you took the vampire theme out, which is effectively what Lyn has done as it is, there is nothing compelling whatsoever with the remaining family dynamic. There’s an underlying theme of dormant sexuality, but it’s far from bubbling under the surface, more like dripping off of it.

It’s also said to be a black comedy, but it manages to be devoid of any humour, regardless of its colour.

It’s actually an affront to even call it a vampire film, and it’s likely to have the likes of Lee spinning in his grave.