After Twilight

The film that’s going to end up being one of the biggest hits of the year has two things going for it, and they both fall under the term “demographic.”

Twilight is the first of a hugely successful series of novels by Stephenie Meyer about teen love: She’s a lonely high school girl, he’s a lonely high school guy. Oh, and also: He’s a vampire. Female readers between the ages of — well basically 12 and 60 — have been eating them up.

The second group includes the same broad age demographic, who have been waiting for the movie. This is the same age group, mind you, that made Titanic the most titanic film ever.

Twilight won’t come close to Titanic, but its success will green-light at least the next two films in the series.

Director Catherine Hardwicke (13, Lords of Dogtown) knows her way around teen angst. Here, she’s got a superbly adapted script by Melissa Rosenberg that captures the essence of the book but changes things around in order to make the story more cinematic.

Those readers loved the books because of the romantic story and because of 17-year-old vampire Edward Cullen, who’s described as being “perfect” and “totally gorgeous.” He sure is perfect, pale skin and all, to 17-year-old Bella, who’s just moved to Forks, Washington, to live with her divorced dad. So perfect, the little introvert can’t help but blurt “Who’s he?” the first time she notices Edward and his pale-skinned siblings.

She’s sent right into his orbit when a teacher assigns her to be his lab partner. But things don’t go too well at first, and you’ve got to wonder exactly what that smoldering look of his means.

Unlike the mostly slowly paced book, the action gets going early here. There’s a report of a security guard being killed by “some kind of animal.” And then Edward saves Bella’s life in an incident that makes her more curious than thankful.

Amidst completely believable teen emotional awkwardness, the film features some dandy visual effects, keeps emphasizing Edward’s human side (he’s a fan of Debussy), and puts on a nice edge with an appearance by a trio of not-so-nice vampires who are on a “hunting expedition.”

Kristen Stewart (Into the Wild) keeps her Bella glum and worried-looking. Rob Pattinson, though not as “gorgeous” as the book describes him, does smolder quite well. And Cam Gigandet (The O.C.) is truly creepy as James.

Fans of the book are going to be pleased. Those who haven’t read it but like the film will be visiting amazon.com the moment they get home from seeing it.