VAMPIRES (1998)

Directed By: John Carpenter
Written By: Don Jakoby
Based On The Novel "VAMPIRE$" By: John Steakley
Cinematography By: Gary B. Kibbe
Editor: Edward A. Wasrchilka

Cast: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximillian Schell, Tim Guinee, Mark Boone Junior, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa


While this is not the best vampire film. It is original and has an attitude. It's almost like a western (which shouldn't be a surprise since it was directed by John Carpenter, Which is why he took the film he felt it was a Western Disguised as a horror) Where a hero and a villian must cross paths and do battle. It is their destiny, but as you get to know them you realize they are not that different. Just on opposing sides for survival.

The opening of the film is kick-ass with James Woods and his merceneries busting up a vampire cave. It's violent and totally original. Unfortunately when you begin a film that way is what follows doesn't keep up the momentum or quality it feels like a failure. Which is the case of this film. The first half hour is great, but as the story goes on the film slows down, So does the quality if only the film could have been like james Woods's Performance. High energy, Unpredictable and undoubtly tough.

The most interesting aspect of the film is rough James Woods and his crew work for the church. They have a low Moral center so they are not that much better then the vampires they hunt. I wish their would have been more time available to let us get to know the crew and see more of their work.

The Special effects in this film are not the best but at least they are the classic and old School type. The film could have used a bigger budget to impress more. Yet the low budget matches the sprit of the film. It ends up it was because rightbefore filming the budget was ny 2/3 rds. So they had to rewrite the film in the last minute. Which is why the writer of the novel has sadi the film has all of his dialogue, but none of the plot.

What i like is that for one of the few times in his career James woods is allowed to play the lead HERO in a action film. Though his character is brash and violent. He reminded me of the leading men of the Classic movies when men were men. Not sensative and they had a sense of danger and a hint of evil.

The plot is after busting the Vampire cave. A vampire takes out his revenge on the team. Which only James woods and one other member survive plus a prostitute who is bitten by the vampire and has a psychic link to him as she slowly becomes one. She is their bait for the vampire to finally kill him.

This is not a PC movie as they are constantly abusive to the prostitute. Supposedly to subdue her, But while you watch it. It feels so wrong. Then you wonder what would you do in a similar situation.

The film takes place not in big Cities or in europe. That we are used to, but in Deserts and the dry southwest. Which is different for this type of genre. Since this is a John Carpenter film it is not boring. I admire what he was going for, but this isn't one of his classics. He does put his own spin on a familiar genre that incorporates a old school sensabilities and qualities, with a new school subversiveness.

THe Film was originally supposed to be Directed by Russell Mulachy and be more of a dark comedy, Starring Dolph Lungdren. Before John Carpenter took over. Who really was about to retire from filmmaking saying it wasn't fun anymore, but after making this film felt energized and loved working with James woods who he allowed to improvise a lot of the time. He even rewrote the two drafts of the script to include both drafts and his own. This ended up being his only financial successful film of the 90's.

There were Straight to home video sequels, None that reached the quality of this level. I mean one starred Jon Bon Jovi. Whcih is a shame as this could have been a franchise. Starring James Woods

A must see. It's trashy yet entertaining.

GRADE: C+