Help me find some GOOD Vampire movies (1 Viewer)

[Randy Korstick]

Horror of Dracula
Scars of Dracula
Dracula, Prince of Darkness

All Great Hammer Dracula's with Christopher Lee there are other good ones in this series but they are not on DVD yet.
Atmospheric and well made low budget movies that look like they were made on much higher budgets. Gory for their time but tame now.

 

[Joey Gunz]

Near Dark - is very good. I don't think its even mentioned in the flick that they're vampires (but they are). I have the DVD and the 2nd disc with the cast interviews and stuff are great. Lance Henricksen even gives you the backstory to his character which would make another great movie.

The Forsaken - is another cool, underrated modern vampire flick.

Stephen King's "The Night Flier" - is a little known film. I thought it was pretty good.

 

[Scott Weinberg]

Count me in as a big fan of Near Dark.

Try these ones:

Nadja (1994)

The Addiction (1995)

Innocent Blood (1992)

It's an obvious one, but I really like From Dusk Till Dawn .

A fun little cable flick is one based on a Stephen King story: Night Flier (1997)[/url]

...and there's some low-rent fun to be found in the Subspecies series:

Subspecies (1991)

Bloodstone: Subspecies 2 (1993)

Bloodlust: Subspecies 3 (1994)

Bloodstorm: Subspecies 4 (1998)

Oh and who could forget Love at First Bite (1979) ??

 

[Juan Castillo]

Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust

j/k

 

[ChuckSolo]

No one mentioned "The Lost Boys" or "Lair of the White Worm." Both of these movies are pretty good IMHO and LOTWW is particularly off beat and not your typical vampire movie. It has the distinction of having been made from an original Bram Stoker novel. Also, back in the 1970's Jack Palance made two excellent horror movies that I believe were actually mini television series. One is about Dracula, I can't remember the exact title, and the other is "The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Both these films can be bought either as separate DVDs or as a set. Both are great and and the "Dracula" DVD has a very good performance by Palance as the venerable count. The DVD of "Salem's Lot" isn't too bad either although the video could be better.

 

[Joey Gunz]

I forgot to add Stephen Kings's Salem's Lot to my list. I think its one of the scariest vampire movies ever made.

 

[Stevan Lay]

An obscure inclusion... Mr. Vampire.
Vampires also exist in Eastern mythology. It's a great blend of comedy, horror, and martial-arts. One of the most successful and loved Asian films ever made.

 

[MartinTeller]

Lost Boys was mentioned in Vince's original post.

 

[Elizabeth S]

The Britist mini-series Ultraviolet. (Although the term "vampire" is never mentioned.) Excellent, understated, intelligent stuff.

 

[Larry Talbot]

I'll second Lair of the White Worm (although it is something of a comedy, it still has some pretty nifty vampiric goings on - last saw it on a nearly unwatchable VHS version so it would be nice to catch it on DVD) and I'll second Salem's Lot too. Only problem with Lot is that it was made for TV, thus you don't get any R-rated thrills, but it still has a number of very effective scenes. The DVD version is I believe the European version, which has one brief scene of a man impaled on antlers (neat way to go) which was cut from the TV miniseries...

 

[Robert Floto]

I saw that Innocent Blood was mentioned. I really like this film...however it is only available MAR.

I really like Fright Night. Some might consider it cheesy, but I find its use of humor makes this one a pretty satisfying, entertaining, film...

 

[Steve Schaffer]

Night Flier was quite good if you like Stephen King, and I do. Ultraviolet also very good. A short lived American vampire TV series available and not bad is Kindred the Embraced. Kindred seems to come close to Anne Rice's idea of modern vampires, and even uses some of the music from Interview with the Vampire.

I thought Shadow of the Vampire had a lot more going for it than just Malkovich--Willem Dafoe's portrayal of the vampire was also excellent.

I'd also recommend a shortish anime film called Blood, the Last Vampire. It's running time is only about 40 minutes but the artwork is gorgeous and the story is good.

I'm sure someone's already brought up Blade and Blade II, but if not they are must-haves.

 

[Dan Rudolph]

Night of the Living Dead. It's definitely a character piece and the twist is that the vampires aren't killed by sunlight or staking and they don't drink blood. Also, they move slow and are near mindless. And they don't have fangs.

Seriously, though, I'd recommend Blade. Nice twist on the vampire mythology in that they went with a sci-fi, rather than fantasy treatment. I don't think vampires are evr referred to as undead in those movies.

And, though I suspect you already aare familiar with them, the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel."

 

[David Fisher]

If you have children, I highly recommend the Bunnicula series of books. Great, great fun and not very scary at all.

I tried watching the '91 Bram Stoker's Dracula this weekend, and found it nearly unwatchable. I really enjoyed this film when it came out, but the scenes between Ryder and Olham are laughably bad. Maybe I'll like it again in ten years...



Vampire in Venice - Interesting Italian Nosferatu movie. It starred Christopher Plummer and Klaus Kinski, and really isn't too bad for an early 80s movie.

Once Bitten - One of my all-time favorite comedies, starring Lauren Hutton as the vampire seductress feasting upon the blood of virgin Jim Carrey. This is a must-see.

Ganja and Hess - There is a terrific dvd featuring the restored director's cut of this character driven film. It is worth a rental, because it is very far from a traditional vampire movie and is considered in some circles to be a cult classic.

1971 The House That Dripped Blood - Awesome collection of four short stories directed by Peter Duffel. The fourth story is the only one that is vampire related, but I would still recommend this movie.

Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires - Another great Peter Cushing film that is quite different than his others. Why? Because this is a KUNG FU VAMPIRE movie... which isn't exactly character-driven but worth your time!!

 

[derek]

I second (third?) Ultraviolet. I just caught the 6 episodes on SciFi a few weeks ago and was very impressed at this character driven contemporary take on the vampire mythos. Series dealt with tough social issues (discrimination/abortion/religion.) Acting good (have to get used to the British accents a bit.) SFX pretty good though used sparingly. Neato take on the vampire/human war. It is available on DVD.

 

[Larry Talbot]

Oh yeah, David, House That Dripped Blood! I saw this as a kid, as part of an actual haunted house - they had the haunted house, plus you could go and see the movie next door...and I loved it. Don't know how it would hold up after all these years, but your post made me want to see it again.

 

[Vince Maskeeper]

I already have Nosfertu, Shadow of the Vampire, Coppola's Dracula, Interview with the Vampire, Queen of the Damned, Lost Boys, Vampire Hunter D, Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV (should I bother with the movie?).

I'm not sure how I feel about Blade/Blade 2, but i might try them- looking for a little less action, and a little more "creative take on the vampire genre."

Please feel free to keep your opinions coming (even if just to second what has been said here). Looks like I have the following so far (I have left out some that were suggested after reading the decriptions and reviews which sounded a bit campy):

Of course I'm going to look into which Hammer Dracula's with Christopher Lee are available on DVD...

Ultraviolet
Genre: Thriller
Michael Coleman is unwillingly thrust into the nightmarish world of vampires when he discovers a secret government organisation operating undercover within the police when his friend Jack disappears under suspicious circumstances on the eve of his wedding.
8.5 IMDB Rating / 100% on rotten Tomatoes.
Joe Ahearne directed (Cult UK writer/director).
Joe Ahearne written (Cult UK writer/director).
$20.98 on deepdiscountdvd.

Near Dark
Genre: Horror
A mid-western farm boy reluctantly becomes a member of the undead when a girl he meets turns out to be part of a band of southern vampires who roam the highways in stolen cars. Part of his initiation includes a bloody assault on a hick bar.
7.0 IMDB Rating / 100% on rotten Tomatoes.
Kathryn Bigelow directed (Point Break, Strange Days, k-19).
Kathryn Bigelow / Eric Red written.
2 disc SE DVD Availble: $17.98 on deepdiscountdvd.

Martin
Genre: Drama / Horror
George Romero does for vampires what he has already done to zombies - an intense and realistic treatment that follows the exploits of Martin, who claims to be 84 years old, and who certainly drinks human blood. The boy arrives in Pittsburg to stay with his uncle, who promises to save Martin's soul and destroy him once he is finished, but Martin's loneliness finds other means of release.
6.8 IMDB Rating / 100% on rotten Tomatoes.
George A. Romero directed (NOTLD, Creepshow, Dawn of the Dead).
George A. Romero written (NOTLD, Dawn of the Dead).
$8.00 on amazon used/3rd party area - can't find it from a real retailer?

Blood: The Last Vampire
Genre: Animation / Horror / Action
Japan, 1966. Saya is part of a secret team destroying daemons. She is sent undercover as a student at the American air base in Yokota, just before Halloween. She discovers that two of her classmates are vampires in disguise just as they are preparing to attack the school nurse; meanwhile, her colleagues have discovered another vampire acting as a bartender in the local red-light district. A spectacular battle ensues.
6.7 IMDB Rating / 58% on rotten Tomatoes.
Hiroyuki Kitakubo directed (Roujin Z).
Kenji Kamiyama written (Only wrote this).
$16.60 on deepdiscountdvd.

Fright Night
Genre: Comedy / Horror
For young Charlie Brewster, nothing could be better than an old horror movie late at night. Two men move in next door, and for Charlie with his horror movie experience, there can be no doubt that their strange behavior is explained by the fact that they are a vampire and his undead day guardian. The only one who can help him hunt them down is a washed-up actor, Peter Vincent, who hosts Charlie's favorite TV show, Fright Night. Vincent doesn't really believe that vampires exist, but does it for the money...
6.5 IMDB Rating / 100% on rotten Tomatoes.
Tom Holland directed (Langoliers, Thinner, ChildsPlay, The Temp).
Tom Holland written (Cloak&Dagger, Langoliers, Thinner, ChildsPlay).
$9.90 on deepdiscountdvd.

Salem's Lot
Genre: Horror
Sinister events bring together a writer (David Soul) fascinated with an old hilltop house, a suave antiques dealer (James Mason) whose expertise goes beyond bric-a-brac and the dealer's "partner" - a vampire bent on draining the local bloodlines.
6.3 IMDB Rating / 63% on rotten Tomatoes.
Tobe Hooper directed (Poltergeist, Taken).
Paul Monash written (V, A lot of TV writing).
$9.89 on deepdiscountdvd.

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
Genre: Horror / Adventure
Vampire hunter and expert swordsman Kronos finds himself in a small village where several of the local young women have been found in an advanced state of age, their youth drained from them by a vampire's kiss. Kronos' search leads him to the Durward estate where he is met by the effete children of the apparently aged and sick Lady Durward.
6.3 IMDB Rating / NA on rotten Tomatoes.
Brian Clemens directed (Only ever directed this).
Brian Clemens written (Watcher in the Woods, Highlander2).
$5.89 on deepdiscountdvd.

Habit
Genre: Horror
It's autumn in New York. Sam has broken up with his girlfriend and his father has recently died. World-weary and sloppy drunk, he finds temporary solace in the arms of Anna, a mysterious vampire who draws him away from his friends and into a web of addiction and madness.
6.0 IMDB Rating / 75% on rotten Tomatoes.
Larry Fessenden directed (Lot of indie stuff, shorts).
Larry Fessenden written (Lot of indie stuff, shorts).
$8.99 on deepdiscountdvd.

Innocent Blood
Genre: Comedy / Horror / Romance
Marie, a female vampire with a conscience, decides to restrict her feeding requirements to the violent Pittsburgh gangsters who are at large in the city. Marie's victims become vampires themselves if she fails to permanently immobilise them, so when this happens, the gangsters become a serious problem which she has to fix.
5.7 IMDB Rating / 33% on rotten Tomatoes.
John Landis directed (Blues Bros, Coming to America, Trading Places).
Michael Wolk written (Nothing but this).
$9.89 on deepdiscountdvd. Pan&Scan only.

Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Genre: Action / Fantasy / Horror
Hammer Films meets chop-socky Hong Kong. While lecturing in the Far East, Professor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) tells his students of a doomed village in China that becomes cursed every year at the time of the 7th moon. Van Helsing is persuaded by a family of kung fu experts to rid the village of the 7 vampires that torment its citizens.
5.7 IMDB Rating / NA on rotten Tomatoes.
Roy Ward Baker directed (Early horror, later TV).
Don Houghton written (Early horror, later TV).
$18.00 on deepdiscountdvd.

The Lair of the White Worm
Genre: Horror
Scottish archaelogist Angus Flint discovers an odd skull amid the ruins of a convent which he is excavating. Angus learns of the D'Ampton Worm, a huge dragon/snake which an earlier D'Ampton killed by cutting it in half. As people begin disappearing and acting strangely over the next day or two, the skull is stolen from Angus' room, Angus and James discover that there was an ancient cult which worshiped the worm as a god, and theorize that the creature somehow survived its "destruction"
5.5 IMDB Rating / 54% on rotten Tomatoes.
Ken Russell directed (Sounds like he directs soft-core porn).
Ken Russell written (More soft-core scripts).
$7.97 on deepdiscountdvd.

Lifeforce
Genre: Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller
A space shuttle mission investigating Halley's Comet brings back a malevolent race of space vampires who transform most of London's population into zombies. The only survivor of the expedition and British authorities attempt to capture a mysterious but beautiful alien woman who appears responsible.
5.5 IMDB Rating / 50% on rotten Tomatoes.
Tobe Hooper directed (Poltergeist, Taken).
Colin Wilson / Dan O'Bannon written (Max Headroom/Alien, Total Recall).
$9.36 on deepdiscountdvd.

Stephen King's The Night Flier
Genre: Horror
Two investigative reporters for a tabloid magazine track down across country "The Night Flier", a serial killer who travels by private plane stalking victims in rural airports. One of the reporters, Richard Dees, begins to suspect that "the Night Flier could perhaps be a vampire".
5.4 IMDB Rating / NA on rotten Tomatoes.
Mark Pavia directed (Not much else).
Mark Pavia written (Not much else).
$9.89 on deepdiscountdvd.

Blood For Dracula
Genre: Horror
Count Dracula knows that if he fails to drink a required amount of pure virgin's blood, it's time to move into a permanent coffin. His assistant (Renfield?) suggests that the Count and he pick up his coffin and take a road trip to Italy, where families are known to be particularly religious, and therefore should be an excellent place to search for a virgin bride. It's a race for Dracula to find the real virgin, before he either dies from malnourishment or from the wooden stake of the Communist!
5.3 IMDB Rating / NA on rotten Tomatoes.
Paul Morrissey directed (Hound of the Baskervilles).
Paul Morrissey written (Hound of the Baskervilles).
Criterion SE Available: $28.76 on deepdiscountdvd.

Vampire's Kiss
Genre: Comedy / Horror
A publishing executive is visited and bitten by a vampire and starts exhibiting erratic behavior. He pushes his secretary to extremes as he tries to come to terms with his affliction. The vampire continues to visit and drink his blood, and as his madness deepens, it begins to look as if some of the events he's experiencing may be hallucinations.
5.2 IMDB Rating / 50% on rotten Tomatoes.
Robert Bierman directed (Directed a bunch of TV stuff).
Joseph Minion written (Nothing of note).
$9.36 on deepdiscountdvd.

The Forsaken
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Sean is driving cross-country to deliver a vintage Mercedes and attend his sister's wedding when he picks up a hitchhiker, Nick, who just happens to be a vampire hunter, tracking down a group of youthful vampires that feed on unwary travelers. As the plot thickens, they run into Megan, who has been left for dead by the vampires. As they use her as a lure for the vampires, Sean becomes attracted to her. Further complications ensue when Sean is infected with the vampire virus. He, Megan and Nick must race against time to kill the vampire leader to stop Sean from becoming one of the undead.
5.1 IMDB Rating / 9% on rotten Tomatoes.
J.S. Cardone directed (B-horror movies out the wazoo).
J.S. Cardone written (B-horror movies out the wazoo).
$14.27 on deepdiscountdvd.

Ganja & Hess
Genre: Horror
Afer being stabbed with an ancient, germ-infested knife, a doctor's assistant finds himself with an insatiable desire for blood.
4.8 IMDB Rating / NA on rotten Tomatoes.
Bill Gunn directed (Not much).
Bill Gunn written (Not much).
$21.93 on deepdiscountdvd.

The Hunger, not on DVD.
Drácula (1931 spanish version), not on DVD.
Nadja, not on DVD.
The Addiction, not on DVD.
Mr. Vampire, not on region 1 dvd?
Kindred the Embraced, not on DVD

 

[Jack Shappa]

They recently release a two movie set (for $10!) of The Vampire Lovers (based on the story Carmilla) and Countess Dracula. Both are from Hammer, both DVD transfers are very good, and The Vampire Lovers especially is a good film. The set was recently reviewed on this site as a matter of fact.

- JS

 

[Robert Floto]

Drácula (1931 spanish version), not on DVD.

Actually, it is on DVD...it's just out of print. It was included with the Bela Lugosi version on the Universal Classic Monsters Collection release of Dracula.

Try eBay.

 

[Vince Maskeeper]

Thanks for the tip, will try to snag a copy on Ebay.