Starring: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximilian Schell Directed By: John Carpenter Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Full Screen, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: February 09, 1999 Running Time: 108 minutes Studio: Sony Pictures Theatrical Release Date: October 30, 1998
Product Description: THE FUTURE OF MANKIND RESTS IN THE HANDS OF MASTER SLAYER JACKCROW AS HE MOVES TO PREVENT THE MASTER VAMPIRE FROM REACHING HISULTIMATE GOAL FOR THE LEGIONS OF UNDEAD, THE ABILITY TO WALK IN DAYLIGHT. IF YOU'VE ALWAYS BOUGHT THE MYTH THAT VAMPIRES CANONLY WALK IN THE DARK, YOU HAVEN'T MET THE MASTER.
Amazon.com: Talk about an opening. The first few minutes of John Carpenter's Vampires--in which James Woods's vampire killer leads a dawn raid on a New Mexico "goon nest" of bloodsuckers--not only suggests a horror movie that will not pull any punches, it even evokes some of the more disturbing dream-memories of American Westerns. Muscular and uncompromised, the sequence suggests a new Carpenter classic unraveling before one's eyes. Well, dream on. Things don't quite work out that way, but this is still a film to reckon with. There are a few serious (and surprising) misjudgments on the director's part, particularly a mishandling of Sheryl Lee's role as a prostitute poisoned by the bite of a "master vampire" (who pretty much wiped out Woods's team of goon terminators). But aside from some weaknesses, the action is jolting, the suggested complicity of the Catholic Church in destroying monsters is provocative, and the traces of Howard Hawks's continuing influence on Carpenter's storytelling are in evidence. --Tom Keogh
not a good vampire flick ^ i saw this movie in the theatre with several friends, all of us fans of vampire movies whether it be serious like nosferatu or cheesy like from dusk till dawn. We all came out pretty disappointed with this one. nothing new, the vampires in the desert was already done and over done by the dusk till dawn series. It tries to be somewhat serious, but isn't. It's not cheesy enough to entertain either. You'll see very uninteresting vampires, and very unimpressive vampire hunters. This movie did inspire a sequel, Los Muertos, starring Jon Bon Jovi as a the vampire hunter. That movie was so awful it didn't even make it into theatres and Jon bon jovi is wishing to erase it from memory. That's Definitely worth watching.
Vampires Lacks All Bite, Rated B for Beyond Bad! ^ I know why Daniel Baldwin did this film - he couldn't get any other work - but James Woods must have been hard-up for money or just plain bored to even consider this film, and I am not sure what Carpenter's excuse was, but this is one pile-of-garbage movie. Our protagonist isn't remotely likable and gratuitously refers to women as "whores" as well as being physically abusive to them - yes ladies and gentlemen, this is our hero. Not even some decent actors in the cast could save this movie. Leaves you rolling your eyes at el cheapo special effects and stupid dialogue. Made me laugh for the wrong reasons and root for the vampires to kill off the "hero" to put me out of my misery. Don't bother with this one; there are plenty of other superb and interesting vampire movies out there to choose from!
An overlooked gem from Carpenter ^ It's safe to say that this is a guilty pleasure of mine. I love most of John Carpenter's work and I really enjoyed his take on vampires. Jack Crow is certainly reason alone to sit through this and although the character originated in John Steakley's novel, I feel Crow is just as strong of a character in Carpenter's world as Snake Plissken from Escape From New York.
Other than Jack Crow, I actually really enjoyed the storyline which seemed to be a breaking point for a lot of people. A vampire seeking a black cross to finish a reverse exorcism, so he can walk in daylight without turning to dust. Only Carpenter could pull something like that off. Their methods of killing vampires were also a bit more original and unorthodox compared to other vampire films of the past. Jack Crow would shoot an arrow from a crossbow, which would be attached to a wire on the bottom of a jeep that would be reeled in by Daniel Baldwin's Anthony Montoya that would drag the vampire into the sunlight where their body would burst into flames. Maybe it's considered cheesy to some, but it was refreshing to see something different for a change.
John Carpenter, the master of horror, delivers a refreshing and interesting take on vampires with the aptly named Vampires. It also dawns another strong lead character in a Carpenter film in the form of Jack Crow and contains some of the most witty and enjoyable dialogue of any horror film from the late '90s. The storyline is also magnificently peculiar, which is a definite plus in my book.
Horrific Action and Drama. Great Vampire Movie! ^ John Carpenter's 1998 film `Vampires' in the Superbit collection starring James Woods and Daniel Baldwin is a great horror movie. This film being made in 1998 gives us a horror movie that uses the latest filming technology.
A good solid storyline that is easy to follow makes this a excellent movie to buy or rent. This `R' rated film runs 108 minutes long and is full of horrific drama.
James Woods and Daniel Baldwin work very well together in this exciting movie that has not one, ... not two,... but numerous vampires that need to be destroyed before its to late.
I have this DVD in my personal movie collection. It's a keeper.
If you like vampire movies and haven't yet seen this one, ... make it a point to see this movie.
Reporter Joseph Toth Washington Micro Bank BBS
it sucks ^ if it wasn't for the fact that the "vampire master" is hot and had the scene of him biting the hot chicks inner thigh, the movie would suck completely. it's garbage. i hate the rest of the retarded characters. hillbillies
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