Intermission

by Jim Wunderle

"John Carpenter's Vampires"

Directed by: John Carpenter

Starring: James Woods, Sheryl Lee, Daniel Baldwin

Rated: R

From "Nosferatu" in 1922 and "Dracula" in 1931 through recent releases like "Blade" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the vampire genre has been a mainstay of Hollywood culture.

There is obviously something deep within our genetic makeup that keeps the human race interested in the subject. Some fairly quick research led me to no less than 102 films concerning vampirism, ranging from the sublime Tod Browning's definitive "Dracula" to the utterly ridiculous the 1973 release "Scream, Blacula, Scream."

Not many years pass without a vampire film seeing the light of day, and I guess we all thought "Blade" would be 1998's entry. Happily at least for those of us who like the bloodsucking/undead we're treated to yet one more vampire film this year, and one directed by one of the undisputed masters of (sometimes "B" movie quality, I'll admit) horror: John Carpenter.

Carpenter's first film, a short he did while a student titled "The Return of Broncho Billy," won him an Oscar, but he's quick to point out that this did nothing for his career. In 1974 he got his first break in Hollywood and directed a sci-fi film titled "Dark Star," followed by "Assault on Precinct 13," which got great reviews, and then the director's breakthrough film, "Halloween."

With that piece, Carpenter not only established himself as an auteur (how many other directors do you know of who get their names mentioned before the title?) but invented an entire genre of film, the teen slasher movie. Countless imitators such as the "Friday the 13th" series followed, but the original "Halloween" is still the high water mark for this kind of movie.

Since then, Carpenter has had an interesting career. He seems to be a director that demands total control of his projects, something that's not an easy thing to attain in the movie business. He's given us some good ("The Thing") some bad ("Big Trouble in Little China") and some decidedly bizarre ("They Live") movies but has always proven to be a director we could count on for having his own particular style. It was this Carpenter style that won me over to "Vampires," a movie that I just couldn't help but enjoy. If anyone else had directed it, I might be tempted to point out that at times it is preposterous, somewhat overly violent and chock-full of cornball dialogue. "How do you like your stake ... ?", as uttered by Daniel Baldwin while impaling a vampire is pretty funny, though, and I can't believe it hasn't turned up in a vampire film before.

James Woods stars as Jack Crow, the leader of a ragtag band of vampire slayers who are being paid by the Catholic Church no less to hunt down and kill nests of vampires that are thriving in the desert southwest, U.S.A. After one seemingly successful mission, it becomes apparent that something has gone terribly wrong.

The master vampire of a particular nest goes undetected and later shows up at Jack and crew's victory celebration. Not only is he the baddest, most powerful bloodsucker that these guys have ever seen (he wipes out most of Jack's team) but he also knows Jack's name, leading the fearless vampire slayer to wonder if he somehow has been set up.

With his one remaining sidekick, a young Catholic priest, and a sexy hooker, who has been bitten by the master, in tow, Jack begins a search for this obviously powerful lord of darkness.

What ensues are some very graphic, gory, gooey and gruesome scenes. Carpenter seems to relish presenting special effects-driven sequences wherein vampires get stakes driven through their hearts or skulls, get shot by crossbows and dragged into the sunlight where they combust, or just simply get decapitated.

As mentioned above, I won't defend this film or really sing its praises, but Carpenter fans will probably enjoy the director's patented take on horror. I was somewhat amazed that a few people in the audience brought small children with them. "Vampires" is far too gruesome for the younger set but will surely find teens among its core audience.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)

[[In-content Ad]]