John Carpenters Vampires
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Maximilian Schell, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee,
Thomas Ian Griffith, Tim Guinee,
James Woods
My Review and Thoughts:
Film: 4/5
I probably have seen this well over 50 times. It’s one of
those movies I tend to return to over and over again, or at least watch every
time it’s on TV. I was super excited to read that Twilight Time was going to be
doing a special edition 5,000 Unit Blu-ray of this film.
I first saw this alongside my Grandmother on one of our Friday Night visits to the Theater in Ludington Michigan back in 1998, which seems so long ago. I have always been a Carpenter fan. Carpenter needs no
introduction into the movie world. He is a master Horror director. A master director period, delving deep into the recesses of nightmares. His talent shines, and his unique gifted imagination, and
imagery through film, is something that makes you follow along. His mastery in
music, and storytelling is a dynamic reality that he owns, and operates with an
expertise that few directors can ever grasp. His cultish fans, (I included)
well love this Twilight Time Blu-ray.
Vampires is a unique blend of horror. It has Carpenters, trademarks, and also the touch of a Drive-in style, late night film. It’s a film
of bloody gore, and over the top wonderment of old school horror, mixed with a
dirty gritty style of classic Carpenter. The violence, sexual imagery, and humor
all come together to create one of Carpenters gems.
Twilight Time has busted there butt’s yet again in creating
a top quality product that has to be seen to be appreciated. This having only a
5,000 Unit production is easily going to vanish. Twilight Time did a truly
fantastic job bringing this late 90’s classic to Blu-ray. The film has never
looked any better. It’s a true beauty. The imagery and sound quality is
magical. This is a truly impressive blu-ray. Seeing this film on Blu-ray is
almost like seeing it in a whole new light. I can’t speak enough about this Special Edition.
So the plot and story line is, Jack Crow is a vampire hunter
who the Catholic Church uses to slay the creatures of the night. The Catholic Church
has been doing this for countless years. Crow has a team of vampire slayers.
Soon Crow is given a priest sidekick that must follow along. Father Adam
Guiteau joins, and soon realizes the horror he is now involved in. Crow and his
team seek out a relic, a relic that will allow the creatures to walk in the day
light. Crow and the team must fight a horde of bloodsuckers, and seek out the main
leader before the find the relic.
This has a wonderful cast. The main starring role is played
by James Wood. His character of Jack Crow is a very memorable performance for
its outrageous, and ludicrous reality. Over the top, and yet corny all rolled
into one. Wood always adds an extra flare to his performances. The beautiful
and amazing Sheryl Lee, who I will always remember as Laura Palmer in one the
greatest television series ever, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. Lee plays the
character of Katrina in Vampires. She has been bitten by the head blood sucker
and taken into the team, because those turning have a connection with the leader.
Also starring the wonderful Tim Guinee, playing Father Adam
Guiteau. Tim is an amazing actor, and someone who I feel never gets the lime
light he deserves. He has been acting since 1986. He is a solid performer in any
part, and the part of Father Adam is no different. He is always a treat to see.
Starring as your main bad guy is the wonderful Thomas Ian Griffith. He owns the
part of Jan Valek. He brings a ghoulish reality to the creature of the night.
Griffith is another one of those underrated actors that always gives his all, too
every role. The wonderful, amazing icon of cinema Maximilian Schell plays a
small part in Vampires. Schell needs no introduction. He was one of the
greatest actors in cinema history. He was an Oscar winning actor, and 2 time
Golden Globe winner that shined throughout his many years. Sadly he is no longer
with us, but he left a vast array both large and small in the cinema world. Also
starring a wonderful, vast array of actors and actresses, Adam Baldwin, Mark
Boone Junior, Gregory Sierra, Cary-Hiroyki Tagawa, Thomas Rosales Jr. and many
others. Each one brings a great array of performances.
Now the movie is very loosely based on the book Vampire$ by
author John Steakley. Screenplay writer Don Jakoby adapted it for the screen.
Something interesting to note is John Carpenter considers this a Western Vampire
Film. It’s a Western with blood, gore and vampires, need I say more, and that
is way it’s a must see, must own, must experience movie.
Audio/Video: 5/5
Something that Twilight Time always amazes me with is the
top quality there products are. There transfers are some of the best in the
business of Blu-ray releases. The audio is dynamic, and the imagery is
beautifully vibrant, crisp, and has a perfection that only Twilight Time gives.
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
Extras: 4/5
Isolated Score Track. As I have stated in many of my
Twilight Time reviews one of the special features I greatly look forward to is
the isolated score, which is a bonus on many of their releases. If there is one
Blu-ray that needed to have this special feature it is Vampires. John Carpenter
always surprises me with his many films. He adds his style, imagination and
most importantly his music. To me it wouldn’t be a Carpenter film without his
haunting, nightmarish, and simplistic tunes that leave a lasting mark. That is a
trademark with Carpenter. I automatically know it’s a Carpenter film when I
hear his tunes. Twilight Time did a wonderful job giving this special feature.
Audio Commentary with Writer-Director John Carpenter. It was
a great listen to hear the man himself. A guru of horror, and a film maker talk about his craft.
An absolutely wonderful commentary, I could listen to Carpenter all day long.
The Making of John Carpenter’s Vampires. Always good to see
the behind the shots of making a film.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
It’s a stunning example of creating a product with high
standard toward the art form of the film. I consider movies a way of life. I
consider movies an art form of imagination, and the exploration of life in
general, no matter the subject. When I see a company treat films the way they
should be treated, it makes me giddy, happy, and worthy to praise them for what
they do for film, and Twilight Time gives that reality of respecting film.
Twilight Time went above and beyond in capturing a new outlet
for this Drive-in classic of vampire gore. A brilliant special edition that is
worthy to be talked about and praised. Great product. Some awesome extras.
Truly a must own experience.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
Also head over and like Twilight Time on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/twilighttimemovies