Vampires (UK)

6 / 10
5 votes cast
Rate this item

From the master of terror comes a new breed of evil
Certificate: 18
Running Time: 103 mins
Retail Price: £19.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie

Synopsis:
The blood confrontation of the ages is about to begin.

In the blood-chilling tradition of `Halloween` and `Village Of The Damned` comes John Carpenter`s unique vision of the ultimate killing machines, `Vampires`. "Forget everything you`ve heard about vampires," warns Jack Crow (James Woods), the leader of Team Crow, a relentless group of mercenary vampire slayers.

When Master vampire Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith) decimates Jack`s entire team, Crow and the sole team survivor, Montoya (Daniel Baldwin), set out in pursuit. Breaking all the rules, Crow and Montoya take one of Valek`s victims hostage. The beautiful prostitute (Sheryl Lee) is their sole psychic link to Valek, and through her senses they will track down the leader of the undead.

As Valek nears the climax of his 600-year search for the Berziers Cross, Jack and the new Team Crow do everything humanly possible to prevent him from possessing the only thing that can grant him and all the vampires the omnipotent power to walk in the daylight.

Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Filmographies
Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
Director`s Commentary
Theatrical Trailer

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Letterbox 2.35:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish

Subtitle Tracks:
Icelandic
Czech
Swedish
Finnish
English
Spanish
Dutch
Danish
Norwegian

Directed By:
John Carpenter

Written By:
Dan Mazur
John Steakley
Don Jakoby

Starring:
Thomas Ian Griffith
Daniel Baldwin
Maximilian Schell
Sheryl Lee
James Woods

Casting By:
Reuben Cannon
Eddie Dunlop

Soundtrack By:
John Carpenter

Director of Photography:
Gary B. Kibbe

Editor:
Edward A. Warschilka

Costume Designer:
Robin Michel Bush

Production Designer:
Thomas A. Walsh

Producer:
Don Jakoby
Sandy King

Executive Producer:
Barr B. Potter

Distributor:
Columbia Pictures

Your Opinions and Comments

6 / 10

This film starts great, but heads down hill to the end which isnt very original and the whole film seems over before you know it.

It is pretty stylish, but then most JC films are.

James Woods is excellent ( why he never did more action roles, I dont Know)

Pretty gory, but the sfx are not out of this world.

If you like Vampires buy it, if you like JC buy it,else forget about it.

posted by The Ironduke on 3/8/2000 07:37

3 / 10

this is easily carpenters worst film poor fx no scares tedious plotting slow paced.poor acting except from james woods.this is one of the poorest vampire movies ever.

posted by flair on 15/11/2000 18:42

8 / 10

What`s with all the bad reviews for Vampires?

Ok so the story is a lightweight vampire yarn, but considering the crap Carpenter`s been pumping out the last 15 years this is a major improvement, a terrific opening 30 mins, yes a saggy middle bit, but with a fine last half hour, this looks and sounds great on DVD, especially on a widescreen telly, with some informative extras on it too.

Carpenter`s most gruesome film to date, but his most entertaining for some considerable time.

posted by Mad Uncle Simes on 8/9/2001 23:42

8 / 10

for some time now John Carpenter has been making extremely crap and rubbish movies (Prince of Darkness! Escape from LA), but Vampires is a major improvement on the rubbish that Carpenter has been making. Though Vampires still isn`t that good...the plot is a little thin and after a strong opening it begins to go down hill. The acting is pretty poor and hammy (Apart from James Woods) and the special effects poor, it also extremely violent , probably Carpenter`s most goriest film to date. The picture is good and the Dolby Digital 5.1 brings the film to life through the surround sound speakers. The bonus material is pretty thin, a good commentary from Carpenter (As we have come to expect from him) and then the usual trailers and short making of featurettes.

posted by verhoeven on 2/6/2003 16:30

6 / 10

A fairly decent vampire hunter flick, though this comes no way near the quality of Buffy. Jack Crow (James Woods) leads a team of vampire hunters who, surprise surprise, hunt vampires. Financed by the vatican, they go around wiping out vampires. One day they kill a nest of vampires that belonged to a vampire master, this master gets p***ed off and wipes out nearly all of Jacks team. Jack believing it was a set up, goes to the church, who inform him of the masters plan to become immortal. Jack must quickly re assemble his team and stop the master.....
The transfer is very detailed and generally very clean and reasonably sharp. The special effects are ok but not brilliant. The sound is a decentish 5.1 that could have been a bit better in terms of the surround.
There are a few extras that include a short but decent behind the scenes look, a commentary and a trailer. Pretty thin set there.
Overall a watchable and enjoyable vampire movie, the movie has strengths and weaknesses that cancel each other out. The character of Jack Crow is very good, full of attitude, just like Carpenters other characters such as Jack Burton or Snake Plissken. I would like to see him in a prequel or a sequel.

posted by dicanio on 28/10/2003 01:26