In honor of its 20th anniversary, here's my review and retrospective of John Carpenter's only successful film from the 1990's: 'Vampires', starring James F**king Woods. Want more stuff? Go here: ru-vid.com_widget?p...
What I really love about this film is that Jack Crow is basically the John McClane of Vampire Hunters. He is just a regular guy, unlike Blade or V, and that vulnerability is ever-present in his efforts; you always feel like he is up against something more powerful than himself. The fucking desperation and frustration come’s right out as he’s begging his monsters to die as he is giving his all trying to kill them, knowing that this is but one of many. And that is why, despite all its issues, I will always love this film.
He's actually very much like Blade, but just not the movie Blade. Your post could easily describe the original comic-book version of Blade and serve as an explanation of why I love that original version of Blade so much.
A award winning performance from Thomas Ian Griffith as Valek. He is tall, domineering and powerful in his actions as the leader of the vampires. Not to mention a guy who loves what he does.
This was one of my first R-rated movie experiences as a child (the earliest I can remember is 1999's Lake Placid). I recall first seeing it at my grandmother's house sometime after it premiered on TV, pretty sure I would've been younger than 10 at the time. Understandably, Gran didn't let me watch more than the first few minutes of it and turned it once the iconic hotel massacre began. I didn't understand much about the story or characters, but I DEFINITELLY remember how much that scene freaked me out. Thomas Ian Griffith's performance as this Terminator-like vampire was nightmare fuel, from slitting that first guy who opened the door up the middle to impaling that other guy, then ripping one girl's throat out with the claw that just punched through him, etc. That whole sequence was my introduction to just how gory horror could get, and it stuck with me for years. As an adult, however, I actually find the over-the-top violence kind of darkly humorous and can appreciate the effects from an artistic standpoint. Overall, I'd count this among my top 10 favorite vampire flicks without a doubt (my current favorite being 2007's 30 Days of Night). I enjoy the mercenary concept, the Western tone, James Woods as Jack Crow, and the story's creative take on vampire mythology.
Me and my gran watched a super fucking scary black and white werewolf film (Werewolf of London) when I was a wee nipper, something my mum would never had let me watch, and I had nightmares at the time....and still love horror to this day. Cheers Grunny
This movie was severely underrated and had the best ever vampire depiction, ever, in my opinion. Its a shame Carpenter didn't do a sequel. I for one reckon that a sequel should be made that shows an alternate timeline of what follows if the ritual, near the end, had succeeded; now that would be awesome.
That was an excellent review. No unnecessary humor, you don't try to be a smartass, the editing is perfect, and you go straight to the point, not trying to drag things out or oversell your knowledge of popular culture. Really neat.
50 million dollars... I had no clue they had given him such a huge budget for that film. The special effects are so god awful you would think they gave him 3,000 for the whole thing. I still love John Carpenter though.
I agree. I think that enormous budgets stifles creativity. You’ll find, if most of the movies that we all love had of had bigger budgets, would’ve been completely ruined
Khalid 9, .. Vampire movies work best when the vampire(s) symbolize a high- functioning predatory societal faction/group ..often some predatory/ subversive "elite". #JohnCarpenter does this well in other movies. Any implied critique of RomanCatholicism here ? ... or some faction within it ?✌
Huge Carpenter fan and Vampires has grown on me over the years. Great review. Met Carpenter in Atlanta at DragonCon when he was promoting the film and he was as cool as you would hope for. A true sequel would be welcomed.
I watched this movie when I was in kindergarten and I've loved it ever since. I have to rewatch it at least once every 2 months. I have never met anyone who has seen it though
Great video! I bought a Vampires dvd from Goodwill a few years ago and I finally got around to watching it. I really enjoyed the B movie camp of it all and the western atmosphere.
Saw it with my wife at the theatre when it was released (in Germany), we both liked it. Before its release there were lots of rumours around the net, that it was so gory, in no way it would pass the German rating board without cuts. It actually did pass uncut in the end, of course with an adults only rating, did very well with audiences (not with the critics for sure) and was more successfull than Blade. Never watched any of the sequels and don't think I would want Woods and Carpenter team-up for an "actual" sequel, Escape from L.A. was too much of a disappointment.
You should do one on, John Carpenter's "The Ward" . It's one of his more recent movies that most are not aware of. It's pretty good, if not "The Ward" then "Night of the Creeps"
I remember watching this movie at my grandma's house probably 1999. And I really enjoyed it. And I probably didn't see it again for another 15 to 20 years. I do recall watching it again recently. I may have seen it Two or three times that first year but it was definitely quite a while before I saw it again after that and it's not a great film but I really enjoyed it even when I re-watched it. Deepest bluest my hat is like a sharks fin
I saw Vampires the day before it was released in theaters because my friend worked there and part of the job was screening the prints after they were put together So it was cool to watch it with just a few friends and the whole place to ourselves. Oddly I had the same experience with Escape from LA on opening day as only my friends and I were pretty much the only ones who went to see it. Both movies are a guilty pleasure, but that surfing scene always makes me cringe. Fun tidbit about Vampires, I own a 35 MM of the trailer and the original movie poster. .
I remember hearing that musical score when james woods had to cut off the heads of his team, the whole theatre was shaking and that guitar sound was awesome
John Carpenter fan. Check. Big fan of Vampires in movies and fiction. Check. Big fan of James Woods. Check. This remains one of my favourite Vampire movies as it moved away from the obvious stereotypes and with its modern day western approach always stood out from its contempories. It's a shame it didn't get a direct sequel with John again directing James, but this remains one of my favourite JC movies.
I like vampires by John Carpenter and the technically sequel that star Jon Bon Jovi. I think they both look great still good and I would watch him again
@@thrashpuppy2010 The sequel is a lot of fun one of my favorite filmmakers Tommy Lee Wallace made that film I love Halloween 3, Vampires Los Muertos, Fright Night Part 2, and It (1990).
Very nice. I think I would go for a sequel if they did one with James Woods if it was done right. But it works well as a stand alone film. The sequels that were stright to video were not that great. I remember there were 2 sequels.
Thomas Ian Griffith as Valek is scary and sexy at the same time. I like the soundtrack of this movie so much. And Thomas Ian Griffith, obviously. I love him! 😍
Why do you guys underestimate so much Escape from LA? It’s a hell of a film! How many directors would have the courage and genius to spoof their own creation in such an sensible way?
Thanks for such a magisterial view..I watched this movie shortly after my 9th or 10th birthday at a theatre that no longer exist.. It instantly became my favorite horror film (top 5 films as well) of all time and still maintains that position till today. In fact, the following Halloween would be the last time that I dressed up- choosing to be Velic... It's such a shame that the 2nd and 3d films are trash, thus, to answer your question.... I go to the theatre between 0-1 time every year, but I would definitely go watch this.
Good review, but there is a somekind of a part 2. "John Carpenter presents: Vampires: Los Muertos" it´s from 2002. Starring Jon Bon Jovi, Cristián de la Fuente and Natasha Gregson Wagner.
I haven’t seen it since the initial home video release back when I worked at Blockbuster Video. I’m certainly going to watch it again and I definitely have to get that Blu-ray. Sheryl Lee is a goddess. As far as a Carpenter and Woods team up, I’d be glad to see that but there are very few Vampire movies I actually like so I hope it would be a new subject. I’m just not keen on that genre. I loved the originality of this one though. Despite that, I personally think it’s a one-off. I’m not a fan of directors beating a subject to death with sequels. I’ve read that Carpenter isn’t either. Great video as always Layton! *****Oh, and you’re edits are fine man! I like your format. Its very obvious you put a lot of yourself into these reviews. It’s why I subscribe. Keep doing what you do, the original way that you do it. I put you up there with Oliver Harper. You’re my favorite review channel of course. Cheers!
I've always been a huge fan of this movie but I've recently started reading the book as well. It's pretty fun. Kind of has that same pulpy '90s vibe as the Jack Reacher novels. Worth a read.
This is another great film by John Carpenter. Maybe not on the lines of Halloween 🎃 but definitely a great film. I am a die hard John Carpenter fan, more over than I think Stephen King. Though King is notebly better writing books than film's, so you can see the obvious difference. Overall I love this movie, I got the chance to see it in theaters because I worked in a movie theater when it was released.
I don't think you gave enough props to Thomas Ian Griffith, whom I' found to be very charismatic and oddly attractive as Valek. I would have loved to see more of his backstory, actually.
Valek is nightmare fuel! 😳 I wonder who would win in a fight between him and Marlow from 30 Days of Night? That would be one brutal brawl, but I think Valek would fuck him up! 😀
Yes, I love this film, I watched it at the cinemas back in the late 90s, and now I own it on blue - ray, underrated horror action film, James woods is awesome in this, and there is a genuine creepy and scary vibe to the main Vampire antagonist. 7.8/10 definitely worth watching, if not owning.
Watched for the first time last night. I thought the vampires were underwhelming and some of their movements and the edits were just too tacky and TV movie-ish, but that the film also had a cool road story atmosphere. I liked it enough. Glad I watched it. Wouldn't recommend to anyone not willing to look past the cheese.
I first saw this movie when I bought it on Pay per View in 1999. My friends all got together. we got drunk, we got high and we watched a kick ass vampire movie that we quoted for the next 2 years.
I remember seeing this as a kid and being disappointed then, I also always mixed it up with the equally disappointing Dracula 2000. That being said, I can't help but love it's corny low budget vibe and I've found myself rewatching it multiple times for cheap fun. Like you say, it gives what you expect from John Carpenter directing James Woods killing vampires. Also, I for some reason love the equally bad Ghosts of Mars so maybe my opinion isn't the most qualified. Great review, thanks for the video!
I am a Huge fan of James Woods and I love this film. I have Both versions of it (the original dvd and the remaster on Itunes) That being said, it needs a reboot that sticks closer to the book. SOOOO many things are better in the book, not the least of which is the character of Felix, the drug dealer Gunman who is an old friend of Jacks and the only match for the Vampires super speed by hitting them with Silver bullets which slow them down long enough for crow to harpoon them. That character missing from the movie is a blinding issue i have with it. Not to mention the "western/horror" Genre bender without a Gunman doesnt play. A reboot would be amazballs!!!
I didn't like the way the book went by introducing main characters much too late and then offing people who you thought were the main one later on. John Carpenter's version did well to cure out those "bumps" and made the western theme prominent. The movie glossed over the family aspect and just flew with the book's masculinity only which was a plus. If a reboot is to happen, they have to have carpenter. I can't really see it done properly with another director. God forbid we get a remake like the Total Recall one.
I saw it in a theater when it came out. I liked it overall, despite the few dings in the chrome. As for Escape from LA, I saw that in a theater when it was new, and people hated it. We were shouting and jeering like it was Rocky Horror. It was actually pretty fun. The film broke during the basketball scene, and everyone cheered. When they flew those hand gliders, we made the Ewok war cry: "Ah-EEE-yahhh!"
Carpenter rarely fulfills full potential in his productions. Be it film stock or production values, there is almost always something that makes me question his opportunity within the film industry. No doubt there are a few good movies within his filmography, but there are some that are merely good ideas that ultimately fail due to shortcomings of one reason or another. I kind of think his career was only because he could do things to a price, more often than not, on the cheap. Saying that he knows how to exhaust every bit from his budgets. If there is one major success in his career, it is that he was able to always get name recognition by insisting his name be in the title, a genius level demand. Reality that Vampires was his only success in the 90s suggest a massive flaw in his ability to helm solid bankable productions. His catalogue is a roller coaster to say the least and his ability to generate cult classics is arguably one of the best in the business. The real question is whether he was ahead of the trends in cinema audience or his niche was more appealing to the home video generation of film fans. In any case, this film is forgettable within the catalogue, albeit another effects heavy masterclass. Great review and awesome channel, love the content. 👍🏼
I like Escape From LA. Also liked the Vampires movie more than the novel. I'll also admit Vampires: Los Muertos is a guilty pleasure of mine. Have you reviewed my other favorite vampire movie From Dusk Till Dawn? Great video Layton!
Escape from L.A. is a perfect film. Period. Badass protagonist, Steve Buscemi, and love for the action films of old without a wink and a nod unlike every other action parody action film.
The only movie I've seen,that a master,would create many more masters. I don't think I seen any other vamp films that would do this. Valek..was great. Big,powerful,dark,long ass fangs..as he should be. I like how he was calm,yet if pissed off,would turn into an animal, And less like a hissing snake. Mr.woods, oh man.. That man scares even me! He has a big tough guy attitude..great for a hunter! They did make a 2nd to this movie, But with all different actors. It,was ok.. As the female master was great! But,everyone else sucked. I seen this movie..late at night.. When I was young when it hit to The tv. I was not allowed to watch Stuff like that but I did. Lol I must say, I've always had this secret crush on, Valek.
Will never happen, but I would love to see an alternate-reality/crossover movie where John Carpenter's vampire-hunting gang square off against Kathryn Bigelow's gang of vampires from Near Dark. Lance Henriksen's Jesse Hooker would be the perfect adversary for James Wood's Jack Crow. John Carpenter could even combine his synthesizer skills and talents with that of the surviving members of Tangerine Dream (call them JC/TD) to produce the ultimate 80's-sounding techno-western score.
TBH, the issue I had with their relationship is that they...had one. I mean, yes, he's hitting a woman, but she's a vampire (or almost one) and as such, her only usefulness to him is to guide them to Valek. They are gonna kill her anyway, and he doesn't look at her as a person any longer. So I was fine with him treating her poorly, in the situation. The problem I had was they go from him calling her bitch and smacking her to him calling her honey and wanting to run away with her to start a lovey vampire couple. There was no explanation of this sudden shift. Yea, he was bitten and knew he was gonna turn, but that doesn't explain why he now wants to run off with her and be her boyfriend.
@@rebeccawilliamson1978 I agree. The film almost has no middle act, which I believe was down to the budget being slashed before shooting. I can only assume more scenes of their relationship growing were amongst those axed. You kind of have to fill in yourself that they've become codependent by going through their change together. He'd never cared about those bitten until he was himself, and grows empathy for her. Again, those are blanks I've filled in myself.
I would love a John Carpenter's adaptation of "Armor". He did the adapt of Vampires really well and made it extremely powerful with such a lower budget. Honestly it was the Big Trouble in Little China of the 90s to me. He really knows how to create atmosphere in this film. The movie really passed the feel of lawmen on the run from bushwackers in the old west. I wish more movies were this creative and inventive. Too many damn assembly line pg-13 marvel flicks now at days or lame disgusting r-rated saw films.
I am a vampire fan since I was a little kid, back in Spain. I remember watching this film at the theatre and I didn’t like it very much. I felt it cheapened vampires and made them, for me, an American over the top joke out of them. I found Woods’ completely unbelievable and the story flat and charmless. I would have preferred Russel as the vampire Hunter, he’d have made more sense to me. If you want to see a bunch of murderous vampires I suggest you watch Near Dark, this film treats vampires with respect and it doesn’t insult your intelligence. Carpenter is a master but he failed to understand vampire cinema.
