GREATEST VAMPIRE MOVIE EVER?

[neonnoodle]

The idea of "The Fearless Vampire Killers" is that it's a film trying to be as "wrong" as possible.  Everything you expect will happen (or should happen) happens wrong, or backwards.  This continues until the conclusion, and never lets up.  It's not merely trying to be a comedy, it's trying to be the antithesis of what it's spoofing.  In fact, it's designed to confound and and frustrate a certain percentage of the audience.  Very strange movie!

[Monster Bob]

Neon-

Thanks for bringing up FEARLESS VAMPIRE...as a kid, I saw this film on its original release at a historic "grand" theater, and it left an indelibe impression. Being a kid, the Sharon Tate/bubble bath/snow/blood scene blew my mind BIGTIME (I was 6 or 7). Very frightening cinema for me, and Tate's untimely death and its surrounding circumstances made this film all the more surreal seeming.

  Oddly, as time has passed, FVK has become one of those Beloved Holiday Films for me...my  IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE in many ways. I just find the scenery, costumes, sets, snow, sleighs...very comforting at this time of year.

FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS...Yea! 

[michblk]

I'd have to vote for Lugosi's Dracula.  He is the ICON of what vampires are!

Also, not the greatest, but for fun vampire movies I enjoyed Fright Night and The Lost Boys.

BK

[neonnoodle]

Yeah, Monster Bob, I know what you mean.  There is a REALLY STRANGE relaxing quality to FVK, in certain ways.  I like the sets in the beginning, the inn, the snow, the matte paintings, the real castle location.  There's just this sort of expensive, cozy feeling to the film.

[Gary D Macabre]

I also can't stand Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Not a big fan of this version either. 

The Spanish version of the original is a superior film to the Lugosi version but Lugosi makes a better Drac than Villarias.

I have to disagree.    Although there are some choices in direction that are really quite good, and are unique to the spanish version, I don't think it's really superior in any way.  Almost every performance in the Browning version is superior.  I would appreciate it if someone for once would really explain why they think the Spanish version is better.

For modern Vampire movies, although Blade is entertaining, it doesn't hold a candle to Nightwatch IMO.

[NekroDave]

"Blood And Donuts" >>>>>>>>all other vampire films..

I also like "Lips Of Blood" though.

[Monster Bob]

What is 'better' about the Spainish version of DRACULA (when compared to the English version) is the utilization of the sets and camerawork- that is, the cinematography. In the Lugosi version, the fabulous sets seem wasted; that, and the film itself is too 'stagey' or play-like.

[neonnoodle]

Yes, the camera is used more.  There's more angles, more cuts, more little effects and gags.  Had only the Lugosi version been made this way...the Spanish language version's crew was working a lot harder.

[monsterphile]

I watched it and really hated it.  It is a lot of slapstick, but it just came across to me as poorly executed slapstick.  I know that a lot of people like the film, and I'm probably in the minority on this one, but I thought it was just plain horrible.

Put me down as another non-fan of Fearless Vampire Killers.  Just a SnoozeFest IMO.  Another one that people seem to like or love that I just don't get is Nosferatu.  Just looks cartoony top me.  Sorry.

Rob

[raycastile]

There's just this sort of expensive, cozy feeling to the film.

That about sums up my feelings toward FVK.  It's not really exciting, suspenseful, dramatic or funny.  It's just sort of comfortable.  A nice, fluffy pillow of a horror movie.

I like listening to the soundtrack during the winter, especially when it's snowing.

Once, I was driving at night in treacherous weather.  Snow was bellowing.  Streets were iced over.  Cars were sliding around.  My driver's side door lock was frozen.  I had to hold the door shut to keep it from flying open.  So there I was, my right hand on the wheel, left hand holding the door shut, snow wiping out visibility, trying not to skid off the road.  And on my CD player - the Fearless Vampire Killers.  When I hear the theme, I think of that night first, the movie second.

[Monster Bob]

OK, Sharon can stay with me.........................

[MDG]

Not strictly a vampire movie, but I love Daughters of Darkness, with the luminous Delphine Seyrig.

I think Lugosi gives the definitive vampire performance, but the middle of the movie really sags. I enjoy watching Son of... and Dracula's Daughter a lot more these days.

MDG

[The Phantom Creep]

Ok Monster Bob now THAT I understand!! 

I think that the Spanish Dracula is a much better production for the reasons stated above. It's just a better made film. I still love the American version. It's like how a lot of Bond fans say that if On Her Majesty's Secret Service had starred Sean Connery it would be the best Bond film hands down.

[neonnoodle]

Good comparison.  I liked On Her Majesty's Secret Service also, and I even liked George Lazenby in it, but it would have been even better with Connery.

[Toy Ranch]

This isn't a commentary or a judgement of anyone's appreciation for FVK....  but I personally have a problem with any work of Roman Polanski.  Not because he isn't a fine director...  certainly he is...  but that he is a convicted child predator who fled the country to avoid prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13 year old.  I won't watch, buy, or have anything to do with anything he has done.