Vampires Anonymous (2003)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Michael Keller

Writers:

Michael Keller (writer)
J.P. Srinivasan (writer)

Release Date:

28 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A vampire trying to get away from his "eating habits", joins a 12-step program. |

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Satire | Haunted House | Small Town | Vampire Slayer

Cast

Paul Popowich	...	Vic Weller
Michael Madsen	...	Geno
Judith Scott	...	Christine
Neil D'Monte	...	Juan Rodrigo
Carolyn Lawrence	...	Penelope
Brent Hinkley	...	Eric
Ping Wu	...	Andy
Michelle Stafford	...	Taffeta Munro
John Boyd West	...	Jimmy
Bo Keister	...	Strickler
Nicole Forester	...	Maggie Miller
Olivia Honeycutt	...	Ashley
David Lenthall	...	Jed Sanders
Shane Callahan	...	Tucker Sanders
Julie Ivey	...	Emily

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Burlington, North Carolina, USA

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: The boom mic is visible when Maggie and her dad are talking in the kitchen.

Quotes:

Geno: I was not aware that I was wearing my Mister-Know-It-All hat today. Why are you asking so many questions?

Refreshingly original take on the Vampire subgenre

After giving up his cravings and murdering his own girlfriend, Vic joins Vampires Anonymous to try and kick the habit. He relocates, goes through a 12-step program, and survives off sheep blood. Things get complicated when the locals complain about their dwindling sheep flocks. A would-be cop named Diesel starts investigating the strange occurrences, while a corporate vampire hunter closes in on Vic as well.

Generally, I do not like vampire films because they seem to copy one another and are rarely ever scary. And while this one wasn't scary by any means, it was at least interesting by putting a new spin on an old subgenre. This featured a clever script with many in-jokes. I particularly liked the parallels of Vic's hunger for blood and Diesel's need for alcohol. These urges hold back both characters in different ways. Whether either character can overcome their flaws affects the outcome of the film.

There is a lot of fun to be had here too. Michael Madsen plays Geno, Vic's program partner and confidante. Neil D'Monte plays Juan Rodrigo, a lovelorn vampire, doing a spot-on impression of Antonio Banderas. Small animals are "snack food" at the VA meetings, Vic reads "CosmoVamp" magazine, vampires get silicone poisoning after biting Swedish Bikini girls with breast implants, and while attempting to bleed a sheep, Vic is mistaken for a sheep f*cker by a redneck farmer.

The ending culminates into a cool showdown with Vic, his lady, and the vampire hunter running through a haunted house. It was pretty funny watching them push around the clueless people that mistook them for either employees using fake scare tactics or customers looking for some scares.

The sound and film quality were pretty good. They used several real animals like mice, birds, and sheep. The SFX were good when used. However, this was a comedy, so there was minimal gore. The vampire teeth looked realistic as opposed to the plastic ones I have seen used in other films.

Favorite Quote: Vic to Maggie, "It's because I'm a vampire, isn't it? Are you afraid they won't let you in the sorority? Afraid they'll whisper, There goes the vampire-f*cker?" DVD Extras: Sadly, there were none! Only Scene Selections all by it's lonesome. I suggest a Special Edition re-release featuring commentary and Behind the Scenes footage.

Bottom Line: Refreshingly original take on the Vampire subgenre. Huge on laughs, but lacking in scares.

Rating: 7/10 Molly Celaschi www.HorrorYearbook.com