The Little Vampire (2000)

A lonely American boy living in Scotland makes a new best friend, a fellow nine year-old who happens to be a vampire.

Director:

Uli Edel

Writers:

Angela Sommer-Bodenburg (novel), Karey Kirkpatrick (screenplay)

Stars:

Jonathan Lipnicki, Rollo Weeks, Richard E. Grant

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jonathan Lipnicki	...	Tony Thompson
Richard E. Grant	...	Frederick Sackville-Bagg
Jim Carter	...	Rookery
Alice Krige	...	Freda Sackville-Bagg
Pamela Gidley	...	Dottie Thompson
Tommy Hinkley	...	Bob Thompson
Anna Popplewell	...	Anna Sackville-Bagg
Dean Cook	...	Gregory Sackville-Bagg
Rollo Weeks	...	Rudolph Sackville-Bagg
John Wood	...	Lord McAshton
Ed Stoppard	...	Von Sackville-Bagg
Jake D'Arcy	...	Farmer McClaughlin
Iain De Caestecker	...	Nigel
Scott Fletcher	...	Flint
Johnny Meres	...	Teacher

Storyline

Based on the popular books, the story tells of Tony who wants a friend to add some adventure to his life. What he gets is Rudolph, a vampire kid with a good appetite. The two end up inseparable, but their fun is cut short when all the hopes of the vampire race could be gone forever in single night. With Tony's access to the daytime world, he helps them to find what they've always wanted.

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Plot Keywords:

vampire | bully comeuppance | boy wearing glasses | bully | flying | 

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Taglines:

They're not just best friends. They're blood brothers.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild peril

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Film (France) New Line Cinema

Country:

Germany Netherlands USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 October 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Little Vampire

Filming Locations:

Culross, Fife, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,719,627, 29 October 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$13,555,988, 3 December 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avrora Media, Comet Film Produktion GmbH, Cometstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film in which Jonathan Lipnicki received first billing.

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Goofs

When Tony puts Rudolph into the chest at the end of his bed, he climbs into bed with his red T-Shirt on. In the next shot, his red T-Shirt is neatly folded up, and is sitting on the chest, and Tony has now got a pajama top on.

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Quotes

Tony: And don't worry, I'm on it!
Freda Sackville-Bagg: On what dear?

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Connections

Spoofs Apocalypse Now (1979)

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Soundtracks

You Can Get It
Written by Herschel Small and Desmond Child
Performed by Baha Men
Published by DESMUNDO MUSIC, DESTON SONGS and RIDDUM MUSIC

User Reviews

A throwback to quality fantasy films of the 80's.

Back in the 80's, making Childrens Films was eaiser. There was no need for hypnotic techno background beats. Directors didn't include glitzy light shows whenever good and evil fought, Pokemon-style. Some of the best fantasy films come from the 80s and featured bad acting, horrible continuity, and rather icky special effects and cinamatography as a whole.



"The Little Vampire" which stars mostly Jonathan Lipnicki, but also his little fanged friend Rollo Weeks, looks 10-20 years old but it actually a new release by New Line Cinema. And while for many this sounds like the ultimate rip of the dark children's fantasy based on some pretty famous books (at least in Europe), in actuality I think it's this that gives the film class.

I cringe every time Jonathan's character says "dude" and cringe harder when Rollo lays out the vampric lore dribble on why they don't bite humans. (They dine on cows.) But it becomes harder and harder to dislike someone so charming as either boy as the chase for the medallion continues.



The medallion is most of the time gaurded by Rookery who may be one of the most complete characters in the film. From the moment one sees his vampire hunting contraption looking like something from either "Mad Max" or "Tremors," those who are not children in the audience know this isn't going to be your typical kid's flick. The dark, creepyness continues throughout it's length, and someone in Oscar town might want to think on giving some nods for costume and art direction. Nothing beats the expressions on Rollo Weeks' face when he takes Lipnicki for their flights.

Alas, the film lags and is generally one big chase. The vampires want the amulet, the vampire hunter wants the vampires, and Jonathan's parents just want thier son to be normal. A tricky thing a dark movie appropriate for children is. If they had added more action, it wouldn't have worked. And in my opinion, even with the scares present, it probably only worked half way.



But the attempt looks sooo good.

The Little Vampire: B