An American Vampire Story (1997)

So much average

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Blistering performances.

I come down on the side of this movie is a fun time-waster, but maybe my age is showing in that I noticed in three pages of comments about this film (apparently the Carmen Electra cover had a lot to do with that) No One has mentioned the ton of references to the old William Asher/AIP Beach Movies -- starting with Frankie & Dee - The Vampire "Moondoggie" AKA "Count Eric Von Zipper" (that was MY biggest laff watching this) - The Big Kahuna actually hearkens back to Gidget.Carmen does show skin but not as much as any male viewer would like. Daisy Torme looks great in a bikini so why are most of her jobs voice work? No justice in my world.

OK, I watched this movie the other night, it was purchased by the GF on a lark, and it's hilarious, in a kitsch-ie sort of way. I can't believe it was made in 1997. From the look of the "Special" effects and hair and wardrobe, it should have been a 1986 vampire flick. A very bad 1986 vampire flick. Would I recommend it? If you are in the mood for some hilarious, misguided silliness, then yes. I'd be more than a little disgruntled with any friend who recommended it on it's merits, but if it were loaned to me as an "Oh my god, this is the cheesiest flick I've seen in years" style rec, then I'd let them live. I gave it three out of ten only because they may have been going for cheese.

I vaguely recall that in my life I have left 2 movies unfinished. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and American Vampire. FAL was due to falling asleep while it played, over actual dislike, but AV is...how shall I put this...akin to attempting to explain nihilism to someone on Zoloft. You really want to keep going, but in reality you realize how futile it really is. I'm not saying that this film is entirely unwatchable, just difficult to sit through. In all honesty, I went into this film expecting a campy vamp flick with Adam West chewing the scenery with visible gusto, and Carmen Electra being, well, slutty. The Carmen one went off without a hitch, but the other two were a bit of a disappointment. Adam West seemed to be sleepwalking through his part, with the only thing keeping him saying his lines being a paycheck. As for the campy vamp flick, well, low budget is one thing, but this is the kind of flick that should be on Something Awful's Movie Reviews.On a positive note, aside from Superfriends, I suspect that this film can provide the most inebriating drinking game available: Every time you see a boom mike, take a drink.

This movie was horrible, a definite 2. The movie had almost no redeeming value whatsoever, and I mean none. Obviously I did not rent this thing expecting to see academy award winning performances so that's one. I am also a fan of occult type movies as well as many others, and in particular vampires, that's two. And three it was no coincidence that Carmen Electra was on the cover and I rented it, that's three. I say these to let you know that I have good taste but I rented the movie for some campy fun, I was slumming as far as movie rentals go. This is important to know because when I say this movie was bad I am considering it from all angles. It was worthless in any respect; it was just cheap and ridiculous. It failed to be comedic, dramatic, scary, or even fun in that B movie sense. And let me add this for the fellas, NO NUDITY! Believe me Carmen Electra on the cover is a clever marketing ploy, she's barely in it, and I don't mean barely as in naked, let me assure you. The movie is a constant let down with terrible characters, no plot development, and horrible punch lines. The plot suddenly by about half way through became a comedy and this didn't work either. This movie was the worst I've seen in a long time and believe me that's bad. The only thing that saved this movie from a 1 was the fact that by switching suddenly to an attempt at comedy, the director at least showed that, while his attempt was sad, he had a conscious. He realized he was making something so horrible that the least he could do for the viewer was to try and make it laughable (though he failed).