6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
Bitter, tough-as-nails vampire hunter Jack Crow leads a specialized team, funded by no less than the Vatican, that is dedicated to destroying the race of vampires that inhabit the earth. The team is successful, and becomes lazy in its success, eventually falling victim to an elaborate ambush set up by a powerful master vampire. Crow and two others of his team are the only survivors, and are determined to get revenge for the massacre. Based on the book by John Steakley.
Starring: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximilian SchellHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 13% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Music: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The redoubtable Joni Mitchell once said in a lyric of hers:
Laughing and crying,The same might be said for laughing and shrieking in horror, for the emotions of humor and fear are weirdly similar, with a propensity in many toward an almost physical reaction at times, and in fact those who go to horror films during their theatrical exhibitions will probably concur that on occasion at least gasps of shock are often followed by titters of laughter. That may be one reason why so many horror filmmakers have also tended to infuse their offerings with a dose of comedy. There’s a potent if goofy subtext of comedy running rampant throughout John Carpenter’s Vampires, though the film is so hyperbolic at times that the humor may in fact escape the view of even the most alert viewer. But the pure silliness of seeing someone of James Woods’ intensity delivering an “energetic” performance as an obsessive vampire slayer may deliver at least some subliminal smiles. Carpenter seems to be an acquired taste, even for some diehard horror and science fiction fans, and that may well be because the noted writer-producer-director (and composer) doesn’t always seem to want to “play by the rules”, as evidenced in fact by the kind of weird mash up of horror and western tropes that inform much of this particular film.
You know it’s the same release.
John Carpenter's Vampires is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.40:1. From the first moment the iconic Columbia Pictures logo appears on screen, it's obvious that the typical care that this studio affords its releases, whether high profile or not, has once again been lavished on the film. Fine grain resolves beautifully and gives the film appropriate depth and texture. The palette is also wonderfully resolved, with the aforementioned filters utilized by DP Kibbe providing some really deeply burnished hues at times. Fine detail is exceptional in close-ups, where everything from the crags in Woods' face to the powder white makeup slapped on Griffith's visage are offered with precision and excellent clarity. About the only niggling concern some videophiles may experience here is some passing crush, an anomaly that can be attributed at least in part to the really deep and convincing black levels that are on display throughout the presentation.
John Carpenter's Vampires features extremely energetic sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 mixes. The surround mix is decidedly more aggressive in providing low end, something that ups the angst level in the patently goofy showdown sequences between humans and vampires. Immersion is also excellent in these moments, with a number of well done sound effects placed in discrete channels and creating a sometimes cacophonous ambience. Carpenter's rather nicely done score resides quite comfortably in the side and rear channels with great regularity. Dialogue is also rendered cleanly and clearly and is well prioritized.
John Carpenter's Vampires is stylish and often a lot of fun, but it's also curiously undercooked, trading on that style to try to divert from the fact that there's not a whale of a lot of substance here. Woods is very enjoyable in a somewhat unusual role for the actor, and the blending of western and horror tropes recalls some certain similarities to other films like From Dusk Till Dawn. Technical merits are excellent, and John Carpenter's Vampires comes Recommended.
Collector's Edition
1995
1987
2012
Collector's Edition
1966
1993
The Presence / The Haunted
1989
2015
Wes Craven Presents - Dracula II: Ascension
2003
Collector's Edition
1988
1988
Collector's Edition
1989
Collector's Edition
2001
Collector's Edition
1992
Collector's Edition
2003
Collector's Edition
1982
1978
Standard Edition
1989
2005
Collector's Edition
1986
2013