Neal Scroggs
One reviewer had this to say as a critique of alleged plot holes in "Curse of the Undead": "...I have never heard of this premise for a person becoming one of the undead. Also, the vampire of this movie can walk around in the daylight with seemingly no ill effects, and everyone knows that vampires absolutely cannot be exposed to sunlight, or they will be destroyed."Actually suicide is the most important cause of vampirism according to the primary folklore sources used by 19th century writers such as John Polidori, Sheridan Le Fanu, and Bram Stoker. The idea that a victim of a vampire inevitably rises as a vampire himself is not widely supported in folklore. Stoker played up this rather atypical aspect of vampire legend mainly for dramatic purposes.As for the common movie trope of the vampire's allergy to sunlight, this too is not supported by the primary sources. According to most Western folklore vampires are unconscious during the daylight hours, resting in their coffins much like the ordinary dead except that they show no evidence of decay or wasting. If exposed to daylight their bodies react exactly like dead bodies, which is to say they react not at all. Polidori, Le Fanu, and Stoker contrived to allow their vampires occasional daylight forays as a means to advance the plot and to sustain suspense. The Hollywood cliché that vampires first into flames or wither into dust a the mere touch of sunlight is entire that — a film cliché which dates from F.W. Murnau's "Nosferatu" (1922)."Curse of the Undead" may have plot holes, but they don't derive from vampire folklore. In fact this movie is more faithful to the legends than anything filmed by Hollywood in decades.
mrapol-815-799116
People have mentioned what they see as mistakes or oddities in the vampire lore of this film. In fact, the whole concept of sunlight destroying vampires was created in Hollywood and is not mirrored (no pun intended) by traditional vampire lore. I believe the idea of sunlight- kills-vampire dates from Murnau's 1922 "Nosferatu," further amplified by such films as the 1943 "The Return of the Vampire." Production codes did not allow the gory spectacle of a stake being pounded into someone's heart, or beheading, so the "clean" method of death by sunlight was invented. There's a certain magical logic to the notion, but it's not a traditional method. Remember, in Stoker's novel Count Dracula goes about London by daylight with no ill effects.Eric Fleming's cross pin (which destroys the vampire when delivered by a .45 slug) is not from the "true cross," but as he says in the film, from a thorn tree growing in the Holy Land. In any case, it's a consecrated object.In many cultures, suicides were in danger of coming back as vampires or revenants. That's why many suicides were buried at crossroads; upon emerging from the ground the lost soul would dither about what direction to go and not get around to doing damage to the living.
Dagurasu
AS a boy of about 11 in a small town in Wyoming I saw this movie at the local theater twice! I haven't seen it since but I remember it as being very atmospheric with great black and white photography. Of course I was a little disappointed because the lobby cards were in color while the film itself was in black and white which was typical of the time. I can't remember whether it was before or about the same time as the first season of Rawhide on TV. So Eric Fleming may have been familiar to me before I saw this movie. Stark black shadows with bright highlights since a lot of the movie took place at night. Michael Pate as the vampire had an extraordinary presence (charisma?) in the film. As I remember in the final shootout Eric Fleming's character rubs his finger against a button? made of wood from Christ's cross and this gives him the power to kill the vampire. Would anyone like to correct me? It is certainly deserving of a DVD release! I wonder why so many classic films that were released on video are MIA on DVD?
preppy-3
I caught this boring film on late night TV many many years ago. The plot sounded interesting so I tuned in. Boy, was that a mistake! I hate Westerns but I love horror movies--I though this would concentrate on both genres. WRONG! It's a low-budget Western all the way with a few mild vampire touches thrown in. The only mildly horrific scene was when the vampire was shown in his coffin...but that's it. No blood, no fangs and a vampire that can walk around in daylight! Also very VERY dull. The acting was actually very good--that's what kept me watching.
So, if you like odd Westerns this is for you. If you're a horror movie fan, stay away. (Unless you like boring horror films)
AD
