Mark Turner I've noted before that in the 80s there was a glut of horror films being made. It was like they'd suddenly become acceptable by then, the children hidden away and referred to only on special occasions. The rise of the horror movie at this time has led to the genre becoming what it is today, more mainstream than since the days of the classic Universal horror films. The only problem back then was that not all of those films were great. Some were but most qualified as mediocre. Then there were movies like VAMP that did well enough but dropped into the cult status rather than box office mega hit. The story follows two young pledges to a fraternity, Keith (Chris Makepeace) and AK (Robert Rusler). Their final task to achieve membership is to provide "special" entertainment for the frat's big bash. Of course AJ, the easy going slick talker of the two, decides that the best option is to head to the big city and pick up a few strippers to bring back. With rich pledge Duncan in tow (Gedde Watanabe) they're off and running. The problems begin when the trio find a local strip joint without realizing that all of the girls dancing there are actually vampires. When the vampire queen Katrina (Grace Jones) puts AJ under her spell, he ends up becoming one of the vampires as well. With the help of a waitress named Amaretto (Deedee Pfeiffer) Keith tries to escape along with Duncan. But thing, as they say, don't go according to plans. The movie was a fun film, offering just the right touch of humor to the horror to make a film unlike any other. This nice blend offered some moments that would make the least regular horror fan jump while the die-hards chuckled at their shock. The laughs were not belly laughs but enough to make you smile and have a good time watching.Makepeace at the time was coming off of earlier hits like MEATBALLS and MY BODYGUARD as a child and trying to shoot for more mature roles. Hitting a strip club was a change of pace in seeing him. Rusler had already hit the horror market as a cast member in NIGHTMATER OF ELM STREET 2. And Jones we making her mark on movies at the time, something she never really pursued strongly after just a few films. All in all the movie offered great entertainment which is what they were shooting for. Fans discovered it on cable and video and it was more popular after its initial release than during. Since then fans have been hoping for more and now they have it since Arrow Video has released it with a special version. Start with the fact that this is a new digital transfer. Included in the extras are the documentary ONE OF THESE NIGHTS: THE MAKING OF VAMP, behind the scenes rehearsals, a blooper reel, an image gallery, Dracula BITES THE BIG APPLE a celebrated short film from director Richard Wenk and a reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Twins of Evil.Arrow comes through once again with a solid take on a movie most would find unworthy of special attention. As always it shows why they are one of the best companies around when it comes to material like this.

Leofwine_draca VAMP is a well-known '80s comedy about a strip club that just so happens to be home to a gang of vampires who murder their patrons and drink their blood in order to make a living. The story writes itself and is a low budget yarn with plenty of vampire jokes and humour and a few bloody death scenes to keep it moving along. As an '80s comedy horror flick it's one of the lesser ones I've seen, purely because the execution isn't great and the jokes aren't very funny.I can lay the blame for this squarely on the shoulders of the various writers who really should be making this on par with the likes of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD or NIGHT OF THE CREEPS. It pales in comparison to other '80s vampire movies like FRIGHT NIGHT and THE LOST BOYS. Story-wise, the set-up is a little similar to FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, but without the urgency or excitement of that movie. Instead what we get is a whole lot of teen speak and boring character humour, and a memorable striptease sequence from the ever-bizarre Grace Jones. Some of the gooey special effects are good, and it's a delight to see Billy Drago in support, but otherwise VAMP is a disappointment.

FSfilmblog There are only two films that I can remember Grace Jones starring in. One is the James Bond vehicle A View to A Kill, and the other is Vamp.An 80's comedy horror about a couple of college students Keith (Chris Makepeace) and AJ (Richard Rusler) looking at getting into a fraternity to make use of their accommodation. The only condition for them getting in is that they have to get a stripper to their party. With no car, they make a deal with the Duncan (Gedde Watanabe) who is the only guy on campus to take them to find a stripper.Unbeknown to them they head into a city after dark, to a club run by vampires (clearly an idea nicked by "From Dusk till Dawn"). Having travelled hundreds of miles it's a fight for survival to find a way back to campus against Grace Jones' head vampire and her many minions.An incredibly cheesy but thoroughly entertaining movie, littered with equally cheesy dialogue where the characters are goofy but likable and the use of Grace Jones as the head vampire is a stroke of genius. Just as Arnold Schwarzenegger gave The Terminator a great robotic performance, Grace Jones has the creepiness and down right weirdness which makes her perfectly believable as a vampire.Similar to Scorsese's "After Hours", the film is mainly set at night in a strange environment where the locals are vampires instead of oddballs. It shares the same energy and enthusiasm, it's hard not to like this throwaway 80's film. The effects are above average and the acting is good. Sure it's dated with the haircuts, fashion and style, but there's no denying it, it is a fun and easy watch and there aren't many of those around these days.

trashgang This is one I never touched before because it was filed under comedy over here. I don't have any problems with comedy but spoofs aren't my thing when they come out of the US. But I follow the Arrow Video Blu Ray releases so I had to pick it up finally. Men, did I regret it that I didn't pick it up earlier. It is indeed a comedy but it also has a lot to do with horror. The storyline is very simple, two guys have to look for a stripper and go to the wrong one, one filled with vampires, oh yes, it was copied later as From Dusk Till Down. Not amused with American comedy I must say that I did laugh a lot with this flick. So stupid sometimes those guys are. But if you take a closer look then you will see that the director Richard Wenk did know his classics, they way it was filmed with the green and purple colours did remind me of those Italian Dario Argento flicks like for example Suspiria. The fact that Grace Jones is in it gives it another reason to watch. But she doesn't speak here but gives a good performance. Of course it wouldn't be a horror if it doesn't have any vampires and it does. The effects are all well done and the killing of Grace Jones is one to look for. Naturally Richard didn't forget that it was shot at a strip club so now and then there is some nudity. To end, it has a perfect mixture of comedy and horror, and look out for Billy Drago and Dedee Pfeiffer and Robert Rusler, common names in the horror genre.