centralbeerangi Well its almost 2014 and vampires abound the movie and television landscape. Inexplicably the vampire has become gentrified. Ranging from reflective observers of the human condition to teenage heart-throbs, the monster has been exiled as unidimensional and un-interesting. For example, a new TV series called Dracula was launched in October 2013. Utterly insipid and derivative of Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula which dared to portray the Count as a love-sick sinner seeking redemption--the series is a mash up of fantasy and adventure that re-imagines Stoker's central antagonists, Van Helsing and Dracula, teaming up against a common enemy--what poppycock! Although a few exceptions can be mentioned (Blade; Fright Night) the vampire as a monstrous terror inducing evil has become a rarity. And so we come to our little movie from the late 70's: Vampire is a terrific example of a vampire story. It does not make the titular character anything but an amoral, powerful and evil monster. And this is how I believe vampires should be portrayed and this is how I first imagined a vampire upon reading Stoker's novel (aside: it is one of the most scary novels I have ever read). The good guys are valiant and, even if over-matched for cunning and ruthlessness, make a great team that uses logic and good old detective work to track and ensnare their prey. The direction by Mr. Swackhamer puts on all the right moves to evoke dread and horror. He expertly uses brownish colour palettes to portray helplessness and doom and gloom. Steven Bochco's script is tight and involving with a plot that gallops relentlessly to a suspense-filled ending. The brooding presence of Jason Miller and the stalwartness of the Marshall character and a great turn by Richard Lynch who is in turn suave, menacing and evil all mesh perfectly. Yes, the movie is THAT good!! I read somewhere that Vampire was a failed pilot for a series that never came to be. Thank goodness for that. I doubt if a series could have sustained the tone of the original pilot, week in and week out. I mean consider what happened with Kolchak: The Night Stalker series. While interesting, the hourly episodes of that series could never equal the original movie set in Las Vegas.All in all the movie is a triumphant example of smart minds at work taking great care to craft an internally consistent and logical story that is both scary and thrilling. This movie ranks very highly among the films in this sub-genre of horror.I jealously guard my VHS off-air recording of this movie, hoping like the other reviewers for a DVD release. While I wait, I am looking forward to Guillermo Del Toro's TV series adaptation of his novel co-written with Chuck Hogan called The Strain. There are no genteel vampires in Toro's story: only nasty evil beings. And that my friends is what Vampires are!!

sociologydude-1 This was a "real" vampire movie. I liked it when I first saw it in '79 and I like it more now. Lynch captures a vampire that is cultured, charismatic, vulnerable, and still human. He collects rare art! As the film progresses we learn this vampire is also evil, materialistic, vengeful, exploitative, selfish, and classically Evil with a capital "E". This movie thoughtfully updated elements of Stoker's conceptualization of the vampire without losing those classical elements that makes it an interesting tale. Acting is excellent and casting great. I had hoped this would be made into a series... but, oh well. A few producers of modern vampire movies could learn something by watching this. My video copy is coming apart - so when is this thing coming on on DVD already?

gwendolyn-ledger I enjoyed this movie very much when I was a little girl, it was so erotic I din'd want the vampire to be killed at all... But the real reason I'm writing is because I would really appreciate some help to find the name of another vampire film I can't stop thinking about: all I remember about it is that is was in B&W (or maybe it was just my TV, I can't remember) I recall only two scenes: one, there was like a parade and there was this woman who looked very much like a nun, and the vampire grabbed her and sucked her blood inside of a car, and everyone who saw them laughed 'cause they thought they were making out. The other scene I remember is that this vampire (who wasn't attractive at all and looked very much like a mid 40's accountant with a trench coat) made a much needed cash by selling the paintings of the women he murdered. In fact in the scene I remember there was this old lady who was a fan of his art, and the painting she was purchasing was of a nude girl lying in a rock with a knife stabbed in her chest. Does anyone know this picture's name? Is it possible I only dreamed it? Thanks in advance Wendy

valerie6617 If you're looking for graphic gore, this is not the movie for you. Loaded with wonderful imagery and insinuation that leaves the horror to your imagination. You won't see Leslie's or the private detective's mutilated body, but we all know what happened to them. Richard Lynch's portrayal as a vampire is superb, with a deliciously evil and seductive air. There are no special effects, yet the story is quite riveting.