The Fearless Vampire Killers
1966
A horror spoof which centres on a scientist and his inept assistant who travel to Transylvania and encounter a vampire. Read more
| Starring | Jack MacGowran, Sharon Tate, Alfie Bass, Ferdy Mayne |
|---|---|
| Director | Roman Polanski |
| Genres | Comedy, Horror |
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The Fearless Vampire Killers
A horror spoof which centres on a scientist and his inept assistant who travel to Transylvania and encounter a vampire.
| Starring | Jack MacGowran, Sharon Tate, Alfie Bass, Ferdy Mayne |
|---|---|
| Director | Roman Polanski |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 43 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy, Horror |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 20 Dec 2004 Production year: 1966 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Want to know where Interview with the Vampire found most of its best ideas? Look no further than this lyrical exploration of undead myths that's poised on the knife edge of Hammer nightmare and Carry On farce. Eerie, funny, scary and brilliantly baroque, Roman Polanski's astoundingly beautiful tour de force features two genre firsts — a Jewish vampire unaffected by the crucifix and a gay vampire — plus his ill-fated wife-to-be Sharon Tate in her best role. It's worth seeing for the breathtaking ballroom mirror sequence alone.
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Heavy, slow spoof of Dracula, most of which shows that sense of humour is very personal; a few effective moments hardly compensate for the prevailing stodge.
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Most helpful member's review
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6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
The perfect late night snack
A Vampire film with a happy ending... not quite, but Roma Polanski’s interpretation of the legend is certainly more tongue than tooth in cheek. Alfie Bass is excellent as the lecherous cabbage tramping innkeeper while Polanski himself appears as the professor’s not so able assistant.
The vampires are in classic mould. Fredy Mayne leads the pack with a Lugosian interpretation of the count that possibly out does the original. The professor (Jack MacGowran) on the other hand does much to redress the VanHelsing imbalance and prove that science still has a long way to go.
Needless to say it all ends badly, but then wants a vampire film with a happy ending.
A very funny film which fans of the genre will enjoy. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
aka Dance of the Vampires
Despite being pushed as a comedy this isn't really a laugh-aloud affair, and is better served by its original title - Dance of the Vampires.
It's an offbeat, uneven horror film with comic touches, benefiting enormously from fine photography and production design; and with wonderful, unearthly, music from Krzysztof Komeda.
I have long had a sneaking fondness for this film and it's well worth a punt if you've never seen it.
The trailer on this DVD is awful, making the film look like it's by the Three Stooges; and there's also a pointless little promotional film with Max Wall as a vampire expert. -
News and features
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Polanski lands lifetime honour
- 05 Aug 2009
Controversial filmmaker Roman Polanski is to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival in September (09). Organisers will present the Polish-born director with the Golden Eye for his contributions to film at the 27 September (09) ceremony. He will also take part in a workshop discussing his work, prior to a retrospective of his films during the festival's annual A Tribute to... series. Polanski's featured works will include his cinematic debut, 1962's Knife in... Read more
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A horror spoof which centres on a scientist and his inept assistant who travel to Transylvania and encounter a vampire.... -