Film's climax shot in Cerrillos, New Mexico. [9], John Carpenter revealed after the movie's failure that he had become inspired and driven after he had made Ghosts of Mars, and decided to leave Hollywood for good. [3][4][5] Given the film's debt to Western cinema, particularly the works of Howard Hawks, it has been considered by a number of critics as an example of the Weird Western subgenre. He and his team of slayers have just rooted out a nest of nine vampires in the New Mexico desert but, disappointingly, the master vampire--Jan Valek--was not there. John Carpenter is an American film director, producer, writer and composer. Master of horror John Carpenter puts his unique spin on the vampire genre with Vampires. Blade is a great action-adventure thats a thrill ride the entire film. Unbeknown to the slayers, However, theres some guilty pleasure from watching Crow on screen, as his ultra-macho cowboy is so determined to echo all the negative aspects of the typical Western hero that he becomes a satire of himself. I think that's the point. John Carpenter 's southwest vampires are closer to the bloodsucking family of Kathryn Bigelow 's Near Dark than the Eastern European nobility of Hammer films. In Film ScoresMilan Records (74321 62260-2). Desolation's associates soon arrive and force Ballard and Butler to release him. in Film ScoresMilan Records (7313835859-2), Weird And Scary - The Ultimate Scream! Jason Statham was originally going to play Desolation Williams, but he was replaced by Ice Cube because the producers needed some star power for the part, and Statham instead played the character of Jericho Butler. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 24% based on 110 reviews, with the consensus stating "John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars is not one of Carpenter's better movies, filled as it is with bad dialogue, bad acting, confusing flashbacks, and scenes that are more campy than scary. One night, after the successful deletion of a nest, the master vampire Valek successfully deletes his team and the party hookers. Kirsten Dunst and Antonio Banderas also star in Interview with a Vampire. When the door to the vault was opened, it released hostile spirits or "ghosts", which took possession of the workers, causing their violent behavior. In a nod to Desperado and the armory hidden inside the guitar case, Bliss rather improbably has an armory hidden inside his surfboard! However, when Carpenter was offered the job for Vampires, he was intrigued by the promise of making a horror-western hybrid, something he had wanted to since the 70's. 'Vampires' Is an Under-watched Entry in John Carpenter's Filmography Right off the bat, there's a lot to love in Don Jakoby 's screenplay. There are so many cult classics in Carpenters filmography thats is no surprise some of the masters movies fly under the radar. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/1reuGJV Follow us on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/scream_factory Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/1ojljJS THE CONFRON. "[10] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 35 out of 100 based on 26 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". While they are able to make it to the train, Ballard realizes that they have a duty to exterminate the Martian threat and decide to return to Shining Canyon to overload the outpost's nuclear power plant, assuming that the ensuing atomic blast will vaporize the spirits. Sep 20, 2017. The main theme, "Slayers", could be looked at as a more upbeat, bluesier version of the main theme in They Live. The police are baffled and even with the help of the FBI the attacks hadn't lessened. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. "I wonder who's been doing those attacks?" Gene Siskel enjoyed the film and James Woods in such a radical departure from his usual fare so much, he suggested that Woods be nominated for an Oscar for his performance in this film. The following lists the films and television series in the IMFDB produced or directed by John Carpenter: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988), Vampires: Los Muertos (2002) Executive Producer, Halloween Kills (2021) Executive Producer. Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) are four vampires living together with their familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillen). Robert Rodriguez directed and Quentin Tarantino wrote From Dusk Till Dawn, a horror movie about the Gecko brothers Richie (Quentin Tarantino) and Seth (George Clooney) who are bank robbers who end up facing a bar full of vampires. The same town featured in Young Guns (1988). It is a film about Louis (Brad Pitt) and focuses on him telling his undead life story to biographer Daniel (Christian Slater). For starters, in 1998, it wasnt common for stories about vampires to feature complex organizations created to fight the monsters. My thought: Either cauterizing a fresh wound works, or it doesn't. Rotten Tomatoes ID. Jack Crow (James Woods) is a professional and Vatican-funded vampire slayer. The opening weekend box office take of $9.1 million is the highest of John Carpenter's movies, beating Escape from L.A.'s $8.9. Home > Films > V > Vampires (John Carpenter's Vampires). The 1985 Fright Night follows Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) as he discovers his neighbor Jerry (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire. The Vatican then secretly enlists a team of vampire-hunters, led by Jack Crow, to hunt down and destroy the vampires before they find the crucifix. "[16] Richard Roeper also awarded the film three stars out of four, saying "is it stupid? So Klaus, Elijah (Daniel Gillies), Rebekah (Claire Holt), and others were shipped off to New Orleans for their own spin-off called The Originals. As a grown-up, he is a fanatic vampire-hunter who works with a good team in a professional manner. Flights: Santa Fe Municipal Airport, 121 Aviation Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87507 (tel: 505.955.2900), Stay at: the Plaza Hotel, 230 Plaza, Las Vegas (tel: 505.425.3591), Please send any corrections or additions to info@movie-locations.com. James Wood's annihilates vampires left and right throughout the film, and it's all the better for it. That helps the audience to understand the stakes and challenges of other action scenes spread throughout the movie. In keeping with the Western theme of his new movie, Carpenter has fashioned a bluesy, guitar-driven score for his vampire-fest, which is highly reminiscent of Ry Cooder's action scores. "[17], Ice Cube was very critical about the movie: "I don't like that movie. Theres also something to be said about the unhinged performance of Wood as Jack Crow. title. In 1913, it had been the HQ of Romaine Fielding's Lubin Film Company, and later became home to silent Western star Tom Mix, who made many of his movies in the Las Vegas area, occasionally using the Plaza as a location. NY 10036. However, it is discovered that a group of vampires are searching for a powerful doom for mankind. 6 October 2021. determination method. Together with his only living colleague Tony Montoya, Katrina, a hooker who will turn into a vampire soon, and newly assigned unexperienced greenhorn priest Father Adam Guiteau he sets out to find the black cross first. John "Jack" Crow is the main protagonist in the 1998 horror film Vampires (also known as John Carpenter's Vampires ). Yes, the male cast is composed mainly of pricks, so its fair to assume they dont treat sex workers with the respect they deserve. Overall, the Fright Night concept is just fun. Edward A. Warschilka . For the film's soundtrack, John Carpenter recorded a number of synthesizer pieces and assembled an all-star cast of guitarists (including thrash metal band Anthrax, virtuoso Steve Vai, genre spanning Buckethead, and former Guns N' Roses/current Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck) to record an energetic and technically proficient heavy metal score. Since Crow is a mean cowboy, he decides to take matters into his own hands and hunt down Valek, despite the Holy Church ordering him to restrain himself and find a new team first. Carpenter is a smart man and he knows exactly what he's doing. Natasha Henstridge replaced her by the suggestion of her boyfriend Liam Waite. While the leader of the vampire hunter does the slaying and takes orders from the Vatican as his parents were killed by vampires and he was raised by the Church, the Church has an agenda of their own regarding a centuries-old cross from falling into the hands of the master vampire. Also, the fact Blade is unquestionably a superior movie and came out less than two months before Vampires might have hurt Carpenters Western horror box office, helping to bury the film. Woods manfully keeps a straight face through goofy situations where many another actor would have signaled us with a wink. Together with his only living colleague Tony Montoya, Katrina, a hooker who will turn into a vampire soon, and newly assigned unexperienced greenhorn priest Father Adam Guiteau he sets out to find the black cross first. Format: CD (32 min) The soundtrack to John Carpenter's Vampires is quite a stylistic departure for the man. Vampires (1998) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Why Its A Good Option For Vampire Fans: The 2011 Fright Night remake is one of those rare movies that pays homage to the original while finding its own style and voice. Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle gave the film one star out of five, saying "Ghosts of Mars is a muddled, derivative, and embarrassing disaster straight on through. It is inevitable that Montoya and Katrina will be drawn to each other. But "John Carpenter's Vampires'' gets its imprimatur from the Hollywood Catholic Church, a branch that broke off about the time the priest climbed the stairs to Linda Blair's bedroom in "The Exorcist'' (1973). Confronted by Ballard, Whitlock eventually explains that she fled from her post after discovering an ancient underground vault created by an extinct Martian civilization. The What We Do In The Shadows series is just as hilarious as the movie and offer fun tributes to the vampire genre, such as an episode with cameos by famous TV and movie vampires. The film that convinced John Carpenter to stay in directing. But the movie is not scary, and the plot is just one gory showdown after another. Oh, I'm aware that Rome takes a dim view of sensationalist superstition. When it comes to fighting vampires and performing exorcisms, the Roman Catholic Church has the heavy artillery. Buffy The Vampire Slayer is about a teen girl who is burden with the task of saving the world. Apocalypse Trilogy didnt find its audience on release, Carpenter is also famous for his talents as a composer, Bruce Campbell on the "Unrelenting" 'Evil Dead Rise,' His Bruce-O-Rama Tour, & 'Highly Functional's Release. Vampires Sees Carpenter go for more Action than Scares. Why Its A Good Option For Vampire Fans: From Dusk Till Dawn is a stylistic, guns a blazing take on the world of vampires in a way only Rodriguez and Tarantino can do. Directed by John Carpenter. Luckily for me, and the many vampire fans out there, the internet has plenty to sing your fangs into. It exceeded expectations by becoming a cult classic that many love because it touches on average human dilemmas sprinkled with some vampire drama. John Carpenter's only financially successful film of the 90s. (music composed by) Cinematography by . The concept has always fascinated me and seeing how writers depict and further their mythology. [citation needed]. Although not completely discarding his usual synthesizer-based score, it definitely takes a back seat to the Carpenter's make-shift blues band, The Texas Toad Lickers, which features many original players from the Blues Brothers Band. Why Its A Good Option For Vampire Fans: Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement created the series based on their 2014 movie of the same name. John Carpenter had a good working relationship with James Woods on set. After the big raid in the opening sequence, they line up the skulls of their victims on the hood of their Jeep. Julian Reischl <julianreischl@mac.com> Synopsis Alec Baldwin had briefly accepted the role of Montoya before declining it early into pre-production and passing it onto his brother, Daniel. The side effect of her transformation is that Katrina gets a psychic link with her vampire master, allowing Crow and Montoya to track down Valek in a race against the clock before the sex worker fully becomes a bloodsucking demon herself. The movies treatment of sex workers and women in general is far from acceptable. Though this scene was fully shot, it had to be completely removed. What We Do In The Shadows is told in a mockumentary style and shows the everyday adventures of these characters. director of photography Film Editing by . It stars Jaden Michael, Gerald W.Jones, Gregory Diaz, Sarah Gadon, and The Kid Mero. Stream them on Hulu here: Angel (opens in new tab), Buffy (opens in new tab). Investigating the town's jail, Braddock discovers a trio of individuals who appear to have sealed themselves into one of the cells; among them science officer Dr. Arlene Whitlock. The MPAA took issue with the film's over-the-top violence, threatening to give it an NC-17 rating unless some of the gore was cut. Vampires (also known as John Carpenter's Vampires) is a 1998 American neo-Western action horror film directed and scored by John Carpenter and starring James Woods. If it doesn't, it's not the sort of thing you do for fun. Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. There are many similarities with this and another vampire film made the same year, Blade (1998). However, Carpenters take on the subject is even more controversial than Robert Rodriguezs. For instance, with Halloween, the filmmaker helped establish slashers as one of the most enduring horror subgenres. Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/timsalmons# Filming locations for Vampires: [15], Conversely, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the film three stars out of four, writing, "Ghosts of Mars delivers on its chosen level and I enjoyed it, but I wonder why so many science-fiction films turn into extended exercises in Blast the Aliensthis is an instance where it works. The only scene that was entirely removed was a moment where the vampires awake from their slumber and brutally slaughter a pack of coyotes. Unwilling to face the authorities, he handcuffs Ballard to her cot and leaves. Bruce Campbell was Carpenter's first choice to play Montoya. He's fun to watch, with the dark glasses, the little cigar, and the sneer. When I'm not writing about pop culture, I can be found channeling Gordon Ramsay by kicking people out the kitchen. The soundtrack to John Carpenter's Vampires is quite a stylistic departure for the man. Stream it on Hulu here (opens in new tab). The two agree to fight their way out of the city together. Carpenters Vampires also deserves praise for its thrilling set pieces. The whole film makes commentary on gentrification. The only things cut from the film were a few brief shots of extreme gore, including a shot that shows a Preists' head getting blown up from a shotgun blast, and a monk getting graphically disemboweled by a vampire. Rated R The movie stars James Woods as Jack Crow, hard-bitten vampire hunter, whose family was destroyed by vampires. We meet a cardinal (Maximilian Schell) who apparently supervises Rome's vampire squad. I miss seeing campy action flicks like this at the drive-in." John Carpenter: Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998Sacred Bones Records, Weird and Scary - The Ultimate Scream! Still, Carpenter has released other box office bombs that were nevertheless reclaimed by fans and critics alike. Angel is an adequate companion series because it has a similar tone and pulse. It stars James Woods as Jack Crow, a vampire hunter who faces off against his biggest foe yet Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith). Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The film opened at No. So dont be afraid to get a little dangerous and stream vampire content all month. Yes, the church, which once relied on prayer, holy water and crucifixes, now employs mercenaries to kill vampires. This left Tagawa feeling like he was little more than a glorified stuntman. John Carpenter also does use the desert setting of Vampires to its fullest, shooting the whole horror movie as if it was a classic Western. Bruce Campbell was Carpenter's first choice to play Montoya. The Plaza Hotel has been been featured more recently in the Coen Bros 2007 No Country for Old Men, and this Las Vegas (as opposed to the other one) is seen in Easy Rider. It stars James Woods as Jack Crow, a vampire hunter who faces off . The Bronx feels like a classic 80s action-adventure film, similar to The Goonies and The Lost Boys. Sandy King said, "We satisfied the ratings board by just cutting short of a few things that went into really gruesome stuff." The Masters are powerful deadly Vampires that control the undead bloodsuckers and they are both minor villains in the novel Vampire$ and it's 1998 horror film adaptation John Carpenter's Vampires. The Bronx is a Netflix original movie about three boys who have to combat vampires trying to take over the Bronx. Stephen Dorff, NBushe Wright, Kris Kristofferson, and Donal Logue also star in Blade. It was produced by Screen Gems and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. After Crow's team is murdered by a 600-year-old Master Vampire (Thomas Ian Griffith) and his legions, Crow tracks the powerful master to his lair, with the help of a young priest and a woman. John Carpenter had not seen any of Daniel Baldwin's work and had the actor read for him. Its a series that explores the complexity of being a vampire that is tormented by his past but also unable to completely escape a circle of violence and addiction. Spangle. Though it's not terribly exciting, Ghosts Of Mars does have a marvelously skewed vision and can deliver genuine morbid laughs when it wants to. But maybe it's just that Jack Crow's theology is rusty. Why Its A Good Option For Vampire Fans: Vampires vs. Ray calls his weapon "Miss Piggy.". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C" on an A+ to F scale. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled. With The Good Doctor Losing A Character, How Worried Should Fans Be For The Season 6 Finale? The opening scene of Vampires follows Crows team in action as they siege a vampire nest, simultaneously showing the warriors in action and the creatures superhuman powers. Ghosts of Mars (titled onscreen as John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars) is a 2001 American science fiction action horror film written, directed and scored by John Carpenter.

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