Leslie Gilb appears as a perfect vampire, and that makes this film one of ...
598834
This little gem of a film has had a varied history. In brief, it tells the story of a little girl's search for her father after receiving a mysterious letter. She is drawn into the web of Lemora, a strange woman who runs a home for orphans. When you finally figure out Lemora's true nature we see the true face of an undead (as Bram Stoker called them in Dracula) Despite the small buget, Leslie Gilb appears as a perfect vampire, and that makes this film one of the better Vamp films. The late Cheryl Smith stars as Lila Lee, with the afore mentioned Leslie Gilb as Lemora. Thought lost for thirty years, it has been restored to it's original form and put out by Synapse Films. I heartily recommend this underappreciated film.
4105891
A small but excellent vampire movie. Lucy Lui shines as the vampire. I always enjoy watching this one.
1115841
I found MGM's "Mark of the Vampire" to be a terrific film of its genre and loaded with atmosphere to rival any of the great Universal films of that early to mid 1930s era. Bela Lugosi and Carol Borland were superb as the vampires. Yes Lionel Barrymore chewed the scenery but it was all part of the fun of this highly entertaining film. If you enjoy the genre, and haven't seen this movie, get it and watch it before someone unwittingly blabs the outcome especially since Turner Classic Movie airs it from time to time, making it easily available for viewing.
1045543
This is actually a really good print of this film. And it's the full length version too. Not the 73 minute VHS version.  This is the retro media version and its uncut. The film itself is pretty decent for being a vampire flick from 1969.
1398368
I have been a big vampire mythology fan for as long as I can remember. I love a good vampire movie. I'm not expecting Masterpiece Theater, I just want to be entertained, and entertained I was with "Underworld". I missed out seeing the movie when it was in the theaters but I'm glad that I did now that I have seen the extended cut. I'm not really a fan of Kate Beckinsdale film work but she does a great job as death dealer (i.e vampire) Selene. Selene is trying to figure out why the Lycans (i.e werewolves), the vampires' enemies, what they want in Michael Corvin (played by Scott Speedman of "Felicity" fame). The Lycans and death dealers are at war and have been for centuries. I loved the dark, moody atmosphere of the entire film. I thought it was amazing how the werewolves were actually costumes as opposed to resorting to the cheesy CGI most movies relies on nowadays (which I think is way too much). Kate Beckinsdale looked great in that skintight leather outfight and short dark hair. She reminded me a lot of Toni Halliday, the singer from the modern rock band Curve. The film is very sleek and stylish. I can definitely see where the comparisons of the movie to other films like "The Matrix" and "Blade" comes in (like on the fight sequences) but "Underworld" still holds its own. There really wasn't much of a plot the one big flaw I found with the film but I didn't care. It was a non-stop thrill ride for me. The acting was a bit on the overstated side but like I said, this ain't Masterpiece Theater. If you want Masterpiece Theater, then go watch some (awful) Merchant Ivory film. "Underworld" is a fun, non-stop rollercoaster ride (or at least I thought). The bonus features on the dvd is awesome. I especially dug the "Fangs Vs. Fiction" segment and watching the cast of the film talk about making the film. I loved the outtake reel. It is always interesting for me to see the actors goof up on their lines in movies. You don't see that very often except as bonus footage on dvds. I liked the 48 page comic book and the sketchings on the entire film. I am eagerly anticipating the sequel to "Underworld" where Selene becomes the hunted.
1497126
Its been awhile since I have seen this movie. Its one of my favorite vampire movies. The quality and the special features are great. I am so happy that I happy to have the Blu Ray. I am hoping to get the sequel.
4296953
Every Halloween, I always looked forward to when this movie would air on TV. And when it finally left the airwaves, I was happy to find it on DVD, as it's one of my Mom and I's favorite Halloween films. Eight year old Tony Thompson, and his mom and dad, have recently moved from America to Scotland due to his dad designing a golf course for a man named Lord McAshton. Tony has a hard time fitting in and making new friends, which isn't helped by his really vivid bad dreams he begins having about vampires. One night, the dreams turn real when a young vampire boy crashes into Tony's room, trying to hide from a bumbling vampire hunter, intent on killing him. But as it turns out, the vampire, named Rudolph, and his family don't really want to hurt humans, or be vampires at all. They're all members of the clan of Sackville-Bagg, who are trying to recover a lost medallion by the time of the full moon. If they can do this, then they can become fully human again. With Tony's help and friendship, can the "monsters" defeat the vampire hunter and regain their humanity again? I kinda makes no sense to buy it from amazon instant video for 7.99 when you can buy the dvd for 4.99..........I Love this movie i've watched it so many times when i was a kid and when i found out amazon had it i just about died I ordered it right away!
1414758
4 1/2 Stars = Minor Masterpiece

Filled with some good chills & great black comedy, "Shadow of the Vampire," is not for everyone, but for those of you it is for, you'll know it, right off the bat!

William Dafoe plays "Max Schreck," playing "Count Orlock, in the filming of "Nosferatu." The rub here is, Dafoe is a vampire playing an actor, playing a Vampire, & things get a little out of hand as Dafoe starts feeding off the cast & crew, with a the zeal of a fat wiggly leech, swimming in a blood bank! Dafoe is obliviously having great fun with this role, & it is almost startling how he has re-created "Count Orlock!"

"Shadow of the Vampire" spouts, fine cinematography, sure handed direction, & it's casting is perfection. Of course, it's always fun to watch John Malkovick fly off the deep end as the misunderstood genius. A role he knows well.

A ghoulish delight that flew under everyone's radar, & another masterful performance from Dafoe, that shows why he is one of the best actors of his generation!
2963207
This movie has one thing going for it.  Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene.  She has been held upside down is some cryogenic capsule for 12 years.  She manages to escape thanks to some mysterious person, and here comes the good part.  She finds her black boots and black leatherette outfit.  That alone is cause for applause.

The rest of the film you've seen before.  It turns out that a 12 year old girl (do the math) has been held captive by an underground werewolf colony.  She's rescued by Selena - who has done the math - and a new hunky vampire (Theo James).  The werewolves are headed by scientist Dr. Lane (Stephen Rea) who has turned his son into some super duper giant sized wolf.  Plenty `o guts are expelled over the 88 minute running time.  I guess we'll have to wait for yet another installment to find out what kind of powers young Eve (India Eisley) might possess.

Another thing going for it is the spectacular Blu ray transfer.  In 1080p and a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, you can't ask for much more, assuming your display can handle it.  Blacks are really black.  The detail is excellent.  No complaints.  Likewise, I don't remember such an all encompassing soundtrack.  The DTS-HD MA has a 7.1 surround availabilty and the surround is used liberally.  Everything from quiet creaks to blood-slurpping will hit your speakers in lossless high fidelity.
3326944
Magiere, her half-elf partner Leesil and his dog, Chap, travel many lands to rid towns and villages of the undead, but do they indeed rid the town of Vampires or is it merely ridding hapless villagers of superstition?  Little is known of Magiere's and Leesil's pasts, even to each other, and slowly it unfolds as the rest of the book's characters come into play: The Noble Dead.
This book is as much about Magiere and Leesil as it is about the vampires that haunt it.  The past of Rashed, Teesha, Ratboy and Parko, vampires of Miiska, come out even more human than the Dhampir and her partner, though this does not disturb the great characterization of the important players in the "game".  I am glad that the writers of this book didn't go too much into the "technicalities" of vampire hunting, turning, etc.  While they had to establish some perimeters, the characterization, I feel, was the story's strongest point.
While the characters weren't overly emotional, I think the tone of the story is dark; intense, with only a smattering of relief (Leesil makes a few wisecracks, but that doesn't make much of a dent in the gothic nature of the whole thing.)  The action in this book was played just right and I did appreciate the detailing in the right places.  If someone were to turn this book into a movie, the director would be Tim Burton.
The writing and narration flows excellently and while I would prefer less points of view, my tastes shouldn't defer anyone from reading this well-crafted story.
42300
This is one of those werewolf films that's more comedy than anything else. Leslie, (Susan Blakley) gets bitten by pet store owner Harry (John Saxon) who is in need of a wife to keep the werewolf legacy alive. Leslie's daughter Jennifer (Katrina Caspary) follows her mother to the pet store (thinking she's having an affair with another man) and watches thru a backdoor window as Harry seduces and bites her mother. Jennifer then turns to her best friend Stacey (who's a monster comic fanatic) and Madame Gypsy (Ruth Buzzi)to help rid her mother of this curse. Leslie begins to grow fangs and sees more hair than usual on her arms and legs and things get pretty "hairy" after awhile. Jennifer's Halloween party is a riot with Leslie covered in long hair, fangs, etc. while all along the party goers think she's made up for Halloween. Finally, seeing as though holy water, crosses and garlic don't work on the werewolf, a knife made of silver does the trick in an all out fight between daughter, mother and werewolf in the bedroom. Saxon is stabbed by the silver knife and Leslie is rid of the curse. Again, this is a funny movie and even kids will enjoy it.
4814653
This 1940 George King production from British Lion Studios is a delightfully evil if somewhat hokey little horror film.  The setting is Paris, France in the year 1880, and a series of murders has the populace in mortal terror of "Le Loup" ("the wolf").  Why the killer is described as a wolfman is beyond me because in each case, the victim sees a horrifying face in the window and is stabbed in the back with a dagger.  When M. de Brisson's bank is robbed during one murder, he fears he will be ruined financially.  Then a new client, Chevalier Del Gardo appears to entrust a substantial amount of money to his care; the Chevalier's motives are far from noble, however, as he wants the hand of the young, beautiful Cecile de Brisson in return for his help.  Cecile is in love with "lowly" bank clerk Lucien Cortier, and Del Gardo attempts to frame him for the murders.  Several additional murders are perpetrated during the course of the story, and Lucien's last opportunity to prove his innocence involves a great new discovery made by a "mad" (yet noble) scientist.  This scientist has successfully used electricity to reanimate dead animals, and he is convinced that he can do the same for a dead human; in this manner, one of Le Loup's victims will be able to come back just long enough to name his murderer.
I found this to be an excellent early horror flick.  Some elements of the plot are a little ridiculous, but the actors play their parts exceedingly well and do not at any time overdramatize and thus undermine the story.  Tod Slaughter plays the evil Chevalier Del Gardo to the hilt and could rightfully make reference to a truly evil cackle on his acting resume, John Warwick as Lucien Cortier shines as the quintessential hero determined to clear his name and nab the true killer, and Marjorie Taylor is delightful as Cecile de Brisson.  The special effects, such as they are, are also very effective, particularly the coalescing image of the hideous "face at the window."  The introductory text that introduces the motion picture sums the movie up quite well; The Face at the Window is an old-school melodrama "dear to the hearts of all who unashamedly enjoy either a shudder or a laugh at the heights of villainy."
1677264
Startlingly good "vampire movie," which is really a love story, with beautifully done cinematography. Get this, or at least see it.
2102624
I just bought this film yesterday, and I loved it. Many think Lon Chaney, Jr. was not very good at Dracula. He is no Bela Lugosi, but excellent. Anyway, I guess the "Dracula" in this film can be called the Son of Dracula, since he is not the original Count Dracula. Disquised as Count Alucard, Dracula's son (Lon Chaney, Jr.) goes to Louisiana. Katherine Caldwell (Louise Allbritton) a woman obsessed with immortality, is engaged to Frank Stanely (Robert Paige). She instead marries Alucard. Frank tries to stop Dracula, but accidently kills Kay. A doctor and a professor are eager to stop Alucard. The resto f the film I leave you to learn. Alucard. That was clever, spelling Dracula backwards.
Alucard
Dracula
2234858
I had many doubt the legitimacy of another vampire movie when I recommended this one, but I have had none walk away disappointed. The story of Vlad the impaler is one that many do not know Dracula was derived from. He was notorious for impaling the soldiers in his enemies' armies and was even noted for having once forced a defeated enemy to eat his family after seeing them cooked alive. With Vlad's history set aside, this story is extremely well told and incorporates the idea a vampires into this history lesson without causing too much disbelief. The animation is superb and the acting done by Charles Dance and Luke Evans convinced me of the plausibility of a man so desperate that he would "sell his soul to the devil". I have seen some negative reviews, but it seems to be by those hoping this movie would be something different. This isn't Underworld and it certainly isn't a historically accurate piece of film, but taking this well crafted story for what is it, Dracula Untold delivers. It is fun to watch on a date or with the family and brings up some interesting concepts surrounding the legends of Vladmimir, the impaler.
2508709
This is a great movie, on of the best I have seen about Dracula.
1996433
Alexandra has the most amazing vampire/Irish eyes.  Plus, in this movie, she basically refuses to cover her mid section.  Aside from her, the movie is actually really good (by shameless slasher movie standards).  While its not exactly unpredictable, it is a clever twist on the status quo.