Vampires (1998)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers (WGA):

John Steakley (novel)
Don Jakoby (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Action | Thriller

Tagline:

From the master of terror comes a new breed of evil.

Plot:

A vengeful vampire hunter must retrieve a cross before it falls into the hands of the undead, that could produce dire consequences for humanity.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Vampire Hunter | Team | Priest | Revenge

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

James Woods	...	Jack Crow
Daniel Baldwin	...	Anthony Montoya
Sheryl Lee	...	Katrina
Thomas Ian Griffith	...	Jan Valek
Maximilian Schell	...	Cardinal Alba
Tim Guinee	...	Father Adam Guiteau
Mark Boone Junior	...	Catlin
Gregory Sierra	...	Father Giovanni
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	David Deyo
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	Ortega (as Thomas Rosales)
Henry Kingi	...	Anthony
David Rowden	...	Bambi
Clarke Coleman	...	Davis
Mark Sivertsen	...	Highway Patrolman
John Furlong	...	Father Joseph Molina
Angelina Torres	...	Cleaning Lady (as Angelina Calderón Torres)
Jimmy Ortega	...	Male Vampire #1
Gilbert Rosales	...	Male Vampire #2
Danielle Burgio	...	Female Vampire #1
Laura Cordova	...	Female Vampire #2
Troy Robinson	...	Male Master #1
Anita Hart	...	Female Master #2
John Casino	...	Male Master #3
Chad Stahelski	...	Male Master #4
Steve Blalock	...	Male Master #5
Marjean Holden	...	Female Master #6
Cris Thomas-Palomino	...	Female Master #7 (as Cris Thomas Palomino)
Julia McFerrin	...	First Hooker
Lori Dillen	...	Second Hooker
Jake Walker	...	County Sheriff
Michael Huddleston	...	Motel Owner
Todd Anderson	...	Deputy Sheriff
Luce Rains	...	Clerk (as Steven Hartley)
Dennis E. Garber	...	Limousine Driver
Robert Lewis Bush	...	TV News Anchor (as Robert L. Bush)
Frank Darabont	...	Man with Buick
Mona García	...	Hooker
Candice Kirkiles	...	Hooker
Neva Lucero	...	Hooker
Helen Moreno	...	Hooker
Janice Richmond	...	Hooker
Juanita Romano	...	Hooker
Ann Romero	...	Hooker
Elisa Valdez	...	Hooker
April Winters	...	Hooker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lex Lang	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
James 'JR' Pollard	...	Rich Rancher in Church (uncredited)

Directed by
John Carpenter

Writing credits (WGA)
John Steakley		(novel "Vampire$")
Don Jakoby		(screenplay)

Produced by
Don Jakoby	....	co-producer
Sandy King	....	producer
Barr B. Potter	....	executive producer (as Barr Potter)
David Rodgers	....	creative producer

Original Music by
John Carpenter

Cinematography by
Gary B. Kibbe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Edward A. Warschilka

Casting by
Reuben Cannon
Eddie Dunlop

Production Design by
Thomas A. Walsh

Art Direction by
Kim Hix

Set Decoration by
David Schlesinger

Costume Design by
Robin Michel Bush

Makeup Department
Enid Arias	....	hair stylist
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects
Jill Cady	....	makeup artist
Jill Crosby	....	hair stylist
Chris Hanson	....	special makeup effects artist
Monica Kenyon	....	special makeup effects artist
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects
Douglas Noe	....	special makeup effects artist
Scott Patton	....	special makeup effects artist
Janna Phillips	....	makeup artist
Laurel Van Dyke	....	hair stylist
Alan Friedman	....	makeup department head (uncredited)

Production Management
Kim Kurumada	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christian P. Della Penna	....	assistant director
Jeff Imada	....	second unit director
Chemen Ochoa	....	second second assistant director
Deanna Stadler	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Mike Blaze	....	property master
Lou Boggs	....	propmaker
Noah Bradley	....	carpenter
Stan Cockerell	....	assistant property master
Joe Del Monte	....	construction coordinator
Jeanne Develle	....	assistant set decorator
Josh Miller	....	props
Gary Petersen	....	construction gang boss
Ernest M. Sanchez	....	lead man
Sean Sobczak	....	props
Christopher Windisch	....	construction foreman

Sound Department
Joseph F. Brennan	....	boom operator
Andy Brokmeyer	....	utility sound
Michael C. Casper	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Dunn	....	supervising sound editor
Ezra Dweck	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Hank Garfield	....	sound
Douglas Hinton	....	assistant sound editor
Paul Holzborn	....	foley artist
James Morioka	....	first assistant sound editor
Rick Owens	....	foley artist
Victoria Rose Sampson	....	supervising adr editor
Bill Meadows	....	dubbing recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gene Grigg	....	special effects
Jason Gustafson	....	special effects foreman
Kenn Jenkins	....	special effects assistant
Scott Kodrik	....	special effects technician
Casey Pritchett	....	special effects second man
Corey Pritchett	....	special effects
Darrell Pritchett	....	special effects coordinator
Darrell Pritchett	....	special effects
Wayne Toth	....	special effects makeup

Visual Effects by
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital

Stunts
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts
Jennifer Caputo	....	stunts
Carl Ciarfalio	....	stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunts
Jeff Della Penna	....	stunts
Lori Dillen	....	stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts
Brian Imada	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Jeff Imada	....	stunt coordinator
Steven Ito	....	stunts
Tatsuro Koike	....	stunts
Steven Lambert	....	stunts
Steve Martinez	....	stunts
Rita Minor	....	stunts
Linda Perlin	....	stunts
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts
Mario Roberts	....	stunts
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts
Danny Weselis	....	stunts
Cris Thomas-Palomino	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Cardarelli	....	key grip
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: second unit
Hank Herrera	....	grip
Leonard E. Hoffman	....	electrician
Neil Jacobs	....	still photographer
Dan Jones	....	electrician
Leo J. Napolitano	....	camera operator
Ray Ortega	....	electrician
Brad Peterman	....	first assistant camera
Keith Roverud	....	best boy
Thomas J. Ruffner	....	dolly grip
Jack S. Schlosser	....	gaffer
George Stephenson	....	camera operator
Jeff Neumann	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Alan Swain	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ronnie Hollis	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joe Diaz	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Craig Brown	....	apprentice editor
Mato	....	color timer
Sharon McGeeney	....	negative cutter
Richard B. Molina	....	assistant editor
Richmond Riedel	....	assistant editor

Music Department
E. 'Bucket' Baker	....	musician: percussion
Jeffrey Baxter	....	musician: guitars
John Carpenter	....	musician: rhythm guitar and synthesizers
Steve Cropper	....	musician: lead guitar
Donald Dunn	....	musician: bass (as Donald V. 'Duck' Dunn)
Paul Mirkovich	....	conductor
Paul Mirkovich	....	orchestrator
Bruce Robb	....	music engineer
Bruce Robb	....	music mixer
Bruce Robb	....	music producer
Bruce Robb	....	music supervisor
Bruce Robb	....	musician: Hammond B3 organ/piano/percussion
Joe Robb	....	musician: saxophone
Rick Shlosser	....	musician: drums
Bruce Robb	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Bruce Robb	....	music contractor (uncredited)
Bruce Robb	....	music editing (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dana Schisler	....	driver

Other crew
Doug Acton	....	set medic
Benu Bhandari	....	script supervisor
Kelli L. Bright	....	production coordinator
Karin Costa	....	assistant to director
James Deeth	....	helicopter pilot
Michael Dellheim	....	location manager
Carol Green	....	unit publicist
Glenn Nicol	....	production accountant
Michael Papac	....	armorer
Teofilo Sanchez	....	set medic
George Stapleton	....	animal trainer
Lawrence Tolle	....	production assistant
Joshua Vancil	....	assistant location scout
Joshua Vancil	....	assistant sound stage location manager
Mark D. Wray	....	set medic
Melodee Spevack	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Film Office
• JVC Entertainment
• Largo Entertainment
• Spooky Tooth Productions
• Storm King Productions

Distributors

• Arthaus Filmverleih (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors (1999) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• CTV International (France)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (Spain)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (1999) (Finland) (VHS)
• Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MAWA Film & Medien (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group (special make-up effects)

Other Companies

• Angel Security  security
• Bruce Schluter Design Inc.  main titles
• Bruce Schluter Design Inc.  title design: end titles
• Cherokee Studios  music recording studio
• Directors Sound & Editorial Services  adr and foley recording
• E=mc²  video displays
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• No Stone Unturned Security & Investigative Services  set security (as Angel Security)
• Pacific Title/Mirage  opticals
• Robb Brothers, The  music production
• Spacecam Systems  spacecam aerial camera system
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  re-recording
• Weddington Productions  re-recording fx

Also Known As:

John Carpenter's Vampires (USA) (complete title)
Vampire$ (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong vampire violence and gore, language and sexuality.

Runtime:

108 min | Germany:104 min (cut version) | Argentina:106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (VHS) (1999) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (DVD) (2001) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Bonanza Creek Ranch - 15 Bonanza Creek Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Film Office

Trivia:

The symbol on the necklace that Daniel Baldwin wears in the movie is the Nordic rune meaning "Protector".

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the fight with the masters at the Spanish mission, one of the monks goes flying into a ladder against the wall. The harness he is wearing can be seen when his robe flies up.

Quotes:

Jack Crow: Can I ask ya somethin, Padre? When I was kickin? your ass back there... you get a little wood?
Father Adam Guiteau: What?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Padre's Wood

Much better than its reputation!

I was puzzled by the low rating "Vampires" got, it's my favorite movie of 1998/99. Why do I give the date in that manner? I was (un)fortunate enough to see this movie in the uncut version (as shown in France), in the US version and just a few weeks ago in the German one.

But first things first -- I am female and I have read so many reviews and comments telling me, that I, as a woman, should feel disgust at the alleged misogynous undertone of "Vampires". I am sorry, but in none of the three versions I saw did I feel, hear or see anything which might support this allegation! Crow hated practically everyone except for Montoya and the first priest, Montoya -- while quipping left and right -- behaved quite kindly towards Lee's hooker except where she directly caused him to react violently and none of the other oneliners warrant, IMO, even a raised eyebrow regarding that special topic.

Let me add that I also am not religious, with my own perceptive view of enough past wrongs done by the Catholic church, so that any of the soi-disant "hate" directed at that church is in my opinion well-founded given the plot. Callan's explanation of how he views god, as well as several other references by Crow and Montoya underline the basic belief of the vampire hunters while maintaining their no-nonsense attitude.

With that back to why I liked the movie so much: it is in its own way as stark and streamlined as the best samples of its genre; the cinematography is just perfect with the right mixture of visual and non-visual storytelling; the dialogue is engagingly humorous throughout, feels real and allows each character his or her own voice; there are several deeply moving scenes, either visually or characterwise moving, which will stay with the audience; there are enough novelties incorporated to make this rendition of the vampire theme fresh and quite frankly, I liked Carpenter's score a lot too.

What wins me completely over is the very obvious fun all the actors had with their roles. James Woods was perfect as sardonic, illusion-free Crow and his brushing "campiness" with the tip of a finger, yet withdrawing just in time, is priceless. Daniel Baldwin makes the most of his character's arc, nicely underplaying his role, while he still manages to convey Montoya's journey by minimal changes of expression or voice. The final scene couldn't have been done any better. Sheryl Lee gives what I consider one of the strongest supports I've seen in quite a few years, whether by male or female actors, especially when you count in the scarcity of means she's handed over. Ian Griffith had several fine moments and the entire supporting cast was refreshing in their non-Hollywoody realistic, natural look and acting. The overall impression was of people enjoying what they're expertly doing.

An advice to the German audience, I noted while watching the dubbed release that the translation killed practically every single punch line and nearly all of the humor. And it *could* have been translated properly. The voice actors dubbing for Woods and Baldwin did so without recreating even a tenth of what both actors put into their voices in the original version. I do think that some of the disappointment expressed there is due the extremely low quality of the translation and dubbing. See the movie in its original language. I also can't see any reason for the loss of those scenes which were cut out of the US release when compared to the French one. The movie loses quite some strength this way.