Vampires (1998)

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers (WGA):

John Steakley (novel)
Don Jakoby (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A vengeful vampire slayer must retrieve an ancient Catholic relic that, should it be acquired by vampires, will allow them to endure sunlight.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Team | Vampire Hunter | Priest | Vampire Slayer

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 Networks
• 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 | Japan

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:

John Carpenter's last feature film of the 20th Century.

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: Let me just ask you one thing - after 600 years, how's that dick workin', pretty good?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Padre's Wood

John Carpenter in top form with film "Vampires" (no spoilers)

John Carpenter is America's greatest living director of westerns. Although "Vampires" is his first literal western, JC's been turning out 1st rate original westerns from "Assault on Precinct 13" to "They Live" and "Escape From New York" to "The Thing". Even though these movies don't take place in the west, they have all the ingredients of a good western: the lone hero/outlaw, the seige or attack, the showdown, and plenty of action. "Vampires" takes place and was filmed in the southwest (filmed in Sante Fe, NM). Carpenter's DP Gary Kibbe captures some nice wide John Ford-ish western vistas, and Carpenter's minimalist score capture the desolate, hard nature of the place. The real asset of this film is its cast, especially James Woods as the insanely tough and foul-mouthed slayer Jack Crow. He really does some inspired improvised riffs, and when he's not kicking ass Woods has a lot of fun with it all. Jack Crow is a classic Carpenter hero: all man, flinty eyed & completely alone, and Woods plays this unsympathetic character with such a quick wit you can't help but admire the guy. Thomas Ian Griffith plays a great Valek, the master vampire whom Jack has sworn to slay. Griffith plays the character completely straight, and it works extremely well. Griffith is an imposing figure, and you get a real sense of the nobility & savagery of Valek's character. Compared to Woods, Griffith underplays his role, but still commands a very real presence of power & evil. Carpenter stretches the $20 million dollar budget well, but you can sometimes "see the zipper down the monster's back". Despite a few fake looking wounds or rubbery stakes, Carpenter delivers a polished & stylish film, on par with movies costing 10 times as much (better in some cases). I believe Carpenter works best with a little larger budget, but he should stay away from the typical Hollywood giant budget, he works best with a smaller production. "Vampires" is a treat for any Carpenter fan, and hopefully marks the beginning of a new standard in his films.