The Little Vampire (2000)

Director:

Uli Edel

Writers (WGA):

Angela Sommer-Bodenburg (novel)
Karey Kirkpatrick (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 October 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

They're not just best friends. They're blood brothers.

Plot:

A lonely boy becomes best friends with a vampire.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Pallor | Reverse Footage | Lifting Person In Air | Pretending To Be A Vampire

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jonathan Lipnicki	...	Tony Thompson
Richard E. Grant	...	Frederick Sackville-Bagg
Jim Carter	...	Rookery
Alice Krige	...	Freda Sackville-Bagg
Pamela Gidley	...	Dottie Thompson
Tommy Hinkley	...	Bob Thompson
Anna Popplewell	...	Anna Sackville-Bagg
Dean Cook	...	Gregory Sackville-Bagg
Rollo Weeks	...	Rudolph Sackville-Bagg
John Wood	...	Lord McAshton
Ed Stoppard	...	Von Sackville-Bagg
Jake D'Arcy	...	Farmer McClaughlin
Iain De Caestecker	...	Nigel
Scott Fletcher	...	Flint
Johnny Meres	...	Teacher

Also Known As:

De kleine vampier (Netherlands)
Der kleine Vampir (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild peril.

Runtime:

95 min | Spain:91 min

Country:

Germany | Netherlands | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #37513) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Spain:T | UK:U | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Culross, Fife, Scotland, UK

Company:

Avrora Media

Trivia:

The family name "Sackville-Bagg" in this film is a reference to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit", as Bilbo and Frodo Baggins are related to the "Sackville Bagginses".

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Tony is in the barn with Rudolph, it is dark night, yet set lights and reflectors can clearly be seen, reflected in Tony's glasses.

Quotes:

Rookery: And you go straight to hell!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#27.4)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Requiem

A throwback to quality fantasy films of the 80's.

Back in the 80's, making Childrens Films was eaiser. There was no need for hypnotic techno background beats. Directors didn't include glitzy light shows whenever good and evil fought, Pokemon-style. Some of the best fantasy films come from the 80s and featured bad acting, horrible continuity, and rather icky special effects and cinamatography as a whole.



"The Little Vampire" which stars mostly Jonathan Lipnicki, but also his little fanged friend Rollo Weeks, looks 10-20 years old but it actually a new release by New Line Cinema. And while for many this sounds like the ultimate rip of the dark children's fantasy based on some pretty famous books (at least in Europe), in actuality I think it's this that gives the film class.

I cringe every time Jonathan's character says "dude" and cringe harder when Rollo lays out the vampric lore dribble on why they don't bite humans. (They dine on cows.) But it becomes harder and harder to dislike someone so charming as either boy as the chase for the medallion continues.



The medallion is most of the time gaurded by Rookery who may be one of the most complete characters in the film. From the moment one sees his vampire hunting contraption looking like something from either "Mad Max" or "Tremors," those who are not children in the audience know this isn't going to be your typical kid's flick. The dark, creepyness continues throughout it's length, and someone in Oscar town might want to think on giving some nods for costume and art direction. Nothing beats the expressions on Rollo Weeks' face when he takes Lipnicki for their flights.

Alas, the film lags and is generally one big chase. The vampires want the amulet, the vampire hunter wants the vampires, and Jonathan's parents just want thier son to be normal. A tricky thing a dark movie appropriate for children is. If they had added more action, it wouldn't have worked. And in my opinion, even with the scares present, it probably only worked half way.



But the attempt looks sooo good.

The Little Vampire: B