A Major Disappointment

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

There's something to be said about a vampire flick that dispenses with the usual lore and goes for something new and creative. You won't find garlic or the fear of crosses in Jack Crow's (James Woods) arsenal, he's dealing with a Master Vampire who's determined to crack the taboo of bursting into flames with the first hint of sunlight. The entire scenario is placed under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church, with a crooked Cardinal Alba (Maximilian Schell) forsaking his vows to team up with the indomitable Jan Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith). Since I don't know any better, it appeared to me that Montoya's (Daniel Baldwin) emphasis on reciting Rules for Hunting Vampires might have been the inspiration for a similar treatment in "Zombieland" a decade later. That one was done for kicks, however Montoya was pretty straight up and serious about the whole thing. My favorite would have been 'You can't kill a Master at night'. Considering their camaraderie throughout the picture, it made sense that Crow would catch Montoya a break at the end of the story. Until they met again of course, and then he'd have to get the wooden stake ready for his buddy. I'm sure there was some kind of unstated rule on that too.

Unknown to the rest of the world, a group of men have been organized by the Catholic Church to hunt and kill vampires. The leader of this group is a man named "Jack Crow" (James Woods) and he is as tough and non-relenting as they come. As it so happens, however, after one particularly successful event in New Mexico in which 9 vampires are killed while nesting together an abandoned house, the group convenes at a motel that night to celebrate. What they don't realize is that the master vampire by the name of "Jan Valek" (Thomas Ian Griffith) has found out where they are and he is in a very vengeful mood. To make things even more perilous for them is the fact that there is a traitor within their ranks who is working with Jan Valek for alternative reasons. Now rather than divulge any more I will just say that, even though the film starts out rather pretentiously, the action soon kicks in quite nicely which results in a pretty good vampire movie all things considered. Admittedly, there are some scenes which seem to focus more on gore over suspense or horror, but the overall plot and acting make up for it in the long run. Above average.

The book, Vampire$ by John Steakley is absolutely brilliant. The movie adaptation is absolute crap. It is such a total waste of the time and energy it took for me to watch it that I wish I could sue Hollyweird for the 2 hrs of my life it robbed from me. What was wrong with following the story, it was written so beautifully, so fluidly it could have easily been translated to film, but alas it does not follow the genius writing in the novel at all. The main character of Jack Crow is physically and emotionally so distant from the character developed in the mind of John Steakley that he is unrecognizable to those who have read the original story. If you want to know what the actual Vampire$ story is about and who the real characters are I suggest you read the book, and be prepared, you'll want to read it again and again and again.

John Carpenter's Vampires (1998) is very underrated vampire horror slasher action movie that I love it to death! This movie is so underrated and it doesn't deserve all the hate! I love vampire films and this is one of them, that I just love to death! Vampires (1998) is one of my favorite horror flicks. And I think with Prince of Darkness, The Fog and Escape from L.A is very underrated films, some people think it is just an Action Film some people think it is just an Sci-Fi film about Vampires. Well it is not! It is a horror film about immortal Vampires fight against Evil VS. Good. An Ultimate battle. Also the film is worth of watch because it is fun on 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. I know that From Dusk Till Down and Blade are the most overrated Vampire films, but John Carpenter's Vampires are very underrated.I disagree with all of the haters of this film, if you are a true Vampire fan like me, you will enjoy this film. The saddest thing is that this film got two awful sequels who really both sucked with all the new cast in them. So don't say this is the most awful john Carpenter movie which is not!!!!!!! I have enjoyed this film more than I did They Live, Village of the Damned, In The Mouth of Madness and Christine those movies to me are all overrated this one isn't. After Vampires is the last good John Carpenter film. Ghosts of Mars and The Ward are just terrible movies and they are not good at all.This is a classic scary movie! Another great John Carpenter film! I love this movie and it will always be favorite best one and not only because is John Carpenter film, but because it is a Vampire flick and I just love Vampire movies to death! Fright Night (1985), The Lost Boys (1987), Fright Night (2011)-remake and Vampires (1998) are just my favorite Vampire horror movies! The main plot about this film: In the blood-chilling tradition of Halloween and Village of the Damned comes John Carpenter's unique vision of the ultimate killing machines, VAMPIRES. "Forget everything you've ever heard about vampires," warns Jack Crow (James Woods), the leader of Team Crow, a relentless group of mercenary vampire slayers. When Master Vampire Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith) decimates Jack's entire team, Crow and the sole team survivor, Montoya (Daniel Baldwin), set out in pursuit. Breaking all the rules, Crow and Montoya take one of Valek's victims hostage. The beautiful but unlucky prostitute (Sheryl Lee) is their sole psychic link to Valek, and through her senses they will track down the leader of the undead. As Valek nears the climax of his 600-year search for the Berziers Cross, Jack and the new Team Crow do everything humanly possible to prevent him from possessing the only thing that can grant him and all vampires the omnipotent power to walk in the daylight.I am giving this film a 10/10 because it doesn't deserve all the hate from fans and critics!!! Vampires, also known as John Carpenter's Vampires, is a 1998 American western-horror film directed and scored by John Carpenter. Adapted from the novel Vampire$ by John Steakley, the film stars James Woods as Jack Crow, leader of a Catholic Church-sanctioned team of vampire hunters.10/10 Score: A Studio: Film Office, JVC Entertainment Networks, Largo Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Starring: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximilian Schell Director John Carpenter Producer: Sandy King Screenplay: Don Jakoby Based on Vampire$ by John Steakley Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 48 Mins. Budget: $20.000.000 Box Office: $51.3.000.000