VAMPIRES/ JOHN CARPENTER’S VAMPIRES
US, 1998, Colour.
James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Tim Guinee, Maximilian Schell.
Directed by John Carpenter.
As The Sin Eater and films like Stigmata indicate, Cardinals cannot always be trusted, this is confirmed in John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998). Carpenter had made many horror films by this time including They Live and Prince of Darkness. This time a group of quite macho vampire hunters, led by a swaggering James Woods, are employed by Vatican authorities to seek out a nest of vampires who are planning to doom the human race when they find a crucifix that can enable them to walk in daylight! They are almost all destroyed, gorily, but capture a prostitute, Katrina (Sheryl Lee) who has been bitten and has telepathic connection with the Master vampire.
Clerically speaking, Daniel Baldwin is a priest whose vocation is vampire hunting, collaborating with Woods, though offering a more devout commitment to his work. They are later joined by another priest, young and inexperienced, though with information as to the location of the crucifix. Plenty of mayhem, priests included, a vampire film with a New Mexico setting which is virtually a vampire western. And, then the climax. Who should be the power behind the mission? Maximilian Schell as the Vatican Cardinal whose ambition has overridden all faith and commitment and who wants the crucifix in order to become vampirised, possess the crucifix in order to be undead, immortal and able to maintain his status and power. So, active evil-confronting priests and an overwhelmingly corrupt cardinal!
1. An interesting, far-fetched, vampire movie? By John Carpenter? In the light of his career?
2. The plausibility of the plot? The vampire hunters? The Vatican and its secret and special force?
3. The American setting, New Mexico, the desert? The contrast with Rome and the Vatican? The musical score?
4. The special effects, makeup? Action and stunt work? Vampire lore, not being able to walk in the sunlight? The device of the chains of the trucks dragging them into the sunlight to destroy them? The New Mexico City setting and the interpretation of the film as a neo-western?
5. The Vatican, the authorities, the priests? The role of Father Montoya? The role of the cardinal? The commission? The later introduction of Father Adam? Working with Jack Crow? The Vatican and its trusting Crow?
6. James Woods as Jack Crow, screen personality, intensity, the mad flair, over-the-top? his leadership, relationship with the group, seeing them in action with the vampires, destroying the nest? The group retiring to the motel, drinking, sex, and their destruction? The prostitutes? Katrina and her presence? Being rescued? With Jack and Montoya?
7. The master vampire escaping? Valek, his power over Katrina? The bite? Her being rescued, driving through the night? Safety at dawn? Crow, the name, return?
8. The character of Father Montoya, how likely a priest with this kind of vocation, in action, partnership with Crowe? Katrina and the link, tracking Valek through her?
9. The build-up to confrontations? The master vampire? The hunters? The role of the cardinal? The introduction of Father Adam, his inexperience, learning, the information about the crucifix, his becoming an action hero?
10. The theory about the crucifix, enabling vampires to live in the daylight?
11. The confrontation? The revelation of the cardinal? His motivation, worldly, using his ecclesiastical power and influence? Wanting immortality? And the crucifix to enable him to live in the daylight?
12. How interesting and entertaining the variations on the vampire themes?
