THE LITTLE VAMPIRE
US, 2000, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jonathan Lipnicki, Rollo Weeks, Richard E. Grant, Alice Kriege, Jim Carter, John Wood, Ed Stoppard, Anna Popplewell, Pamela Gidley, Tommy Hinckley.
Directed by Uli Edel.
One might wonder about the suitability of a vampire film for young children. Would they be like Tony, the centre of this film, a little American who comes with his parents to Scotland for their business and connection with the Scottish Lord for golf? Jonathan Lipnicki, who appeared in Jerry Maguire as well as starring in Stuart Little, was something of a precocious young actor and brings the touch of ingenuousness and shrewdness to this role.
Rollo Weeks is one of the local vampires, of a family with parents Richard E. Grant and Alice Kriege. John Wood appears as the local Lord. Jim Carter tries to seal the show as one of the most eccentric vampire hunters you will ever see – as well as his strange vampire hunting machine.
While the film has many contemporary scenes, especially the bullying of Tony at school and the bullies comeuppance when Tony and his friend appear and scare and intimidate them, there are many scenes of vampires, especially in Tony’s nightmares when they assemble at the coast, waiting for a particular comet and their escape. While the nightmare is seen at the beginning, the reality of the arrival of the comet, after Tony and his friend find the jewel necessary for the release, is the culmination of the film.
The film was directed by Uli Edel, perhaps better known for such tougher films as Last Exit from Brooklyn and Christiane F., as well as the miniseries, Julius Caesar.
1. An entertaining story for the family? The young boys? Identifying with Tony, as a young boy, his imagination, the experience with the vampires?
2. An adaptation of a series of novels for children? The locations in Scotland, the tradition of the vampire family, their trying to find a place within society, not clashing with humans?
3. The opening, Tony and his nightmare, seeing all the vampires, the comet, the lightning flashes? Waking, his father’s exasperation, his mother’s care? A young boy to be having imagination about vampires?
4. The family, moving to Scotland, finding it alienating in some ways, language and accents, the father and his work, for the Lord, golf? The mother and her strong-mindedness, love for her son? Their going to the social, meeting the Lord’s sons and their fine words about Tony?
5. Tony, at school, the boys bullying him, talking in class about his nightmares, the exasperation of the teacher? The teacher and his comments at the party – vampires and everybody silent?
6. The arrival of Rudolph, Tony scared, Rudolph cautious? Talking, becoming friends, flying, meeting the vampire family, their are accepting him, at home, the Nanny and her fears? Rudolph and Tony appearing to the bullying boys, terrifying them, their carrying everything for Tony at school?
7. The vampire hunter, eccentric, his machine, the radar for tracking vampires? Driving, crashing? Threats to Tony? The confrontation with the family? His going to the Lord and asking money to exterminate the vampires? His pursuits, the slapstick comedy, farcical behaviour?
8. The family, suspicious of humans, the situation, the comet, on earth, the need to find the jewel, to be ready for the comet’s arriving, to be saved? The personalities? Of Rollo, the other children, the friendship with Tony?
9. Rudolph and Tony, searching for the jewel, finding it, getting it in time for the special occasion?
10. The Lord, his involvement, his fears? Tony’s parents, meeting the vampires, not knowing the truth, becoming friends?
11. Tony, his achievement, saving of the vampires?
