The concept of tying in vampire lore with a mob movie was quite interesting. Mob movies were the rage in the late 80s, early 90s, so this could have been added to that sub-genre of crime film.
But sadly, this movie suffers from poor direction and poor story writing.
Let me first start with the technical problems. I found the editing really really bad. Scenes would end suddenly, then jump into another scene you thought was related to the previous scene, but then it turns out they were either happening miles apart, or at a different time. It was really poorly done. For example, the scene where Anthony LaPaglia first meets Marie, this is right after him and Chaz. Palminteri had their heart to heart talk, then he walks off, I'm guessing, to go to his car. LaPaglia is about to get into his car, has an interaction with Marie, she decides he's not worth eating, and walks off. Next second you see her cross the street, and get hit by Chaz's car. And then there's a huge yelling. Anyway, it feels like LaPagia's character should have been just across the street and come over to smooth things over, but that's not what happens. That's just one example of where the editing is weird and the flow of the story is jarring or thrown off.
As another reviewer mentioned, the whole plot of the Mobsters getting turned into vampires is interesting but goes nowhere. Well, one problem is right after Marie bites Robert Loggia's mafia Don character. For whatever reason, she doesn't run away before the cops arrive?! She was already out of the apartment, and was on the roof, and so she waited there until LaPaglia finally shows up, at which time she decides to run?!! That made no sense.
Anyway, as the movie progresses Loggia just keeps biting one mobster after another, and they all brag how they're going to 'run this town'. But we never see who the competition is. Who are these other organized crime groups they are up against? All you see is just this one family and so the movie feels half thought out by the end.
One thing that bothered me was Landis was sloppy with his vampire tropes. We never get to see them dispatched the usual way. I mean, when has a vampire died from a gun shot to the head? I understand if you blow off their WHOLE head, that's hard to come back from. But a small handgun shot? There were no stakes to the heart, holy water moments. Heck, this 'vampire' Marie even had a reflection and she was running around inside of a church! WTF?! I was beginning to doubt she was a real vampire, just someone faking it, because of those non-vampire characteristics.
There are a few 'cute' moments when you see cameos by horror royalty, like Tom Savini as a paparazzi, Sam Raimi as the meat locker employee, and Dario Argento as an EMT. And oddly, in January, there's an abundance of black and white, horror movies on TV.
Otherwise, this semi-homage to classic horror, falls short. Still worth a watch. Some find it fun, but it's far from Landis' best work.
But sadly, this movie suffers from poor direction and poor story writing.
Let me first start with the technical problems. I found the editing really really bad. Scenes would end suddenly, then jump into another scene you thought was related to the previous scene, but then it turns out they were either happening miles apart, or at a different time. It was really poorly done. For example, the scene where Anthony LaPaglia first meets Marie, this is right after him and Chaz. Palminteri had their heart to heart talk, then he walks off, I'm guessing, to go to his car. LaPaglia is about to get into his car, has an interaction with Marie, she decides he's not worth eating, and walks off. Next second you see her cross the street, and get hit by Chaz's car. And then there's a huge yelling. Anyway, it feels like LaPagia's character should have been just across the street and come over to smooth things over, but that's not what happens. That's just one example of where the editing is weird and the flow of the story is jarring or thrown off.
As another reviewer mentioned, the whole plot of the Mobsters getting turned into vampires is interesting but goes nowhere. Well, one problem is right after Marie bites Robert Loggia's mafia Don character. For whatever reason, she doesn't run away before the cops arrive?! She was already out of the apartment, and was on the roof, and so she waited there until LaPaglia finally shows up, at which time she decides to run?!! That made no sense.
Anyway, as the movie progresses Loggia just keeps biting one mobster after another, and they all brag how they're going to 'run this town'. But we never see who the competition is. Who are these other organized crime groups they are up against? All you see is just this one family and so the movie feels half thought out by the end.
One thing that bothered me was Landis was sloppy with his vampire tropes. We never get to see them dispatched the usual way. I mean, when has a vampire died from a gun shot to the head? I understand if you blow off their WHOLE head, that's hard to come back from. But a small handgun shot? There were no stakes to the heart, holy water moments. Heck, this 'vampire' Marie even had a reflection and she was running around inside of a church! WTF?! I was beginning to doubt she was a real vampire, just someone faking it, because of those non-vampire characteristics.
There are a few 'cute' moments when you see cameos by horror royalty, like Tom Savini as a paparazzi, Sam Raimi as the meat locker employee, and Dario Argento as an EMT. And oddly, in January, there's an abundance of black and white, horror movies on TV.
Otherwise, this semi-homage to classic horror, falls short. Still worth a watch. Some find it fun, but it's far from Landis' best work.