Kingdom of the Vampire

It's with great credit to co-write/director JR Bookwalter and co-writer/star Matthew Jason Walsh that KINGDOM OF THE VAMPIRE isn't like any vampire film I've seen before. It's original, daring, disregards the more common vampire tropes, and succeeds in being an entertaining horror film. JR Bookwalter has done a lot of good work, and KINGDOM OF THE VAMPIRE is one of his earlier efforts. Allegedly shot on analog Super VHS-compact, and it looks terrific. This film delivers, and is well worth watching. Matthew Jason Walsh is a gifted actor who gives a great performance. Watching him in KINGDOM OF THE VAMPIRE makes one wish he'd done more acting in films.

Timid, spineless, reluctant vampire Jeff looks after his overbearing mother (Cherie Petry hamming it up like no one's business), who is incredibly mad at her son for not fully embracing his vampiric ancestry (when she's not sucking the blood out of anything that comes to her house door). One day Jeff meets Nina, a girl who falls for Jeff's wimpy aloof ways for some God knows reason. Of course this draws the ire of dear old mom and sets them all on a road to an inevitable collision.

Jeff's incessant whining gets a tad old after awhile and the ending is pretty anti-climatic, but the film did have some charm due to how the movie was played tongue (or rather fang)-in- cheek. Fans of extremely low-budget horror fare might want to check it out, but everyone else who doesn't have that particular acquired taste would do better to steer clear of this one.

My Grade: C-

For those bored enough to find this film on IMDb, let me tell you something: stay away from this movie. This is among the many movies that are not worth your time. Maybe if you like really lame, and I mean exceptionally lame, horror movies, then be my guest and watch. I would go into more detail, but 1000 words are not enough to express everything wrong with this movie. I only know how bad it is from multiple viewings. "Why multiple viewings?" you may ask. Well, I own the movie. I own it because I was in it. I played Micheal, the trick-or-treater dressed up like Robot Ninja who gets killed. I'm not saying the movie ruined my life. I'm just trying to warn others from wasting their time and money. But I don't think it's even in print anymore so this entire message may be pointless. Just stay away from the movie. I give the movie a 0 out of 10.

As a BIG fan of Tempe Entertainment / J.R. Bookwalter, when I heard Kingdom of the Vampire, a long Out of Print movie, was being Re-released, I ran to get a Money Order.

When it came in the mail, I was so excited. As I was watching it, the thought occurred to me: J.R. Bookwalter is simply a genius. In about a Month, he can put together a movie like this.

Kingdom of the Vampire has all the necessary B - Rated classics: Wavy acting, Great Music, Blood Blood Blood, and, who can forget, a rushed script that some how works perfectly.

NOTE: If you intend to take this movie seriously like a John Carpenter flick....forget it! This is a Tempe Production. Tempe Movies are all about Black Humor, Gore, and Memorable Special Make-up effects (Skinned Alive).

My Final Rating: 8.5 out of 10

People who are interested in or have seen this movie should check out other Tempe Flicks like: Skinned Alive (My personal favorite), Robot Ninja, The Dead Next Door, Galaxy of the Dinosaurs, Zombie Cop, Townies (my other Favorite), The Sandman, and Ghoul School, as well as many others. For recommendations on other titles, please check the other movies I have commented on by clicking on my name above this review section.