Vampiro da Meia-Noite

A vampire serial-killer is puzzling the LAPD, leaving bodies drained of blood without a pattern to be followed. When the detective in charge of the investigation is murdered by the vampire, Detective Roger Sutter (Jason Williams) partially assumes also the case. He has crush on his neighbor, the pianist Jenny Carleton (Lesley Milne), and Officer Lucia Giannini (Esther Elise) from his precinct likes him. Jenny is invited to play piano in a party promoted by the hypnotizer Victor Radikoff (Gustav Vintas) that gives motivational speeches and he uses his power to convince her to practice with him. What Jeannie does not know is that Victor is the wanted vampire.

"Vampire at Midnight" is an original vampire movie with an intriguing story. There are "things" that seem to be flaws (bald middle-aged vampire, vampire walking in the sun etc.) but the conclusion clarifies and is very satisfactory. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Ladrão de Almas" ("Thief of Souls")

I went into "Vampire At Midnight" hoping it would be a nice little treat, but I came away thinking that this late-night b-horror, didn't come together. I can see why it's not particularly well known, or even a cult-film. After a promising beginning, it stalls and like others have mentioned, becomes quite bland, a little slow and dull. It was just a little too chilled and relaxed. Still in parts, it does work because of some unorthodox touches and script's witty style. Like the story playing up the idea; is the killer a vampire or not? (He uses a hidden switchblade, not his teeth, but still drinks from their bloody throats).

Jason Williams in the lead role as the homicide detective on the case gives a likable performance for a mundane character. On the other side of the coin, Gustav Vintas' seductively dry performance as the killer is quite exemplary. Going for that European touch, which worked for me, but the vampire traits were rather different then the norm. Old school sensibilities within changing times and surroundings.

I think where it does lose somewhat its momentum, is when the killer takes a liking to the detective's beautiful neighbour (played vibrantly by Lesley Milne) who's an aspiring pianist. It's a bit of a stretch on how the paths cross, but it's obviously there to move the story along and add some suspense, which I don't think is all that effective or interesting. I just think there is something more there, but it only scrapes the surface. Making our killer quite a shallow shell despite Vintas' best. While I'm not much of a fan of where the story headed towards the back-end, I still got to hand it to them about the closing which does pack a killer punch.

For its low-budget, its visuals and lighting are particularly well-made. The L.A backdrop is hypnotic and added to the smokey and seedy atmospherics. Too bad I find some of the scenes repetitive and plodding, which took away its attempts of building tension, leaving the attacks as mean-spirited. The support cast were capable with the likes of Jeanie Moore, Esther Alise and Robert Rando.

"Leave this vampire thing alone".

A vampire is terrorizing the city, victims found drained of blood, and so it's up to a close-to-the-wind detective to find the killer. The wonderfully enigmatic and sinister villain, posing as a hypnotherapist, is the most effective vampires of recent years, the film is well-paced and chilling and has strong characters and an excellently surreal and brooding soundtrack (which ought to be released on CD/cassette). The sets are imaginatively-designed and there is a very thought-provoking ending.

A well-dressed man takes a woman to an overlook, which she doesn't get to enjoy. She's the ninth victim of "The Vampire Killer," who has taken all of her blood.

The "vampire" is working as a hypnotherapist. The movie avoids definitively answering the question of whether he really is a vampire, or wants people to think he is one, or if he thinks he is one. He does in fact drink blood directly from people, though, and is quite talented at hypnosis.

Some of his clients include a stand-up comic, dancers, a pianist. We're treated to some of their routines, nothing terribly special. Between the vampire's powers, and the popular detective pursuing him, several women take their clothes off.

Not bad, but I just didn't get into it that much. The vampire's accent grated on me a bit. His assistant's yard-long (at least!) mullet was silly, but when aren't they?

"Vampire at Midnight" is an American horror story worthy to be ranked with British Hammer films. Most attempts at transposing Gothic material and themes of the 19th century into contemporary settings fail miserably, but this one succeeds on many levels, even invoking the eerie sense of atmosphere necessary to facilitate the chills. There is more outright gore, violence and nudity than usual, but not so much that it spoils the effect. A mature and still hunky Jason Williams is quite good as the typical macho detective, relieved of duty on the case who persists in investigating regardless. The minor characters, particularly the female cop who fancies him and the stand-up comic who pulls him into the case and becomes a victim, are well portrayed by the actors. I can't understand why this film is so downgraded by its detractors...it is far better than 90% of comparable films in the genre, with bigger names and budgets involved. A very competent film which deserves a wider audience.