Vampire at Midnight (1987) User Reviews

"They'll be some other sick freak soon enough to take that guys place." Dull & boring.

[poolandrews · 4/10 · 3 January 2006]

Vampire at Midnight is set in Los Angeles where over a past number of months a killer has stalked the streets, a killer who drains his victims of their blood. He has become known as the Vampire killer & his victims so far total 9 & Detective Al Childress (Robert Random) hasn't got a single clue to go on until he gets lucky one night, or unlucky I suppose, when he runs into the Vampire killer & ends up with his throat slashed. Homicide Detective Roger Sutter (Jason Williams) takes over & receives a call from a comic named Lee Keller (Jonny Solomon) who claims to know who the Vampire killer is. Sutter drives round his house & finds Lee dead & become seven more determined to find the Vampire killer. Meanwhile his pretty neighbour Jenny Carleton (Lesley Milne) is an aspiring concert pianist struggling for confidence so visits a hypnotherapist named Victor Radikoff (Gustav Vintas) to help her self esteem. In one of those film only co-incidences Victor turns out to be the Vampire killer & instead of killing Jenny, like everyone else he comes into contact with, he falls for her & tries to make her his woman, or something like that. Super cop-turned boyfriend Roger to the rescue, he can solve the Vampire killings & come out of it with a good looking bird on his arm as well, sounds good to me...

Directed by Gregory McClatchy I found very little to enjoy in Vampire at Midnight which is one of those obscure films that you look forward to watching but when you finally get the opportunity to do so it provides nothing but disappointment. The script by Dulany Ross Clements has virtually no narrative, has no focused story, takes itself extremely seriously & is very thin on plot. Vampire at Midnight is patchy to say the least, at the start it focuses on the Vampire killer & the police investigation which is when it's at it's best, then after Al is killed it switches & focuses on Rogers personal life & his attempts to bed his pretty next door neighbour Jenny & then finally the last third of the film concentrates on Victor the Vampire trying to seduce Jenny. Vampire at Midnight plays really strangely & it really can be divided into three distinct parts, unfortunately it is also very boring & dull oh & I don't want to forget about Bobbie Rio (Eddie Jr.) the black break dancing guy who appears in a couple of scenes in the middle for seemingly no reason whatsoever other than to embarrass himself with his lame 80's dancing. Not much in the way of traditional Vampire law is featured in Vampire at Midnight, the only reason this could be described as a Vampire film is that Victor drinks blood from people's necks after he has slashed them with a huge retractable blade that shoots out of his sleeve. The twist ending was interesting & almost saves the film although when I think about it it just seems stupid now. This could have been a decent horror but as it is it turned out very confused, bland, unlikable & flat.

Director McClarthy shows occasional glimpses of style throughout but for the most part Vampire at Midnight flirts between visually impressive & visually dull. Vampire at Midnight is a real product of the 80's, the houses, the decor, the clothes, the hairstyles & the overall feel. Forget about any blood or gore, two slashed throats which are hard to see as they happen in the dark & that's it.

Technically Vampire at Midnight is competently made, some parts of it seem to have had more time spent on them than other's. The acting was OK at best although I never felt for anyone & I can happily report that Frank the Fish playing Himself puts in a blinding performance! Hey, the little fella's even listed in the credits.

Vampire at Midnight was a disappointment, the story is all over the place & lacks any sort of focus, lacks decent horror elements & isn't much fun to watch. I found my eyelids becoming heavier as the film wore on which is never a good sign. Not worth bothering with.

"Looks like the vampire killer number 9".

[lost-in-limbo · 5/10 · 25 June 2016]

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".

some blood, some nudity, some slasher and vampire appeal, but didn't entirely gel for me

[FieCrier · 5/10 · 5 September 2005]

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?

Boring Waste of Time at Midnight

[Rrrazorback · 1/10 · 11 July 2008]

Paul Andrews, who already submitted a review for this film, hits the nail on the head. When I saw the VHS cover for this film many years ago, I really wanted to watch it. It had very alluring cover art and some interesting screen-caps on the back, the whole premise of a deranged doctor acting out his vampire fantasies sounded promising. Plus it had a restriction of 2-18! Being a bit under age at the time and in an obscure video store near my dads office, it was no go. But the memory stuck.

I got the film for next to nothing and watched it last night. Two things struck me immediately, the first being the quality of the DVD. Or rather lack of. The film looks like it was recorded straight off of a VHS tape in somebodies squalid basement. It's very grainy, but I did not expect a digitally remastered classic, so no big deal.

Secondly, they screwed up the title on the DVD menu screen. Renaming it VAMPIRES at Midnight, in the most cheesy horror font you could cut off of a packet of Monster Munch.

Now I love B-grade, but this was really bottom of the barrel stuff. A god-awful script combined with bargain basement extras and tacky sets does not a stylish inner city vampire flick make. Nudity and gore are severely lacking as well. Some boring malformed breasts and the occasional blood splatter. I don't know if its a reflection of todays society, but this would have a 13 age rating if released today.

The plot and pacing are beyond redemption. Attempts to come across as arty seem more like efforts to patch up areas where the writer just gave up on his own film (and future Hollywood aspirations too I hope.) The detective is unintentionally hilarious too. His infatuation for his dull neighbor comes across as obsessive and creepy. (Climbing out of bed and watching her through his window with binoculars, constantly harassing her and other such romantic gestures.) The vampire had potential, but he soon degenerates into something quite pathetic and gets frustrated and panicky a lot of the time. He also seems to own only one suit. (Which he also sleeps in.) He wears this same suit to public appearances and high brow parties. (Keeping in mind he is not a real vampire, so any supernatural connotations to him being constantly immaculate go right out the window.) Despite being clearly wealthy he lives in a sparsely furnished house and sleeps on what looks like a table, with no cushions. He is also addicted to cigarettes, which kind of lessens the fear factor.

As Paul mentioned, the most frightening parts of this film manifest in visual/audio results of a couple doing some funky "dance moves". If the movie was attempting to build any kind of creepy atmosphere, these scenes tear it down and defecate on the violated remains.

Frank the Fish indeed steals the show and I enjoyed his screen time. After a while I just wanted all the other characters to choke on their own rubbish dialogue and rot for all eternity.

Stay away.

Calling all cars! Be on the lookout for a vampire at midnight!

[zeppo-2 · 6/10 · 7 May 2005]

Really more a crime drama than an out and out horror film,played very much like an episode of 'Kolcak - the Night Stalker.' Starts well, with the old cliché of 'it can't really be vampire at large, can It?' Then dips in the middle while the story brings all the plot elements together before a rousing finale.

Jason Williams as the hero detective is efficient if somewhat dull but the star turn is Gustav Vintas as the creepy and sinister villain of the piece.

An okay film but not quite what I was expecting from the packaging from 'Palace Horror' video company. Still, it kept the interest and wasn't too bad, just think it stretches the criteria of what a horror film should be.

Very effective film.

[G.Spider · 8/10 · 24 June 1999]

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.

Underwhelming cop vs. killer drama.

[Hey_Sweden · 6/10 · 25 February 2012]

Now, if the prospective viewer is anything like me and an addict of B movies, they may derive some entertainment from this thing, but it's not likely to be much. There was some potential here, but the movie is unfortunately a little dull. After a while, it becomes hard to care that much about it, as it spends a little too much time with our villain's seduction of the heroine. Jason Williams of "Flesh Gordon" fame, who was also a story author and producer (with Tom Friedman), stars as a mildly quirky loner detective, Roger Sutter, who picks up the trail of a "vampire killer" at large in L.A. This character, whose actual name is Victor Radikoff, has a cover as a hypnotherapist, and is by far the most intriguing person in this story; he's played by a character actor named Gustav Vintas, whose credits also include "Lethal Weapon", "Silent Assassins", and a 1989 movie titled "Midnight". His performance is a highlight as he does look pleased to be playing this part, and does have a soft spoken charisma about him. And Victor is not your typical "vampire": no coffins for this guy. One commendable aspect to this movie is that it keeps it ambiguous as to whether he really is a vampire, although he does indeed drink blood right from his victims' throats. Among his victims are a stand-up comedian and a pair of dancers; the leading lady, Jenny (sexy blonde Lesley Milne) is an aspiring concert pianist. For the most part, the cast is as underwhelming as the film; Williams is a handsome guy but doesn't fare too well in a pretty standard role. (It's apparently supposed to be an endearing character trait that he drops his own food into his fish tank.) He's been more engaging elsewhere. Milne does entice us by baring almost all in one delectable scene near the end. Robert Random, who'd also worked with Williams on the goofy sci-fi clunker "Time Walker", appears as the ill-fated detective Al Childress; other than Radikoff, the most amusing people here are his young associates, Amalia (Jeanie Moore) and Raoul (Christopher Nee), the latter sporting one of the most ridiculous mullets you'll ever see. Directed by Gregory McClatchy, who'd co-edited the movie "The Great American Girl Robbery" in which Williams had acted, and featuring some catchy music. This isn't terribly satisfying; it's watchable enough but should have been more fun. Six out of 10.

A Midnight Snack

[Gluck-3 · 24 June 2001]

Didn't start out very well, with the introduction of the cliched, macho cop character (who single-handedly defused a hostage situation)... but grew to be a rather well-made film for the genre. I don't know if it was the xenophobe in me, but hurray for the return of the vampire with the Eastern European accent. (Is it any wonder Bela Lugosi is generally still remembered as the most popular Dracula?) This vampire's hiding behind the profession of hypnotherapy was an excellent idea, hypnotism being one of the powers of vampirism. The villain, however, seemed to be breaking the other rules of vampirism, keeping the viewer on his/her toes... could he have been George Romero's "MARTIN," all grown up? I also enjoyed the presence of the vampire's pretty boy "assistant" ("Raoul"), a novelty characterization we haven't seen until Brad Pitt in "INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE"!

I don't know what our macho cop hero saw in the blond piano-playing heroine, since she was always so depressed and lifeless. Maybe it was the fact that she had a nice body? (One that we later got to see, fortunately, undraped?) The annoying macho cop kind of grew on me as the film wore on, and when I read his other credits on the IMDB, I was totally won over when I noticed he was the actor who played "FLESH GORDON"! (I still have a soft spot, whenever I see him in B-movie potboilers, for Sam "FLASH GORDON" Jones, as well...)

The Vampire Serial-Killer

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 13 December 2021]

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")

an American horror story worthy to be ranked with the British Hammer films.....

[ccmiller1492 · 8/10 · 22 September 2013]

"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.

Above-average bloodsucking yarn

[lor_ · 28 March 2023]

My review was written in October 1988 after watching the film on Key video cassette.

""Vampire at Midnight" is an above-average sexy horror thriller marking a departure for Skouras Pictures, which elected to give it a domestic theatrical release alongside distrib's artier fare.

What makes this sexploitation film work is a respect for various genre needs: okay blooducking thrills plus a bevy of undraped beauties in the cast. That spells decent prospects in the home video/paycable market.

Jason Williams (erstwhile star of the campy "Flesh Gordon"0 toplines as a police detective in L. A. on the trail of a police detective in L. A. on the trail of a serial killer dubbed a vampire since the victims are found with the blood drained from their bodies.

Audience is clued early on that balding Gustav Vimas is the villain, a hypnotherapist whose gaze has a mesmerizing effect on folks (particularly women), whom he kills for their blood. Some of his victims become drones, providing regular sups but left alive to do his bidding.

Though film is played straight and receives solidly atmospheric lensing and scoring, there is a tongue-in-cheek element in the systematic topless footage accorded to the femme cast. Even Williams' policewoman friend, played by Esther Alise, handcuffs him to the bed one night and removes her black lace undies for a sex scene which is definitely not strict police procedure.

Director Gregory McClatchy keeps matters slightly controlled, eliciting a nicely shaded turn from baddie Vintas. Beautiful heroine Lesley Milne is given a fine showcase here. Moody finale reveals that story's supernatural overtones were a red herring.

I love this movie.

[conradodepacas · 10/10 · 10 January 2017]

I know. This is not a great movie. But within its purposes (making a cheap action film) and within its historical context (80's) it is a very cool film. Demonic villain, inelegant protagonist and a beautiful girl. All this in a climate of mystery that the serial killer, dubbed by the newspapers of "Vampire Killer", causes in the city where the feature film is happens. My grade 9 seems like an exaggeration, but I really enjoyed the sympathy of the film and its ambient thriller. And the final scene shows why less famous films are so cool. I can not forget to quote the soundtrack, very good. A great movie from the 80 years.

Entertaining cop/crime opus with a slight horror bent to it

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 12 August 2019]

Charismatic hypnotherapist and wannabe vampire Victor Radikoff (smoothly played to the suavely sinister hilt by Gustav Vintas) leaves drained corpses in his murderous wake. It's up to laid-back, but determined maverick detective Roger Sutter (a solid and likeable performance by Jason Williams) to catch him.

Director Gregory McClatchy keeps the enjoyable and engrossing story moving along at a steady pace, maintains a generally serious tone throughout, stages a few exciting action scenes with flair and skill, and delivers a satisfying smattering of tasty bare female skin along with several nice'n'nasty moments of bloody violence. The clever script by Dulany Ross Clements puts a fresh spin on the standard vampire premise and makes the most out of the New Age hypnotherapy angle, with Radikoff rating as a fun and exotic villain. The sound acting from the capable cast rates as another substantial asset: Lesly Milne as sweet pianist Jenny Carleton, Esther Elise as lusty and spunky cop Lucia Giannini, Christopher Nee as mulletted henchman Raoul, Jeanie Moore as loyal follower Amalia, Robert Random as cranky ill-fated detective Al Childress, Jonny Solomon as aspiring stand-up comic Lee Keller, and Ted Hamaguchi as the hard-nosed Captain Takato. Daniel Yarussi's stylish cinematography provides a pleasing polished look. A nifty little B-flick.