THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS
(directed by Roman Polanski, 1967)
** (out of 5)
.
> I first heard about this early Polanski film many decades ago, in another life. Here, the iconic Polish director both acts and directs.
. Made only two years after his English language conversion, this campy gothic… comedy (?) popped up regularly at the arthouse cinemas I frequented as a budding cinephile, in L.A. I couldn’t help but notice the title- for obvious reasons, and although I am very uninterested in most vampire flicks, I am very interested in most Polanski films. Also have a soft spot for Jack MacGowran, who plays Polanski’s mentor in this silly nothing. (I saw him perform a one-man show live onstage once, and he was mesmerizing as the characters of Samuel Beckett. It inspired me to successfully try the material myself.)
. MacGowran is a fumbling old vampire-hunting professor, whose physicality brings to mind a distracted Albert Einstein. He and Polanski have journeyed to Transylvania- the dead heart of vampire territory, and have stumbled upon a country inn that shows all the signs of protection from local bloodsuckers. After night falls, they watch as the innkeeper’s lovely daughter (Polanski’s beau and eventual Manson victim Sharon Tate), is mesmerized and spirited away by Count von Krolock- Dracula by a different name, following them to a neighboring castle where a big vampire’s ball is about to take place. Unfazed by his pursuers, the supremely confident Count invites them to join the party! Now they have a damsel to rescue and an entire castle full of undead to vanquish.
. Too bad it is so goofy and obvious, THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS is not nearly as much fun as it sounds. It feels like the film of a 12-year old.
– Though I bet the 12-year old me would have enjoyed it.
*
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