Categories: Movies

Beyond Dark Shadows: Laughter Bites into Vampire Comedy Movies

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s comic toned “Dark Shadows”, co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer, joins a list of Hollywood vampire films with more funny bone chuckles than spine tingling chills. Comedy puts a bite on movies like Leslie Nielsen’s “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” or Chris Sarandon in “Fright Night”. The undead can be scary, or sexy (Twilight), but also downright funny. The cheeky bloodsuckers have nearly created a new vampy entertainment sub-genre – The Vampire Comedy.

Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)
Roman Polanski’s (Rosemary’s Baby) horror comedy is an early landmark in vampire comedy – or vamp com. Not only are the production values great, but the movie never becomes cartoonish, but always delivers the funny. Starring himself and his ill-fated actress wife Sharon Tate, who’d fall victim to the bloodthirsty Charles Manson (Helter Skelter) two years later, the movie was so quirky popular it inspired a musical called, “Dance Of The Vampires.

Love At First Bite (1979)
George Hamilton is known for his tan, so it was ironic he’d play a sun hating creature of the night. Co-starring Susan Saint James (Kate & Allie) and Richard Benjamin (Westworld), the movie, though hilarous, also keeps a poignant love story intact for lovers of vampires and just lovers of love stories.

Fright Night (1985)
Chris Sarandon (Child’s Play) gleefully bites his victims with style in this vamp com co-starring Amanda Bearse (Married With Children) and Roddy McDowall, the iconic Cornelius from the “Planet Of The Apes” movies. The movie slides between real belly laughs, chuckles and some great scares. It was so successful, there was a sequel, and also a remake starring Colin Farrell in 2011.

Once Bitten (1985)
Before funnyman Jim Carrey rescued pets as “Ace Ventura Pet Detective”, he was yukking it up as an almost vampire. Co-starring the beautiful model and actress Lauren Hutton (American Gigolo), the fun film sees Hutton’s character chasing Carrey straight into a coffin. Carrey eventually became a superstar, so this little fangs of fun film was never a nail in Carrey’s career coffin.

Vampire’s Kiss (1989)
Oscar winner Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas) stars in this light vamp comedy alongside Jennifer Beals (Flashdance), Elizabeth Ashley and Maria Conchita Alonso. The movie may not be at the top of Cage’s Hollywood resume, but it’s spawned an internet phenomenon called a rage face or rage comic. One of Cage’s expressions in the film is now often tagged with the line, “You don’t say?” – a snarky way to tease an offender when they utter something so annoyingly obvious.

Buffy: The Vampire Slayer (1992)
Before Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) vamped it up on seven seasons of TV Buffy, Kristy Swanson originated the role in this feature flick co-starring “Beverly Hills, 90210″ heartthrob Luke Perry. Pee Wee Herman also lent a fang to this vamp com romp where it totally proves its totally good to be a California cheerleader when you must fight those totally annoying undead vampire people.

Modern Vampires (1998)
Rod Steiger (In The Heat Of The Night) and Casper Van Dien (Sleepy Hollow) co-star in this action packed vampy camp comedy, along with Kim Catrall (Sex In The City), which proves that the more vampires get modern, the more they stay the same – simple bloodsucking freaks. This straight to video flick may be lesser known fare, but it’s something of a cult favorite, and won a Best International Film Award.