Vampires

John Carpenter gives us a slightly above average storyline that is saved by James Woods being an uber-badass. It's hard to give a new twist to the vampire legend after Hollywood has made a thousand vampire flicks. This one doesn't break much new ground but gives us solid effects and focuses more on the vampire hunters rather than the bloodsuckers themselves. A tie in to the Catholic church is amusing enough and provides a few good laughs.

Woods chews up every scene he is in. He provides a terrific blend of machismo and one-liners that Ah-nuld would be proud of. The fat Baldwin brother doesn't do much more than grunt when he repeatedly burns himself other than sweat through every scene. The priest seems to be in the flick for comic relief more than anything else. Our female lead does a good job doing an imitation of a coked out hooker but I could have done without some cellulite close-ups. Without Woods this flick falls into the forgetful category.

The kills are sufficiently bloody (watch out for Valek's first victim). What is interesting is the relative lack of biting that is the prominent feature in most vampire flicks. Also a bit of nudity thrown in in the scene where the Catholic Church supplies hookers to the vampire hunters. I missed that part of church.

The score is also of special note. Carpenter does the music himself. The score is sort of a Tex-Mex vibe that has an edge of bloodthirsty desperation to it. Not as memorable as the "Halloween" score but a great addition to the film.

Overall, an above average vampire flick made so by Mr. James Woods and his bad-assery.