Genres

Visitors Review

Matt Santoro 2013-05-23 00:10:24

One of Cage's top 3 performances

Nicolas Cage is so vulnerable in this film. When he trys to shoot himself,when he leaves the club near the end, and when he talks to the imaginaryphsychiatrist. He's full of so much energy. His performance goes down inmyhistory books as one of the most inspirational performances ever filmed.Nicolas Cage shows us his amazing talent very early on in his career.(other top 2 performances? "Leaving Las Vegas" and "RaisingArizona")

2013-05-22 11:50:54

A seminal film

I saw this first time in the movie theatre, and I got the feeling that most of the audience did not get it at all. After the film ended, one man said sarcastically: "I can't wait for the sequel!"I think most people think it is comedy, due to Nick Cage's extreme acting. But... I don't think it really is. It is basically unclassifiable, and as such has a hard time in the market. To me it was strange, and funny, and fascinating. I see it as a portrait of a man who is going mad. This is rare, and an extremely difficult thing to do, because we know so little about madness. And of course it is a very uncomfortable subject also. Cage was just fantastic in this role. Maria Alonso too, and so beautiful.I recommend it, if you like to try different things.

2013-05-20 20:33:26

satirical psychoanalysis

This movie is terribly misunderstood by those who have little understanding of the human psyche. Cage portrays a narcissist who desperately seeks love but equally fears it and cannot achieve it without disassociating from reality and creating a fantasy. Although the movie is hilarious, it's equally disturbing as the viewer observes Cage's character developing from narcissist into psychopath and ultimately, a murderer. Apparently, he knows he has issues and attempts to desperately seek help from an egocentric psychiatrist. Long and short; the movie is brilliant, Cage is brilliant and I must say it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. I'll never grow tired of watching it.Definitely a movie for anyone who studies Psychology!

andrfenlon 2013-05-20 03:51:48

very, very misunderstood

Vampire's Kiss is a comedy. In no way is it supposed to be akin tolegitimate vampire movies. It parodies horror films and satirizes lifein the big city, much like other popular films, such as AmericanPsycho, do. In my opinion, Vampire's Kiss is much better than AmericanPsycho because instead of trying to be creepy and ultimately failing,Vampire's Kiss is hilarious. I gave it a ten. I'm certain that I'll beseeing it over and over again.ME, 2006: Looking back at this comment about the film and writing anewfrom a later date, I can certainly recognize why this movie isn't foreveryone. If you are a fan of absurd, inane, dark, wry humor, and youenjoy watching movies for subtlety and detail THIS IS IT. Watch out forthe mimes, and enjoy.

2013-05-16 06:22:43

cage plays suit who thinks he becomes a vampire

I think this is the best role Cage has ever played. Its about middleboss who is unsatisfied with his life. Slowly a change starts thatleads to a very strange tale. The story is unusual and very good. Cagedoes an excellent role and you character isn't flat and empty like mostbig blockbusters are. I really do recommend this film..it has a lot ofdark humour.The vampire saga in a modern version where evil has been substitutedwith insanity..there is no more evil people..just insane ones. The 80senvironment is just a bonus flashback.The connection back to regular folklore is that vampires always wasnoble people and in the modern version that would be a boss.I think this movies is a gem and its strange you don't see it moreoften as a rerun. I don't want to spoil the plot even if its not reallythat complex.

2013-05-16 00:03:27

Great Movie! Where's the DVD?

This review is from: Vampire's Kiss [VHS] (VHS Tape) I saw this movie years ago, and would definitely buy it for my home collection... if I could only find it in DVD format.

sol1218 2013-05-13 10:04:51

A stake before dying

***SPOILER ALERT*** Obnoxious and so full of himself yuppie literaryagent Peter Lowe, Nicolas Cage, gets all that's coming to him in thisboth hilarious and tragic back comedy about vampires and abusive andmanic depressive personality's in New York City circa 1989.Not being wrapped too tight to begin with Peter after standing up hisgirlfriend Jackie, Kasi Lemmons, lets his both hair and guard down whenhe goes out to dance the night away at a Manhattan disco club. It justhappens that Peter meets this really hot and sexy chick Rachel,Jennifer Beals, who before he can evaluate the situation, in why Rachelis so hung up on him, the two end up in bed together in his East 19thStreet, what's known as Yuppieville, Manhattan bachelor pad. During anight of hot and heavy action Rachel puts the hurt, or bite, on anunsuspecting Peter that would later drive the confused young man to thebrink of insanity and beyond.Peter soon starts to feel that he's been turned into a blood-suckingvampire by Rachael and starts to act accordingly. It's also during thattime in Peter's work as a literary agent that he starts to take hisfears and frustrations out at his loyal and hard working secretaryAlva, Maria Conchita Alonso. Being the arrogant and uncouth lout thathe is Peter drives the poor secretary almost to a nervous breakdown infinding this obscure short story title "Rattlesnake Hills". The missingand very "important" short story is in fact of no importance to anyone!Even the person, or client, whom a very concerned Peter claims sodesperately wants it. Peter uses it all throughout the movie to harassand browbeat Alva to the point where she can't come to work anymore!As Peter becomes more and more erratic he seeks help from hispsychiatrist Dr. Glaser, Elizabeth Ashley, who in thinking that he'sjust oversexed and suffering from burn out completely overlooks thedanger signs that he's giving off. Without help Peter disintegratesinto his own personal hell mimicking a real life, or fictional,vampire. Peter goes so far as both eating live roaches and pigeons aswell as murdering a women who foolishly at first lets him fondle herand then rejects his advances.It's Peter's abuse of poor Alva that in fact leads to his end with hercar mechanic brother Emilio, Bob Lujan, coming to her aid. By thenPeter was so screwed up and suicidal that a shocked Emilio, in seeingthe total dump that Peter lived in, didn't need to do that much to dohim it. In fact it was Peter himself who more then aided Emilio inputting himself out of his own misery.One of Nicolas Cage's best and at the same time most underratedperformance. Despite the movies black comedy theme Peter was a mansuffering from real and severe mental problems that drove him to bothmurder and suicide. It was really cruel and very unprofessional, as sheliked to claim that she is, for Peter's psychiatrist Dr. Glaser tobreak up and laugh at his pressing problems that in fact tipped Peterover the edge. Dr. Glaser was the only hope, or life line, that Peterhad left ad she failed him with flying colors.

eighteenforever 2013-05-12 19:29:23

Very Funny

Definitely belongs in the "so bad they're good" section of yourlocally-owned video store. If you can see past the anticlimactic plotand uninteresting supporting cast, you will find that Nicolas Cagedelivers a hilarious performance. I liked this film for it's quirkyhumor. Speaking of, I cracked up just about every time Nicolas Cagesimply spoke a line due to his utterly ridiculous "New England meetsCalifornia" accent. If you are one of the select few that can actuallyendure this unusual production, Vampire's Kiss will surely leave youwondering--"what the hell just happened?" And that is precisely why Ienjoyed it.

2013-05-08 18:51:24

This movie deserves a Blu-ray release

This review is from: Vampire's Kiss (DVD) I had some trouble hearing the dialog due to issues, I think, with the way the dvd's audio quality.Still, this movie warrants a watch if you are even remotely a fan of Nic (and you should be).I would buy this on Blu-ray if it came out.

JRogers714 2013-05-08 02:53:35

Maybe the Worst Movie I Have Ever Seen!

This movie is terrible. Even if you are tempted by the possibility ofseeing Jennifer Beals partially clothed, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITHTHIS DRECK. The plot made no sense whatsoever. The plot line wasincoherent in the extreme. I kept wondering if this movie was meant tobe a joke, but it kept taking itself so serious that I could nevertell. The acting in this waste of film is among the worst and over thetop I have ever seen. Nicholas Cage does do a good job of proving manypeoples suspicions that he is a poor actor who only has two characters,sad and totally deranged. He chews the scenery like he has a chainsaw.Jason from Friday the 13th has more subtlety to his character thanCage. This could have been a half way watchable flick without Cage.Others do a reasonable job with the standout being Elizabeth Ashley,for once underplaying her role. PLEASE, PLEASE Do not waste you timeunless you want to see Ms. Ashley in a rare moment of being on low.

fedor8 2013-05-07 16:29:19

A weird, but not too effective horror/drama.

Considering it's a late 80s film, it isn't even that ugly visually,though still quite mediocre. Cage is uniformly praised in this film,which is preposterous when taking into consideration the first hour orso, in which his acting is that of a rank amateur. It's not eccentric:it's amateurish. I only like him in the scenes towards the end when hetotally loses it. And the accent: what the hell is that? What kind of adumb affected talk did he develop there? He should have talkednormally.As for the plot, it turns out there were no vampires and that the wholething was in Cage's head, i.e. he imagined a vampire attack, etc. Afterall, he isn't sensitive to light even if he thinks he should be, and hedoesn't develop vampire teeth. If this was the point i.e. that he'ssimply insane, then I like the idea, otherwise this is/would be justanother vampire film, albeit a little stranger. The film only getsreally interesting towards the end; up inutile then it's quite drawnout.By the way, Cage really does eat that cockroach!!!

TM-2 2013-05-06 20:24:02

Quirky movie about a man decending into madness

A man decends into madness.His madness distorts his reality to where he believes he is becoming avampire.Not a vampire movie. Not really a dark comedy either.Cage did a great job but his accent was really bad. I felt at times hischaracter was really cruel and there was no dark fun side to laugh at.However, I gave it high marks because it was different and put a new twiston the whole madness thing. The acting (except for the accent) was good.Mywife hated this one.

silverking84 2013-05-05 05:29:30

people calling this a dark comedy (or a 'so bad it's funny' comedy) are out of their minds

Which part did you laugh hardest at, you guys? The part where heconstantly belittles the pretty, meek Cuban girl? Or where he rapesher, and they show her back at home staying in bed all day crying? Ormaybe it's the part where he's shown graphically murdering a woman bybiting her jugular vein. Or the many parts where we're shown hisrapidly increasing mental deterioration, as the people around him laughat him for how pathetic he is. Or maybe it's the ending, where he'spathetically killed, again graphically, by the brother of the woman heraped.There's not a laugh in it. Not an intentional "darkly comic" laugh, andnot a "oh how silly Nic Cage is acting" laugh. Not one. If you're anexperienced film-goer, the scenes where some people are saying theylaughed out loud at Cage probably left you, instead, with your mouthhanging open, amazed a major actor chewed scenery like that and let itmake it into the film.If this was intended as a dark comedy, then (and I read someonecomparing it to American Psycho, and that's apt - only, American Psychowas actually competently written, directed, and acted - whereas this issuch a mess one would be hardpressed to tell you what it was about, orwhat it meant to be about), it fails miserably. There's no comedy init. American Psycho has two major differences from this - one, it'sfunny - the material is simply funny, Patrick Bateman says funnythings, the way he speaks is funny. And Christian Bale is a talentedactor. And the movie has a consistent tone throughout. Then there'sthis horrible movie, which - there are a few absurd moments, but itgets realistic-feeling in some inopportune places. Again, what iscomic, darkly or otherwise, about a rape victim shown afraid to get outof bed the next morning? But the movie fails as drama, too. It's reallyjust - it's one of the most inept movies I've ever seen. It doesn'teven succeed as a picture of a man's descent into insanity - not leastbecause we're not told that's what's happening until, like, the lastfifteen minutes of the movie. Up to then we're shown a vampire chick,and we're shown Nic Cage being as rude and random as he was in theearly parts of the film. THEN the film descends even further and we'reclued in that he was really just going mad. It reminded me of asimilarly unpleasant experience, which was Dostoevsky's The Double. Ofcourse in that, since Dostoevsky was not incompetent, we understandvery early we're being shown a man descending into madness, and it'sall handled very well. Only the unpleasantness of some of the 'mad'scenes at the end echoes Dostoevsky's Golyadkin character.There is just nothing redeeming about this. It's a horrible, horriblemovie. The worst I've ever seen. The people recommending it (and I seea ton of 10-star reviews here) are outing themselves as people withouttaste - there is simply no way a competent film-goer could watchsomething like this and not understand that he's watching one of theworst films ever made - worse still in that it's not even bad in afunny way.

jzll7 2013-05-04 15:35:28

yes its black comedy, but its not well done

This arty film is all over the place - confusing in tone, odd inconcept, jarring in many moments, and with a central character that isnot sympathetic enough to be more than very distantly interesting tothe average viewer. It is rather poorly written, lacking in wittinessand elegance. I wonder what another director might have done with thematerial - either go toward more campy, or more psychological horror?Although I can't imagine either change improving this film very much.Cage gamely gives a fascinating performance, but mostly this film isjust disturbing without being either very funny or very creepy - it'sjust... really odd.

2013-05-03 01:39:11

When Love's at Stake, Cage Goes Kafkaesque

Peter Loew is the tormented protagonist of Vampire's Kiss, the 1988 cult classic from director Robert Bierman that combines quirky comedy with Kafkaesque neo-noir. Loew is a Philly-born literary agent in the foreign-distribution division of an unnamed Manhattan publishing house, who's obsessed about an old contract. Despite his yuppified money and status, he simply wants to be loved and to experience a long-lasting relationship. Prince of the one-night stand, perhaps, but he doesn't want to become the Prince of Darkness! He isn't searching for an eternal bond.The irony of Vampire's Kiss is that Loew desires love - and sees a therapist for help with that emotion - but is too shallow. Each time, he winds up only boasting to his therapist (portrayed by Elizabeth Ashley) about his nighttime sexual exploits. Therefore, love eludes him. For example, he's seen engaging in a promising romantic relationship with an attractive, culture-loving woman (portrayed by Kasi Lemmons, a decade before she transitioned from acting to brilliant directing), but moments after getting very amorous, he becomes transfixed and turned on by a bat that is circling the room. Paradoxically, while it takes deep puncture wounds from a vampire to render him immune to love's salvation, those very bites turn him batty.Nicolas Cage as Peter Loew is a sight to behold, and he eerily embodies his eccentric, vulnerable character. From his spazzed-out gesticulations and manic speech delivery to his bizarre spurts of rage, Cage's Loew is a case study of the lack of meaningful human connection and its contribution to escalating insanity. The setup of Vampire's Kiss presents him as a man who's antisocial, arrogant, stingy and misogynistic down to the bone, and only in the light of day can the deep bites inflicted upon him blind his superficial view of women and of life in general. Jennifer Beals deserves special mention for sinking her fangs into a delectable role. Vamping it up for the camera, a post-Flashdance Beals portrays a bloodthirsty barfly (make that "barbat") who manipulates Loew into her object of desire. Obsessive and bicuspid, she alters his destiny in measured erotic doses that are at turns gratifying and gross to watch.An absorbing subplot in Vampire's Kiss concerns sexual harassment. How the movie delves into the issue is not only disturbing but also disarming. The protagonist's predatory behavior with his secretary, portrayed by the versatile actress Maria Conchita Alonso, is delivered in an absurdly repetitious and hilarious manner. I've read reviews that indicate Alonso's character, Alva, was raped by Cage's Loew, but after watching Vampire's Kiss too many times to admit here, I totally disagree. Loew tore off her clothing, and, yes, that was violent. However, considering how depersonalized and despairing he becomes as the film further develops, I believe that he was trying to provoke an assisted suicide.I also don't believe that the storyline involving the worksite tension between Loew and Alva is a distracting subplot. That storyline runs parallel to Loew's descent into utter derangement, and his repetitious - and abusive - demand to see the contract is a device that writer Joseph Minion employs to reveal Loew's expanding insanity. For comparison, recall how Jack Nicholson's writer in The Shining gradually slipped into madness by having to repeatedly stop composing the beginning of his novel because his wife continually interrupted his concentration. In that sense, Loew's loss of patience with Alva's incompetence (i.e., it's not as though the "contract" doesn't exist) and its violent consequences are similar to the Nicholas character's verbal abuse of his wife, to whom he frighteningly demands, "Give me the bat, Wendy."In Vampire's Kiss, prior to Loew developing his supernatural condition, he was behaving erratically at the office. Now, however, his actions -- and the film's humor - veer deeper into dark territory, to the point that the viewer isn't so sure whether to laugh or turn sympathetic. For example, he starts wearing shades by day inside the workplace, performs an existential monologue in front of mirrors in the men's restroom, and -- after he grows impatient waiting for his fangs to develop -- purchases a set of plastic fangs in Chinatown instead of expensive fiberglass prosthetics. After fully accepting his new bad-boy image, he forces his new identity on anyone willing to notice. In one scene in a diner, he disparages a patron who is bragging to her girlfriend about a hansom cab marriage proposal. In another scene he runs through the streets of Manhattan, lisping through fake fangs and yelling at the top of his lungs: "I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire!"However, being a vampire isn't all that it's hyped to be. Sure, he's got the '80s metrosexual look and a job in a skyscraper, but he's afraid of flying - that is, of fully living his life. He's so emasculated that he can't manage to metamorphose into a bat. Later on, he carries a big stick but doesn't have the level of testosterone required to work it. What remains human about him is a tortured being reduced to chasing cockroaches in his brownstone apartment and pigeons on the sidewalk in order to satiate his newfound appetite.As Loew's character transforms more dramatically with the plot, he finds that the greatest conflict is within himself because no matter how hard he tries to fit into society, he fails. That his fake, plastic fangs don't fit comfortably into his mouth was a brilliant metaphor. Fated to be alienated, ever the outsider, he learns what it really means to be a vampire.When modern life sucks, a vampire's kiss leads to eternal suffering.P.S. For those who are nostalgic for New York City's 1980s club scene, you'll want to pay attention to the band jamming at the beginning of Vampire's Kiss. It's the minimalist funk band ESG performing "Moody," which is not only a classic dance song but also a "puntastic" clue to Peter Loew's inevitable journey into madness.

2013-05-02 10:00:36

What were you thinking Nick

Every actor has at least one movie that he wishes would just go away and i hope that Nicolas Cage picks this as his. Just an awful movie that should disappear.

EASinbellereve 2013-04-28 18:29:08

people calling this a dark comedy (or a 'so bad it's funny' comedy) are out of their minds

Which part did you laugh hardest at, you guys? The part where heconstantly belittles the pretty, meek Cuban girl? Or where he rapesher, and they show her back at home staying in bed all day crying? Ormaybe it's the part where he's shown graphically murdering a woman bybiting her jugular vein. Or the many parts where we're shown hisrapidly increasing mental deterioration, as the people around him laughat him for how pathetic he is. Or maybe it's the ending, where he'spathetically killed, again graphically, by the brother of the woman heraped.There's not a laugh in it. Not an intentional "darkly comic" laugh, andnot a "oh how silly Nic Cage is acting" laugh. Not one. If you're anexperienced film-goer, the scenes where some people are saying theylaughed out loud at Cage probably left you, instead, with your mouthhanging open, amazed a major actor chewed scenery like that and let itmake it into the film.If this was intended as a dark comedy, then (and I read someonecomparing it to American Psycho, and that's apt - only, American Psychowas actually competently written, directed, and acted - whereas this issuch a mess one would be hardpressed to tell you what it was about, orwhat it meant to be about), it fails miserably. There's no comedy init. American Psycho has two major differences from this - one, it'sfunny - the material is simply funny, Patrick Bateman says funnythings, the way he speaks is funny. And Christian Bale is a talentedactor. And the movie has a consistent tone throughout. Then there'sthis horrible movie, which - there are a few absurd moments, but itgets realistic-feeling in some inopportune places. Again, what iscomic, darkly or otherwise, about a rape victim shown afraid to get outof bed the next morning? But the movie fails as drama, too. It's reallyjust - it's one of the most inept movies I've ever seen. It doesn'teven succeed as a picture of a man's descent into insanity - not leastbecause we're not told that's what's happening until, like, the lastfifteen minutes of the movie. Up to then we're shown a vampire chick,and we're shown Nic Cage being as rude and random as he was in theearly parts of the film. THEN the film descends even further and we'reclued in that he was really just going mad. It reminded me of asimilarly unpleasant experience, which was Dostoevsky's The Double. Ofcourse in that, since Dostoevsky was not incompetent, we understandvery early we're being shown a man descending into madness, and it'sall handled very well. Only the unpleasantness of some of the 'mad'scenes at the end echoes Dostoevsky's Golyadkin character.There is just nothing redeeming about this. It's a horrible, horriblemovie. The worst I've ever seen. The people recommending it (and I seea ton of 10-star reviews here) are outing themselves as people withouttaste - there is simply no way a competent film-goer could watchsomething like this and not understand that he's watching one of theworst films ever made - worse still in that it's not even bad in afunny way.edited in 2012 to add I compared this to Dostoevsky's The Double, andit's interesting because a year after this review, there would be amovie released which its directors claims was inspired, in part, bythat story - Black Swan. And so besides the Dostoevsky story, I wouldencourage any viewer disappointed by this tripe, or who wants to seethis theme played out by people with talent, to check out the Aronofskymovie, which is masterful. It's actually in many ways a great companionpiece to this - there are many things the films share, but in one it'salways done right, while in the other it's always done wrong.

Kjetil Gilje 2013-04-28 10:54:14

Just another movie with vampires?

Well, not exactly. Contrary to other shallow and actionbased vamp-movies,this is something really special. It's about Loew, just the ordinary blokein your neighbour office. After a hot experience with a woman, whichincludes a neckbiting experience combined with a bat, he starts crackingup.And then it is time for some major laughs. Even if the movie is a bitunevenand a bit slow and unfocused, it is absolutely hilarious. Once againNicolasCage lifts a potentially terrible movie up to a kult-classic. He lurchesaround with (very) fake vamp-teeth, horasses his secretary, and turns hisapartment into some savage's nest. IF you appreciate Cage's sense ofhumour,this is a movie you just have to see!!!

cameronmarcusk 2013-04-27 18:31:41

No Vampires- Spoiler to twilight hopefuls

Such a great film. Hilarious throughout with terrific acting by NicCage. A must see for vampire and non-vampire fans a like, about a manwho thinks he's turning into a vampire. Cheeky at times and dark atothers but a very well told story and metaphor for emptiness andlonging, much like the story of contemporary vampires. Great movie,definitely a must see if you haven't seen it. This was the film thatmade me the Nic Cage fan I am today, and I'll be first in line to seehis next film "Trespass". Check it out the trailer to this movie onYoutube and see for yourself. You won't regret it!http://bitly.com/qN22Cm

2013-04-27 07:59:04

BLU-RAY RELEASE PLEASE!!!! AMAZING MOVIE

This review is from: Vampire's Kiss (DVD) Nic Cage's defining work. The movie is BRILLIANT. Nic Cage is BRILLIANT. The cinematography, the ambience, the story..... Fantastic. Have an open-mind and watch this movie. I had no idea Cage was so talented...