PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I’ll be completely honest, I LOVE Wild Eye Releasing’s Visual Vengeance series. Overlooked and forgotten (sometimes rightfully so) low/no-budget SOV features from filmmakers who either went on to greater things, or flashed out completely. They seem to make it their duty to preserve these gonzo, and legitimately entertaining, little gems for posterity, and I, for one, am here for it! So, I went into director Jeffrey Arsenault’s (Night Owl) Date With a Vampire, with an open mind, and an enthusiastic eye.
Synopsis
Violet is a vampire who hungers for sexual pleasure as much as her victim’s blood. By night she prowls the city, luring both men and women into her web of lust and murder.
A hot girl in NYC, with a bit of an “undead” problem, Violet (Lori Thomas; Stab 2) is always on the prowl to satisfy her two main cravings: sex, and blood (apparently in that order). So, after luring her newest tryst Chuck (Robin Macklin; Morning Glory) to her apartment, complete with a killer (pun intended) wine cellar, she quickly goes to work to sate her thirsts. Soon Chuck is in a literal life & death struggle for his body and soul. Will he escape Violet’s seductive web and embark on future one night stands??
Very low budget and low-fi, with a distinct shot-on-video look, Date With A Vampire is a look back to the Skin-A-Max days of “erotic thrillers” where copious T & A was prioritized over pesky things like plot, and character development. A notch below the stuff Charles Band was churning out at the time, Date With A Vampire nevertheless comes off as a earnest attempt at a modern Jean Rollin inspired vampire tale.
Clocking in at a crisp 88 minutes, it offers a lot for fans of skin and atmosphere: extended to point of “yawn, is this over yet” sex scenes, some blood sucking, and lots and lots of showering—this vampire lass is very hygienic! Thomas and Macklin both turn in workmanlike, prime time soap performances, and when they’re not bumping uglies in the aforementioned overlong scenes, the plot moves along pretty well when given the space to do so. Indie genre vet Joe Zaso (Tales of Poe) also shows up as an unfortunate cellar dweller, with Cynthia Polakovich (Tinsel Town) tagging along for some inspired sapphic content.
The transfer is as clear as one could expect from the obvious tape source material, although it definitely benefits from the Blu treatment/upgrade. Sound and cuts are even and pleasing with no wayward level spikes that can plague films in this medium. Visual Vengeance always delivers a multitude of extras, and Date With A Vampire is no exception! Interviews with everybody, including the location manager, commentary with Arsenault, gallery and trailer. There’s even a “bonus” film, Blood Craving (2002), for anyone wondering what Arsenault did next. All of this stuff is wrapped in the ultra-cool, garishly painted, cover art typical of Visual Vengeance releases, with a slipcase, reversible sleeve (with Blood Craving art!), mini poster and the omnipresent VHS style stickers.
A throwback to the late night cable days of babes, boobs, and a little blood, Date With A Vampire is still a lot of fun twenty-odd years later, the only thing missing are the 1-900 number and Girls Gone Wild commercials. Best viewed with an adult beverage or two…just be careful in that wine cellar!
Wild Eye Releasing’s Visual Vengeance Blu-ray of Date With A Vampire is available now from fine retailers.
