SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE

2000

In the Question and Answer period following the showing of his film, the director, E. Elias Merhige a talkative young bore, gave the impression that he thinks that this film is a visionary work of great art. It's inspired by the great German film director F.W. Murnau and the making of his unforgettable vampire film "Nosferatu." Although the look and style of the film is pure German Impressionism, in substance, it's more like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show!" The actors are encouraged to chew up the scenery and they certainly do. Willem DeFoe as the actor portraying the vampire is so over the top that you're not sure if you're watching brilliant acting, or camp. Maybe it's a little of both. John Malkovich is as crazy as he's ever been on screen, and that's saying something. Although the story is a pure original, it deteriorates at the end into an unbelievable scene of comic carnage. The whole film is something like watching an animal die; you're horrified, but you can't take your eyes away from it.

3 Stars

NJB