Unspeakable Horror!

I recently discovered the DVD release of Roman Polanski's horror-comedy, The Fearless Vampire Killers (also known as Dance of the Vampires).  Like most satisfying horror-comedies (Shaun of the Dead and Lost Boys come to mind), the comedic elements are mixed with some innovative and genuine horror elements. In other words, the film functions as a horror movie and a comedy.  When this really works well, the film still works as a horror movie. Fearless Vampire Killers is a horror-comedy like this.  And it has a great queer vampire -- see the clip above!

On the surface, this is a parody of Hammer-era horror films.  This vampire movie features an aristocratic Dracula-esque vampire very reminiscent of Christopher Lee.  This Dracula figure has a gay son (who appears to wear the same wig and costume as Tom Cruise in Interview).  Ultimately, the film pays homage to vampire stories as much as it spoofs them.  In fact, this film does some things better than most horror films. For example: setting, atmosphere, and soundtrack. 

I found the pacing of the movie to be very strange, and at first I didn't know how to read the tone. Once I became acclimated to the world Roman Polanski created, I really found the film intriguing.

The bumbling Professor Abronsius appears almost like a cartoon character with his gigantic eyebrows and red nose.  This character, an expert on bats, is a wonderful spoof of Van Helsing, and by the end I appreciated the actor's performance, especially Abronsius' relationshiop with his assistant who is played by a soft-spoken Roman Polanski.  I love how the assistant helps the professor put on his pants. 

Even if the sense of humor and pacing takes a little getting used to, there are many wonderful atmospheric elements about this film.  I love the use of snow-bound settings, and there are many beautiful scenes that take place against this snowy backdrop (and a couple of really cool snow chases with skis and sleighs).  The vampire looking in through the snow covered skylight while Sarah is in the bath also provides a wonderfully creepy moment.  

Von Krolock's castle is an excellent gothic setting with labyrinthine hallways, crypts, and rooftops (you'll see what I mean about the rooftops).  The ball of the vampires contains amazing costuming and a genuinely creepy atmosphere that is not diminished by the touches of humor throughout.  

Roman Polanski's character Alfred, obsessed with the inn-keepers daughter named Sarah, is being stalked by von Krolock's son Herbert -- a queer vampire played with great aristocratic panache and flair.  There is a wonderful scene on the bed where Herbert attempts to seduce Alfred with the same dating manual that Alfred was reading in the hopes of seducing Sarah -- a brilliant reversal.  Clearly, Alfred's fear of being bitten by a vampire is aligned with his homophobia, and this alignment is quite playful (and very significant in the larger horror genre). 

I really recommend this film as a great vampire movie which happens to include many moments of slapstick and parody (the most notable slapstick is the attempt to stake the vampires in the crypt).  Enjoy it for the gorgeous settings, laughs, creepy moments, and sexy queer vampire! I would've definitely let him bite me!