Vampires in space. What a fun idea, and in a campy way, this movie makes it work. Almost. My movie barometer acts in strange ways once in awhile, the range of varying quality films of which I derive enjoyment can be staggering at times. Sometimes this B (or lower) grade films are among the most enjoyable.
This is the latest premiere of a Sci-Fi Channel's Original Picture. I don't often wade into the waters of these films, as most tend to be of such schlock value that they are not entertaining at all, but when I read the description of this one, I had to risk the bite of a bad movie. I mean, how can you read this description and not be intrigued: "Capt. Nicholas Churchill (Joe Lando) leads a team of intergalactic vampire hunters who answer distress calls from planets overrun by the creatures. (from www.TVGuide.com)." Sounds like fun to me.
So Saturday rolls around and I settle in for an evening of corny vampire fighting action. I wasn't disappointed.
The setting is about 200 years into the future. There are civilized worlds all over the galaxy, some by humans, some by vampires. It appears that vampires have taken on a variety of cultures themselves, complete with different breeds, but equally nasty dispositions. They attack colonies of humans, sometimes for food, other times for sport, sometimes to replenish their ranks.
We pick up our intrepid band of misfit heroes on a hunt, where one of their ranks, a newcomer, hesitates and is almost killed. This sets up the rest of the film, the newcomer, Damian Underwood (Dominic Zamprogna) doubts himself as leader material, but his current captain, Nicholas Churchill (Joe Lando), convinces him to give it some time.
His leadership potential is put to the test when the next hunt goes south, Churchill is lost, and his crew members turn on him. This leads to a new battle, to work with his crew, while facing down a variety of these neckbiters. And this doesn't even get into the fact that they have a vampire as a member of their team.
Article comments