Seriously, Bram Stoker’s Way of the Vampire? That might have worked if Bram Stoker had written anything called “Way of the Vampire.” Or if the movie was based, however loosely, on one of his other obscure short stories (like this, or this). Or even if it was some weird direct-to-video sequel of Francis Ford Coppola’s version. But it doesn’t appear to be any of those things. The only thing it appears to be (from its NSFW trailer) is bad. Very, very bad.
It’s also listed in the IMDB as “Van Helsing’s Way of the Vampire,” which at least seems a little more accurate — Abraham Van Helsing is a character — but more like a way of cashing in on the success (such as it was) of Van Helsing.
Are Stoker’s characters all in the public domain now? Because, y’know, if people are looking for an argument against relaxing copyright, I worry that movies like this might be it…
Also of interest, Rhett Giles, who plays Abraham Van Helsing in the movie, plays Jacob Van Helsing in Dracula’s Curse (aka Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Curse), which doesn’t appear to be at all related to Way.
Wow. Seems like this thing has graced the bottom shelf at video stores all around the world.
But I have to admit to having a certain weakness for bad vampire movies like this. What struck me, though, was the plot summary at IMDb — “Dr. Abraham Van Helsing is granted immortality by the Catholic Church until he can hunt down the last vampire prince.”
So, since indulgences are right out the window nowadays, is the pope handing out immortality instead? And doesn’t that sort of make him like a vampire himself?
This apparently aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. Which, when it comes to movies, I guess is saying pretty much the same thing as bottom-shelf video store.
On paper, it’s an interesting (if unoriginal) idea, but it looks like it really fails in execution.
Looking through the list of credits connected to some of the cast and crew, it’s amazing just how many direct-to-video movies like this get made every year…