User reviews

Look, I skip a LOT of movies. Probably two out of every three movies I start, I give up after ten minutes unimpressed. But this I watched all the way to the end, and enjoyed it.

Yes, it's no masterpiece. BUT it is a lot of fun. It feels like a bunch of young people getting together to make their first movie, well aware it will not make them stars, but they can enjoy the experience. Think Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog done by amateurs...

I went to what I think was the first ever public showing of this film at SIFF, at the Neptune theater. There were apparently some difficulties getting the film there, and when it finally arrived, they played it off what I believe was the director's mac book, and due to technical difficulties there was no color correction and the time code was across the top. However, we were informed that this was the final cut of the film - only the color correction was missing.

I had a lot of fun at this movie. I think I'll start with the best parts - It was immediately hilarious. This movie didn't take itself 100% seriously, and I loved that. There were some great breaking-the-4th-wall moments where the characters acknowledged that they were singing and dancing. All the characters were over-the-top and very funny ("Dan Helsing" in particular). The musical numbers (of which there are plenty) were probably THE best part. The songs themselves were all catchy and well-produced, and the dances were a blast to watch. Each musical number was as slick and flashy as any pop music video.

Now, for low spots of the film... The points where it lagged were when it started to take itself seriously - the dramatic moments between the characters were very soap-opera-y. Also, the plot was almost paper-thin and didn't always make much sense. It was sort of just a string to hang the big comedic and musical moments on.

I still recommend seeing this movie. I think anyone who likes rock musicals will enjoy this. This is the kind of movie you go see with all your friends to laugh together and sing the songs afterward. If this movie doesn't become a box office hit, I think it will at least become a cult hit, particularly with teens and 20-somethings...

and by spot on I mean the most incorrect and awful review of all time. I Kissed a Vampire held the lovely title of "lowest grossing film in box office history" until FIFA had to come in and ruin more things. Sepp Blatter is such a POS that even a rock musical about vampires grossed more than the film he funded to make himself look like a God. Of course I did not waste my time seeing either movie because I have good taste but boy o boy does it look horrible. If you want to spend $10, mail it to me and I'll ship you a box of rocks to play with. My 13 year old cousin made more money at her lemonade stand last week than I Kissed a Vampire made at the box office.

Hey Quis89, don't quit your day job because movie reviews are NOT for you.Maybe it's a cult classic though like you predicted!!!

Is it reasonably well made and enjoyable? Yes. Is it a major must-see? I wouldn't say so. 'I kissed a vampire' is a good time in my opinion. It's also not without its idiosyncrasies that no doubt limit its audience, and I can see why it won't be received well by all.

Let's get the less favorable aspects out of the way first, because though they're not insurmountable, there are several. Of course musicals are a niche genre to begin with, but this is a step further down that same road by being unmistakably geared toward young teens more than older teens or adults. I think I remember seeing it described somewhere as "'High school musical' meets vampires," and that's not entirely wrong; every facet is washed over with a plucky, happy-go-lucky, toned-down sheen that says "Disney" more than it does "off-Broadway" or "Internet." None of this is to say that it can't be entertaining, but the "horror" element is more a de facto flavor instilled by the involvement of creatures of the night than it is a feeling manifested at any time or in any way. In addition to the more family-friendly slant of the title, one can't help but notice a certain quality to the songs that becomes a little grating. I haven't the ears to discern whether the singing is genuinely auto-tuned, or if there's just a vocal effect laid on top that plays in the same ballpark, but where it crops up it's distinctly distracting, and detracting from the overall experience. While the practical effects are just fine in my book, and some of the special effects are blended fairly well with the filmed footage, there are also instances of CGI that, in the strictest of terms and in the most garish of cases, were at least ten years out of date in 2010. And for all this, it perhaps goes without saying there's a generous layer of ham-handedness spread over the entirety of the picture that exceeds even what is already customary for musicals as a genre.

Mind you: save perhaps for the noted factor in the singing, all these limitations aren't so much abject flaws as they are a matter of personal preference. It's a lot to take in at any given time, yet in every way that matters, I really do think 'I kissed a vampire' is meaningfully entertaining, and worthwhile on its own merits. The costume design and hair and makeup work ranges from suitable to terrific; though admittedly less than subtle and in keeping with the ethos of "Let's not be TOO risque, please," nor do I think there was any intent otherwise. The production design and art direction are lovely, and in all other regards from a technical standpoint fine work was put in. I believe the cast give capable performances and demonstrate excellent singing ability or at least potential, including primary stars Lucas Grabeel, Drew Seeley, and Adrian Slade. I could do with more variety in the songs, a wider range of moods and instrumentation, but both in concept and in execution I think they're fun. While the choreography is nothing to write home about - well, this is still a rather low-key, low-budget production after all, and I think it rather fits the tenor of the feature as a whole. And, true, the narrative is nothing remarkable whatsoever; there's nothing in the plot we haven't seen before as a struggle for humanity is weighed against the temptations of vampirism, with a couple other bits and bobs thrown in. It's also fair to say that it's simplified in keeping with the tack of the picture. Yet I think Chris and Laurie Nolan's writing is broadly as commendable as Chris' direction, including small snippets of emphatic humor that did elicit some laughs or amused smiles along the way.

I'm not saying this is perfect, because it's not. It's pretty tame, and not robustly flavorful in any fashion, neither the story or characters, effects or wardrobe, or song or dance. But 'I kissed a vampire' only wants to have a good time, and I recognize the earnestness and care that was poured into it from all, whatever resources they did or did not have to work with. Not every movie needs to be inescapably mind-blowing; sometimes it's enough just to kick back, relax, and enjoy whatever comes your way. It's not flawless; it is, however, pleasant. And that's okay by me.