Nightmare in Blood

This is dull, dull as hell. I can't say there is a single thing to recommend it. Is this supposed to aimed at horror fans? Count me out. Films like this give films a bad name.

Let me start by saying I really love horror movies, and I especially love the old-fashioned vampire type that are supposedly satirized in this film. And I'm not offended by a cherished genre being sent up in good fun. Indeed, I enjoy a good spoof on a genre. But let me tell you, this movie is perfectly awful. The production values rate no better than a D-minus. The sound is so terrible you often cannot understand the dialogue. Unfortunately, when you do hear it, it's usually pretty lame. Following the story is a challenge, too. Entire minutes pass when you are at a loss to know what is happening. I don't know how viewers gave this enough stars to land it over a four-star rating. Take my advice. Hard pass.

I find the above, or below review, depending on where they place this, of not much use. I actually am a horror fan, and I did feel this movie was made for me. This is a bad movie written and directed by horror movie host John Stanley. Of course, probably over 90% of the horror movies I've enjoyed throughout the years are bad movies. If you're not real fan of the genre or just enjoy finding an oddball offbeat piece of crap to watch once in a while, you'll hate this. It's not made for you, anyway. Move on. But pointing out the obvious that this is a bad film seems like standing outside a burning building long after the fire department has arrived and yelling fire. This bad movie is plenty good in my estimation and worth a look from any real horror fan.

This film is hard to find. It was directed by John Stanley who was the horror, science fiction, and fantasy critic for the San Francisco Chronicle for three decades. He also hosted Creature Features TV show in the SF Bay Area. He's the author of THE CREATURE FEATURE MOVIE GUIDE and I WAS A TV HORROR HOST.

The film is tongue-in-cheek horror film about a famous horror actor, noted for playing vampires, coming to a Horror Convention in San Francisco, and turning out to be an actual vampire. There are a lot of in-jokes for horror fans. It's fun. It was an independent film shot on a low budget and it sometime shows. If you a horror fan you will probably get a kick out of it.

I watched this movie without any expectations. That made this one a great find because it's cheesy and self-acknowledging without being over the top. Sure, it won't win an Oscar, but it was a fun ride!! The idea behind this movie, that it's been done before, and over again is what makes the movie funny, suspenseful, horrific and sometimes just downright silly. This is more a homage to horror films than a movie itself. If ever a drinking game screamed to be created, this is the movie. The clichés are there, the blood is there, the references to Night of the Living Dead are there. But these ingredients are not overwhelming. Keep the pen and paper handy, as you'll need them to keep track of numerous nods to horror films. Perhaps, many a long night was spent in production, doing so. And it was done well.