The_King_of_Cool

Most of the other reviews positive or subpar more or less summed everything up. What ll add is Murder in Malibu isn't as awful as some reviews cite but it's far from one of the better episodes. Peter Falk not withstanding the acting is quite subpar like many reviews cite. Im not familiar with the cast besides Andrew Stevens. While not a favorite or anything but he's an ok actor. No idea what happened here. It could be me but production values seemed a little less than other episodes. There's a decent twist or 2 but it's still just an ok episode by no means good but not unwatchable either.

DWK.

VAMPYR

*** ½ Out of 5

Tagline-

Release Date- May 6th, 1932

Running Time- 73-Minutes

Rating- NR

Screenplay- Christen Jul & Carl TH. Dreyer

Director- Carl TH. Dreyer

Starring- Julian West, Maurice Schultz, Rena Mandel, Sybille Schmitz, Jan Hieronikko

Released in 1932 Vampyr easily rates as one of the oddest horror films ever produced and was unlike anything that I've seen from the 1930s. The most interesting aspect of the film is it's both a silent film and sound film. There's a few scenes with inter-titles and that's more or less how we learn what's going on, but yet there's also dialogue. However dialogue is generally minimal and the film does for the most part play out like a silent film. Vampyr was the first (sort of) sound picture made by Carl TH. Dreyer and he actually took a couple of years off to learn about making sound pictures, though with that said apparently at one point Dreyer wanted to make Vampyr as a silent. There were a lot of filmmakers that never seemed fully comfortable in the sound era such as F. W. Murnau (Nosferatu, Sunrise) as he only made two sound films prior to his tragic and untimely death, but those two films also had alternate silent versions (which was semi common in the early sound era), but silent films were Murnau's preferred style, though had he lived longer, at some point he would have had no choice except to make the transition to sound. There were reports that even Tod Browning at first felt uncomfortable with sound when he directed Dracula in 1931, which was Browning's 2nd sound film. While Dracula is a great film, but the strongest moments in Dracula are the ones with no dialogue where it almost plays out like a silent film. Though, Tod Browning would get more comfortable in the sound era and direct some wonderful and underrated films. As I mentioned Vampyr is unlike any film that I've seen from the 1930s with the eerie imagery and offbeat nature of the film it's truly a one of a kind film not just for the 1930s, but any era. Vampyr when originally released received mostly negative reviews and was more or less a failure, which isn't really a surprise as Vampyr is so offbeat and odd, I can only imagine what audiences and critics were thinking when this was originally released. But over the years Vampyr has become a cult favorite with some hailing the film as a masterpiece, but with that said it's not a movie for everyone as it's bound to split viewers as there's little plot and the film lacks any logic, but it's like a dream that makes zero sense as it's a little creepy, weird and even a little confusing, but there's just something very compelling about the film with the imagery and camera work. The look of the film is what really elevates it and gives it this surreal dreamlike atmosphere. Despite the acclaim Vampyr has received in the modern era there's also those that just don't quite see why it's held in such high regard and I really can't defend the film from its detractors as I can easily see their point and while I don't hold Vampyr as in high regard as some, but for me, despite lacking any logic and making little sense at times, but again there's just something creepy, unsettling and compelling about Vampyr and it would rate as one of my favorite horror films. I first saw Vampyr on TCM during a very late night showing and while a little tired, I think it actually added to the movie for me and made it a little more bizarre than it already is and it's one of those films I never forgot after seeing it.

The screenplay was written by Christen Jul & Carl TH. Dreyer and it's clear plot wasn't very important to them as there's really very little in the way of plotting and as mentioned dialogue is mostly kept minimal and most conversations are quite odd and brief and more often than not it doesn't always make sense. It isn't until roughly the 40-minute mark that dialogue picks up a bit, but after a couple of minutes it goes right back to little or no dialogue. Vampyr isn't a film that relies on writing as there's an idea in place, but as mentioned nothing really ever makes total sense and what is explained doesn't have a whole lot of depth, but yet in some odd way the screenplay works quite well as it's just so weird.

Director Carl TH. Dreyer was born Carl Theodor Dreyer on February 3rd, 1889 in Copenhagen, Denmark and by many is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Unlike most filmmakers from the silent era, Carl TH. Dreyer has remained a little more well known than most as quite a few of his silent films are available on home video (as well as some of his sound films). The silent era unfortunately has 75% to 85% (perhaps even more) of the films made now lost with perhaps the most notable lost film London After Midnight (directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney). The good portion of the films directed by F.W. Murnau are lost or at best a reel or two at most surviving. The good portion of the filmography of Lon Chaney is lost though thankfully many of his better films were preserved (London After Midnight excluded). But Carl Dreyer has faired a little better, which has like I said kept him a little more known than other filmmakers from the silent era. As mentioned Vampyr was the first sound film from Dreyer and oddly enough the beginning of the end of his career as he'd mostly be inactive with long stretches between films. Dreyer, made his first feature film in 1919 with the President and over the next several years he'd direct a number of films, but his biggest success came in 1928 with the Passion of Joan of Arc, which at the time of its release was highly praised and the acclaim continued in the decades that followed. Four years after the Passion of Joan of Arc, Vampyr would be released. Carl TH. Dreyer really does craft a film unlike any other from the 1930s and I really can't stress that enough. Vampyr as I said is weird, offbeat with eerie imagery and an interesting visual style. All these aspects make Vampyr quite an eerie and creepy little film and while Dreyer does make an excellent film, but there are some minor pace issues and the fact certain aspects of the film doesn't always make a whole lot of sense can to some degree make the film a little frustrating. However, the fact Vampyr doesn't always make sense and lacks logic at times, but as mentioned it does give the film an odd dreamlike feel as the film is always a little odd and creepy. While Vampyr does have some pace issues, but generally though the pace is fairly strong as a whole as the bizarre nature of the film almost always keeps it interesting and running at only 73-minutes the film does move along nicely with a couple of lulls here and there, but even with some pace issues, Dreyer crafts a fascinating film. After Vampyr, Dreyer wouldn't direct another film until 1943 with Day of the Wrath and his next film was in 1945 with Two People. After that, Dreyer wouldn't direct another film until 1955 and his next film after that would be in 1964 with Gertrud, which was his final feature film. During the years he wasn't directing films in the 40s and 50s, Dreyer did direct a couple of short films. Carl TH. Dreyer would pass away March 20th, 1968 at the age of 79 in Frederiksberg, Denmark.

Another thing that's interesting about Vampyr is the use of music, which plays throughout almost the entire film with only a couple of gaps. While music and film go hand in hand, but at one point music was limited to the opening and closing credits. It wasn't until a few years later films would have music at different points throughout, so the use of music does make Vampyr an interesting film in film history.

Star of the film Julian West was born Nicolas de Grunzburg on December 12th, 1904 in Paris, France and came from a very wealthy family. West agreed to finance Vampyr in exchange for the lead role and this was his only feature film (that goes for many of the cast members). Julian West would later emigrate to the United States, first to California and than New York where he'd remain the rest of his life. Julian West would go onto work in publishing as an editor for Harper's Bazaar and later editor in chief for Town and Country. West would also serve as a mentor to high profile designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Calvin Klein. Julian West would pass away February 20th, 1981 at the age of 76 in a hospital in New York City.

Overall Vampyr is quite a remarkable film as it's truly unlike any film produced in the 1930s and it isn't difficult to see why Vampyr was a failure upon its original release in 1932. Even in the decades that followed Vampyr has remained an odd film, but has become a cult favorite and is held in fairly high regard. While the plotting doesn't always make a lot of sense, but the visuals give Vampyr an eerie dreamlike feel, which helps elevate the film. Vampyr is one of those films like a dream that doesn't fully make sense, but yet it's odd and creepy and sticks in your head. The strongest aspect of the film is when it plays out like a silent film and too bad a silent version wasn't created. Vampyr is no doubt a film that will divide many, but it's an offbeat and creepy little film and while not perfect, but is mainly effective. Vampyr to me is among the best horror films produced in the 1930s and deserves the acclaim it would later receive.