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Vampire's Kiss (1989)

tomatometer

33

Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 4

No consensus yet.

audience

48

liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 8,381

My Rating

Movie Info

Vampire's Kiss follows the story of yuppie literary agent Peter Loew (Nicolas Cage) as he descends into madness and vampirism. Loew believes he has been bitten by a vampire (Jennifer Beals) and is slowly becoming one himself, despite the contrary opinion of his therapist (Elizabeth Ashley). He then begins to wage a campaign of escalating terror against his secretary and first potential victim, Alva (Maria Conchita Alonso, looking appropriately baffled). Alva begs her parents to let her stay home

R,

Horror, Comedy

Joseph Minion

Aug 27, 2002

MGM

Cast

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All Critics (21) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (8) | DVD (11)

Problem is that Cage's over-the-top performance generates little sympathy for the character, so it's tough to be interested in him as his personality disorder worsens.

September 16, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

What really makes this worth seeing is Cage's outrageously unbridled performance.

September 16, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Bierman's striking first feature leaves one trembling between corrosive laughter, edgy terror, and a residual sadness at Loew's pitiful plight.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film is dominated and destroyed by Mr. Cage's chaotic, self-indulgent performance.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

What this movie needs isn't criticism, it's more like a stake through the heart.

June 6, 2001
Rolling Stone
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You're not exactly sure if the material is meant to be funny or is laughable merely by default.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

100-minute-long piece of performance art masquerading as a moody, silly indie switchblade. Rarely impresses, succumbing to overwhelmingly sluggish filmmaking decisions and a permissive attitude that robs the picture of its...well...bite.

August 26, 2009 Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com
BrianOrndorf.com

An odd blend of bitter comedy and genuine horror.

September 16, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

What truly distinguishes the movie is Cage's performance, which is so off the wall that even if you don't like it you have to watch in awe.

September 16, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

For pure, undiluted Cage-osity, Vampire's Kiss is the film to beat.

April 9, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com
eFilmCritic.com

Undeservedly dismissed by most critics, this original film, whether taken as a straight horror yarn or as a psycho-erotic nightmare, mixes elements of fable and satire in a startling manner.

October 21, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com
EmanuelLevy.Com

A strange movie but a breakout role for Cage.

December 14, 2004
ComingSoon.net

Kooky vampire flick gives us an already neurotic Nicolas Cage slowly turning into one of them after receiving a bite.

April 13, 2004 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com
Filmcritic.com

Simply a bad movie.

December 3, 2002 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide
Apollo Guide

This is a flick for which I had very fond memories from back in the day, but watching it again after all these years, I can't say that it was as great as I once remembered it.

September 26, 2002 Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Love that roach.

July 26, 2002
Reno News and Review

Audience Reviews for Vampire's Kiss

Over the years, Nicolas Cage has developed a reputation for being a 'paycheque actor'; the National Treasures, the Ghost Riders and the slew of others have, in the eyes of many, demeaned him as an actor. I can understand this, and agree to a certain extent, but Nicolas Cage is capable of many great things on the big screen, and Vampire's Kiss, a genuinely peculiar piece of work, is testament to that. In this film, Nicolas Cage is at his unhinged best; his rather idiosyncratic lunacy is perhaps an acquired taste, but I found it to be refreshingly hilarious. His fearlessly unhinged performance combines perfectly with his seriously questionable hair, hilariously contorting, expressive face and his theatrical movement which sometimes borders on mime.

Cage occupies the role of Peter Loew, a womanising literary agent whose empty existence leads to a major mental breakdown. Peter is sent into a downward spiral of increasingly psychotic episodes, believing he is turning into a vampire after apparently being bitten by a rather more sinister one night stand. As Peter crumbles under the grasp of his psychosis, he begins to antagonise his sweet secretary Alva, obsessively badgering her to fix a painfully daunting and monotonous filing issue.

The film charts the descent into madness, but Cage performs in such a eccentric manner that it is indeed difficult to emphasise with Peter. But I don't think this is a detriment of the film, it is first and foremost a comedy, a black comedy; I didn't buy the film for a grim character study, I bought it to see a ludicrous, original performance. Vampire's Kiss is underrated; it's one of those quirky, unsung gems that you come across now and then that thoroughly delights you. Indeed, it's possible that my liking for the film may wane over time, but on initial viewing, I found myself laughing far more than I would at any conventional comedy.
June 21, 2012
Jack Hawkins
Jack Hawkins

Super Reviewer

I like Nicolas Cage. He's a pretty good actor. But I really like Nicolas Cage when he chooses to play a character in such an over-the-top fashion, you're not sure whether he's overacting or deliberately trying to make you laugh. Vampire's Kiss is one such movie. It takes a great actor to give a truly bad performance, and I can't think of anyone who could have breathed such life into such an asinine movie as this. What's going on in the scenes do not matter. It's the ridiculous overreaction Cage is about to have that keeps you watching.
Cage plays Peter Loew, a douche bag literary agent who seems to really have it out for a young, timid, yet beautiful secretary. He constantly harasses her about a file that seems to have been misplaced, and his deplorable attitude towards her makes you want to kick him in the nuts. Mind you, Cage's odd and random mannerisms consistently take you out of the movie and have you laughing to no end.
Meanwhile, on one of his routine sexcapades at local Manhattan bars, Loew brings home a vampire, who bites him and almost drains him of all his blood. Afterward, Loew pines for this vampire's bite so much that it turns into a kind of obsession. Once he realizes this girl is actually a vampire, he begins to lose his mind, actually thinking that he himself has become one. Then the antics begin....
The latter half of this movie is an absolute riot. Cage walking around with a fake set of fangs pretending he's Nosferatu, chasing pigeons in a park, running along a crowded street screaming "I'm a vampire!" over and over, not to mention the famous scene where he recites the entire alphabet. Vampire's Kiss is as good as any movie you'd rent with your buddies over pizza and beer.
I'm still not clear as to whether this was made to be intentionally bad. People often describe this film as a black comedy, although I quickly grow concern when I hear this term as many filmmakers are quick to label their film a black comedy once they've realized their attempt to make a seriously dark drama sparks too many unintentional laughs. Either way, Vampire's Kiss is very entertaining, thanks only to Nicolas Cage's inanely over the top performance.
February 11, 2012
MovieGeek13

Super Reviewer

    1. Alva Restrepo: Are you alright, Mr. Loew?
    2. Peter Loew: Shut up, bitch!
    – Submitted by Matthew D (2 months ago)
    1. Peter Loew: Alva, there is no one else in this entire office that I could possibly ask to share such a horrible job. You're the lowest on the totem pole here, Alva. The lowest. Do you realize that? Every other secretary here has been here longer than you, Alva. Every one. And even if there was someone here who was here even one day longer than you, I still wouldn't ask that person to partake in such a miserable job as long as you were around. That's right, Alva. It's a horrible, horrible job; sifting through old contract after old contract. I couldn't think of a more horrible job if I wanted to. And you have to do it! You have to or I'll fire you. You understand? Do you? Good.
    – Submitted by Emelyn W (4 months ago)
    1. Peter Loew: I'm a vampire. Kill me!
    – Submitted by M G (9 months ago)
    1. Peter Loew: Well, the fact is I did murder someone last night. I turned into a vampire. It's a long story.
    – Submitted by Kyle M (24 months ago)
    1. Peter Loew: I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire!
    – Submitted by Steven P (2 years ago)
    1. Peter Loew: Put it in, the right file. According to alphabetical order. You know a b c d e f g , h i j k l m n o p, q r s t u v w x y z! Huh?!
    – Submitted by Steven P (2 years ago)

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Latest News on Vampire's Kiss

September 16, 2011:
"Nicolas Cage Is a Vampire"
So claims the seller of 19th-century photo whose subject bears a striking resemblance to Cage.
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