Vampire's Kiss (1989)
Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 21
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 8
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 8,381
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
Jun 2, 1989 Wide
Aug 27, 2002
MGM
Cast
-
Nicolas Cage
Peter Loew -
Maria Conchita Alonso
Alva Restrepo -
Jennifer Beals
Rachel -
Elizabeth Ashley
Dr. Glaser -
Kasi Lemmons
Jackie -
Bob Lujan
Emilio -
Jessica Lundy
Sharon -
Helen Lloyd Breed
Secretary in Ladies Roo... -
Reggie Rock Bythewood
Church Bystander -
William De Acutis
Editor #2 -
Sol Echeverria
Alva's Mother -
Jill Gatsby
Victim Girl -
David Holbrook
Editor #1 -
Boris Leskin
Fantasy Cabbie -
Jodie Markell
Joke Girl -
Allen McCullough
Stand In for Mr. Cage -
John C. McLaughlin
Stunt Driver -
David Hyde Pierce
Theater Guy -
Jerry Rector
Larry -
Rex Robbins
Sidney Langdon -
Jacques Sandulescu
Ukranian -
Amy Stiller
Theater Girl -
Peter Hock
Stunt Coordinator -
Marc Coppola
Joke Guy -
Stephen Chen
Fang Vendor -
Michael Knowles
Andrew -
Mark Oates
Apache Dancer -
John Epperson
Apache Dancer -
Yanni Sfinias
Cursing Cabbie -
David Miles
Band Member -
John Walker
Donald
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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.
What really makes this worth seeing is Cage's outrageously unbridled performance.
Bierman's striking first feature leaves one trembling between corrosive laughter, edgy terror, and a residual sadness at Loew's pitiful plight.
Top CriticThe film is dominated and destroyed by Mr. Cage's chaotic, self-indulgent performance.
What this movie needs isn't criticism, it's more like a stake through the heart.
You're not exactly sure if the material is meant to be funny or is laughable merely by default.
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.
An odd blend of bitter comedy and genuine horror.
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.
For pure, undiluted Cage-osity, Vampire's Kiss is the film to beat.
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.
A strange movie but a breakout role for Cage.
Kooky vampire flick gives us an already neurotic Nicolas Cage slowly turning into one of them after receiving a bite.
Simply a bad movie.
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.
Love that roach.
Audience Reviews for Vampire's Kiss
Super Reviewer
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.
Super Reviewer
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- Alva Restrepo: Are you alright, Mr. Loew?
- Peter Loew: Shut up, bitch!
-
- 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.
-
- Peter Loew: I'm a vampire. Kill me!
-
- Peter Loew: Well, the fact is I did murder someone last night. I turned into a vampire. It's a long story.
-
- Peter Loew: I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire!
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- 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?!
Discussion Forum
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Movie: ID: 14407 Title: Vampire's Kiss Release Date: 1989-06-02 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 4 Status: 1
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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.