Dinner with a Vampire (1988)

People are voting emotionally.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Dinner With a Vampire is a made for TV movie and it's directed by Lamberto Bava, so obviously you cant go into it expecting to see a film of the highest quality. While this is certainly not of the highest quality, for me the good ideas and interesting execution more than make up for that! I really can't say that I've seen every vampire film and read every bit of literature on the subject; and while I've seen similar ideas in other films, it really does have to be said that this is an original take on a subject that has been done to death - and you need at least credit the film with that. The film begins with a film crew that unwittingly unearths a one thousand year old vampire. Fast forward some years and the vampire is a successful horror film director who is holding auditions across the world for starring roles in his latest film. Four wannabe actors are chosen for the roles and make their way to his house - where they are informed that he is bored of his immortal life, and told that they have until dawn to kill him...or face a fate worse than death.The film is really more of a comedy than a horror film, and it has to be said that a lot of the comedy is misplaced - although it does have some amusing moments. The lead role is taken by George Hilton - an actor I'm more used to seeing playing suave leads in Giallo's. He's actually really good here - he's aged a bit since the seventies and really looks the part as the bored vampire. Naturally, the rest of the cast is barely worth a mention, but really this is Hilton's show anyway. Lamberto Bava is not as great a director as his father, but he does know how to build an atmosphere - and the setting here is really great; a lavish castle with a cobweb filled dungeon! It's well used too, which is a good job since the bulk of the film takes place in it. The best thing about Dinner With a Vampire for me is definitely the way it handles the vampire legend; parts of it are kept and other parts are lampooned, and overall Bava succeeds in creates a mythology all of his own. The story boils down to something of a predictable conclusion; although the way that the vampire is killed is really good and it's a lot of fun getting there. The film will not appeal to everyone, and indeed it doesn't exactly have a great reputation; but for me the style and execution more than outweighs the flaws, and I would recommend this film to any horror fan!

The great master of horror movies from Europe, Lamberto Bava, really gets it going with this true-to-the-tone vampire NEW classic. The movie delivers it in great style with one of the most sexy vamps of all times, played by the beautiful Isabel Russinova, and classic vampire movies clichés, like the castle(a beautiful moorish/mediterranean one), the hunchback-like butler, the Christopher Lee alike main vampire. It sure ain't a movie that gets you scared, but if you're looking for fun and a Castlevania-like plot, this is the movie for you !

This film was disappointing. As a rule of my own, I never like comedy mixed with vampires - 99% of the time I think it fails, and does on this occasion. One slightly redeeming quality was the Dorian Gray sub-plot, but even this failed to help the film along.Bloodless and not funny at all. One for collectors only.

From what I understand, Mr. Bava abandoned this project before completion...AND RIGHTFULLY SO!!! If I were him I definitely would have made sure that EVERY copy was burned and if anybody in the future ever asked me about this film...IT NEVER HAPPENED & IT NEVER EXISTED...end of story.Despite some great sets and good photography this is one horrible film...is it supposed to be scary? (not in the least) is it supposed to be funny?? (puh-leese) A total waste of time...and I really don't like to have to say that!!