Vampira The Movie
by Kevin Sean Michaels
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DVD details
Actor: Ackerman, Eastman, Skal, VampiraDirector: Kevin Sean Michaels
Brand: Alpha Video
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 70 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-08-28
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Alpha Video
DVD Reviews of Vampira The Movie
DVD Review: The music was worse than terrible
Summary: 1 Stars
The great thing about this movie is the interview with Maila Nurmi (Vampira). As the reviewer Ethan put it, she was "fascinating, humorous, lovely and incredibly entertaining." She was 82 years old when she did the interview. The movie would have been better with more of that, and less (or none) of the other interviews.
Another really nice thing is the old footage of Maila. In one sequence she posed not as Vampira but as herself wearing a light blue bathing outfit. The other footage was from her TV show, as the Vampira character. I had thought there was no such footage available. I really wish this DVD included the old footage uncut and complete. In this movie, the old footage is sliced up and shown as excerpts.
Another thing I liked were the glimpses of print media coverage of Maila and the Vampira character from that period. Again, I wish the entire material had been presented on the DVD, which would certainly have been technically possible, even if only as an appendix or special feature. I did pause the DVD to read the stories, but I could see only short excerpts of the text.
I also liked the brief interview with Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), in which she talked about how her character was created, and about the law suit with Maila. (Maila did not tell her version on this DVD.)
There you have a comprehensive list of all that is good about this movie. Everything else was terrible. Ethan and others have already done a better job than I could do explaining why this movie is terrible. I agree with everything Ethan wrote, and I particularly endorse his Lobster analogy. However, he left one thing out: the music, which was terrible in every respect.
In this movie, the music during the opening credits was hard rock music that has no connection with Vampira or her era. We were assaulted again by similar terrible, anachronistic music during two montages later in the movie. You can turn the sound completely off during those parts. What is beyond forgivable is the electronic music (apparently composed for the film) that played during the interviews. Remember that the best thing about the movie is the extended interview with Maila? Practically throughout the interview you have to listen to really bad electronic music, obviously created well after the Vampira era. This annoying music is so unimaginative and formulaic that it may in fact have been "composed" by a computer program. Imagine watching a fascinating interview in a theater that's filled with a really bad smell, except something prevents you from holding your nose.
When I started watching this movie, I anticipated hearing fun, kitschy music from the period, perhaps including bongo drums, a vibraphone, a theremin, and maybe a mono-syllabic soprano. With better choices in music, this movie would have risen above awful-terrible to passable. I had thought it would be nice to keep this movie to experience again the good stuff listed above, but I know I'll never again be willing to sit through the awful music that defaces the Maila interview.
I just now watched this movie, and maybe you can tell I'm kind of angry. That's because I believe I was I was abused and tortured by the music, and because I believe the film maker defaced his precious material. This is a lesson for me in how our beliefs are responsible for negative emotions.
DVD Review: Excellent documentary on a lost icon in horror
Summary: 4 Stars
Kevin Sean Michaels has enlightened me as to the first original Gothic horror television host, Vampira! I loved the candidness of Maila Nurmi's interviews and all the supporting commentaries that were included, especially David J. Skal, one of the most knowledgeable authorities on horror anywhere.
The film is just filled with dvd extras and interviews with many fans and horror industry legends, such as Forrest J. Ackerman,Bill Moseley, Ari Lehman, and David J. Skal, as well as Svengoolie, Elvira, and Johnny Coffin of Coffin Cases. Such an eclecticism of horror personalities and hosts.Find out some of the history behind Ed Wood and the making of Plan 9 From Outerspace. Well worth one's money.
DVD Review: My First And Favorite Ghoul-Fiend...
Summary: 4 Stars
VAMPIRA (the late, great Maila Nurmi) tells her own story, w/ lots of inside stories, famous names (James Dean, Marlon Brando, et al), and a "shocking" tidbit involving VAMPI and an unsuspecting doorknob! At 82, Maila was still full of life and good humour (she reminds me of Ruth Gordon). It's fun to see / hear her in her own words. VAMPIRA is legendary, known mostly from her iconic appearance in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, she has since burned her way into the hearts of thousands (millions?) of fans. I thoroughly enjoyed her take on Ed Wood, his directing "style", and her first impression of the Maestro. Packed w/ tributes from such beloved immortals as Zacherley, Svenghouli, Count Smokula, Forest J. "Famous Monsters" Ackerman, The Misfits' Jerry Only, Sid Haig (Captain Spalding himself!), Bill Moseley, and ultimate amazon queen / goddess Julie Strain (Delta Delta Die) among other luminaries! We even get Cassandra Peterson (yep, Elvira) telling her side of the lawsuit story! My only quibble is that there's nowhere near enough 50s VAMPIRA TV footage. Still, there's enough here (including a coffin-full of extras) to satisfy the curious... DVD Review: ok
Summary: 3 Stars
well,the idea was great,but the documentary is boring,dull,no excitement.it's a shame they didn't put rare tv footage of vampira,only a coupleDVD Review: Vampira: The Movie Best Ever Horror Documentary
Summary: 5 Stars
Vampira: The Movie is the Best Ever Horror Documentary. Featuring stars such as Vampira (Maila Nurmi)herself, along with Forrest Ackerman, Sid Haig, Count Smokula (My personal favorite) and Jerry Only, among others. This movie is a hot commodity as it is the last documentary about Maila before her passing in January 2008.This showcases how caring and loving Maila Nurmi was as a human being and as an artist. RIP MAILA ELIZABETH NURMI.
Description of Vampira The Movie
The true life story of the world's first TV horror movie host is unveiled in this labor-of-love documentary. Bonus features include: Director commentary, Screening lectures, Music video, Trailer, Outtakes, "Joe Flynn Show" Vampira episode and more.General DVDs
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