Doctor Vampire

Director - Jamie Luk (Ghost in the House, Robotrix)

Starring - Bowie Lam (Hard Boiled, Supercop 2), Ellen Chan (Perfect Match, Exiled), and Sheila Chan (Ghost for Sale, Mortuary Blues)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     The main reason I bought the Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers was for the 1990s horror comedy Doctor Vampire.  I was looking for this one on Amazon when I found it in a box set recently released by Shout Factory and decided this was perfect.  Not only would I get the film I was looking for but I would get five bonus films that I had never seen before.  I almost started with this film when I started reviewing the set but decided to go in order in which they appear in the box.  After Sex and Zen along with the three Erotic Ghost Story films it was finally time to watch the film I originally wanted to see!

     The film follows a doctor who is traveling abroad when he finds himself in the presence of a female vampire.  She bites him on his nether region and leaves him alone for the day.  He leaves to return home unknowing that he was slowly transforming into a vampire himself.  

     Doctor Vampire is one that has been on my radar for sometime after I received a press release for the UK release from Eureka Entertainment.  In fact, that was the release I was looking for when I ventured to Amazon.  I had no idea Shout had put out this set but I'm glad I found it.  I've enjoyed the hell out of it so far.  Doctor Vampire is no exception.  While it's not the film I was hoping it was, it was still a fun one regardless.  The acting in this one is probably my favorite of the set so far.  The characters are wildly enjoyable and the cast has a lot of energy that they bring to every scene.  While the story was a bit lacking, the performances we are given more than makes up for the story.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting.  I was under the impression it was a film following a doctor who was turned into a vampire but continues to try and practice medicine resulting in funny situations with random interactions with blood.  Instead, it's a doctor turned vampire that is hunted by another vampire because he has a rare blood type.  It's a funny story but I feel like it could have been a lot funnier especially if it took a more slapstick approach.  Finally, the film has some blood and that is about the extent of it.  The blood we get is rather minimal and not enough to really stand out.  Overall, Doctor Vampire is a solid horror comedy with a great cast and some laughs.  It's not a bloody flick, which is a bit disappointing for a vampire flick, but it still works.   Check it out.