Shadow of the Vampire (US)
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Holds you in its icy grip from start to finish
Certificate: R
Running Time: 93 mins
Retail Price: $26.98
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
John Malkovich and Academy Award® nominee Willem Dafoe star in a riveting suspense thriller about an obsessive director who`s so consumed with making the most realistic vampire movie ever, he`s willing to sacrifice everything - and everyone - to achieve his vision!
In his quest to create a vampire film to die for, F.W. Murnau (Malkovich) hires the mysterious Max Schreck (Dafoe) to play Count Orlock in his masterpiece Nosferatu. Murnau introduces Schreck as "the ultimate method actor" - one who will appear only in character, in full makeup and only at night. But as the cast and crew begin to disappear, it appears that Murnau has made a devil`s bargain with Screck.
With luminous performances and biting humor, Shadow of the Vampire holds you in its icy grip from start to finish.
Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Featurette: A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Making Of The Film
Feature Commentary with Director Elias Merhige
Interview with Actor Willem Dafoe
Interview with Director Elias Merhige
Interview with Producer Nicolas Cage
Photo Galleries
Theatrical Trailer
Production Notes
Cast and Filmmakers
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1 French
DTS 5.1 English
Subtitle Tracks:
CC: English
Directed By:
E. Elias Merhige
Written By:
Steven Katz
Starring:
Udo Kier
Eddie Izzard
Aden Gillett
Cary Elwes
Willem Dafoe
John Malkovich
Casting By:
Carl Proctor
Soundtrack By:
Dan Jones
Director of Photography:
Lou Bogue
Editor:
Chris Wyatt
Costume Designer:
Caroline de Vivaise
Production Designer:
Assheton Gorton
Producer:
Jimmy de Brabant
Orian Williams
Jean-Claude Schlim
Jeff Levine
Richard Johns
Norman Golightly
Nicolas Cage
Executive Producer:
Paul Brooks
Distributor:
Universal Pictures
Your Opinions and Comments
conclusion is, however, that in or out of context, this is a really bad movie.
While the acting is ok, the script is boring and the plot is almost non-existent.
The video transfer is ok. While there are no compression signs at all, the movie has a very grainy look. Given the subject at matter, I am sure it was intentional. The graininess of the picture does not, however, interfere.
The DTS and DD 5.1 soundtrack are very disappointing. Most of the movie is dialog based and the surrounds are rarely used.
The menus are all still.
The extras include a commentary by the director, a behind the scenes look (including a make up session with Dafoe), a photo gallery and some production notes.
Bottom line - if you are into vampire movies, do yourself a favor and skip this BOMB of a movie. If you`re not a vampire movie fan, don`t even consider it.