Tale of a Vampire (1993)

The first thing I'd like to say about this movie is that the synopsis is incorrect. While the vampire "Alex" (Julian Sands) does in fact drink the blood of animals, it also clearly shows him drinking the blood of humans and he admits doing so as well. So it isn't like he's a "pacifist" or the vampire equivalent of a vegetarian or anything. I say this in order to make the mood of the movie more understandable. It's a dark film and I think Julian Sands does a good job showcasing the brooding and sad state of emotion that has come over him. Likewise, Suzanne Hamilton (as both "Anne" and "Virginia") also shows a certain sense of loneliness that is necessary for the character as well as a sober film of this type. To be sure, this is not an action-packed film with all of the usual clichés thrown in for good measure. The vampires in this film can function during the day without bursting into flames and there are no scenes of wooden stakes through the heart. So some viewers may not enjoy the film because of the lack of action or preset notions they have come to expect. On the other hand, I don't believe that this is a film without flaws either. In some parts it is both slow and dull and I think it was due more to the director (Shimako Sato) trying to create something "artistic" rather than something just simply enjoyable. But that's just my opinion. I also would have preferred that Julian Sands had shown a bit more passion instead of keeping things so lifeless and understated. In short, this isn't a bad movie. But I don't think it set any new standards of excellence either.

I enjoyed this film. It has a dreamy quality to it and has an element of mystery. The design is nicely evocative and the pacing is almost languid. If this is the intention then bravo, because it perfectly captures what Alex, the titular vampire, must feel through the century plus of his undead life. Night after night of ceaseless existence which must be filled with stimulation and not just the stimulus of hunting humans. It captures the loneliness that such a creature, still endowed with all the normal feelings that he once knew in his human life, must endure. In fact, it captures this better than "Interview With A Vampire" does.If you seek a bloodbath, look elsewhere. This is a vampire film about longing and despair and well worth a viewing.

The premise of the history (an ancient vampire with a lost lover finding a look-alike he can't get close to for fear to kill her) can't be more overdo. But when the movie advances, much of the vampire-clichés are thankfully absent, and the acting is good. Julian Sands can get afloat almost anything, get that in mind. Having said that, and as you should know if you have seen the other reviews,the thing is SLOW. SLOW as you won't believe. If you can deal with that and the inherent sadness of the whole thing ( that you know from about twenty minutes of watching that can't end well), may be a good midnight event.

Off course, Tale of a Vampire is no masterpiece, but a good movie with great actors. Julian sands plays great. The movie is a little bit boring but not bad! A good movie about the very sad life of a vampire! If you like sad movies, you will like this movie!