This 1998 Vampire Thriller Is the Closest We’ll Ever Get to a John Carpenter Western

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John Carpenter loves Westerns. 

Indeed, the renowned horror master, famous for chilling productions such as “Halloween” and “The Thing,” harbors a deep affection for outlaw and cowboy tales, set against breathtaking desert landscapes, with admiration for timeless classics like “Rio Bravo,” “Red River,” and “The Searchers.” However, Carpenter’s professional path prevented him from directing a traditional Western. Instead, he crafted narratives about outlaws (in “Escape From New York”) and wanderers (in “Big Trouble in Little China”).

John Carpenter managed to produce a movie that embodies the American Western atmosphere, as well as the genre’s confident demeanor and stories exploring moral dilemmas shaped by circumstances. Released in 1998, Vampires might not be one of his most iconic horror films, but it stands out now as an action-horror gem and potentially the only Carpenter Western we’ll ever see. This month, you can revisit it on SYFY. Enjoy the trip down memory lane with us!

For More on John Carpenter

The Comprehensive Account of John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’: A Must-Watch for All Carpenter Enthusiasts

For diehard John Carpenter fans: Why You Shouldn’t Miss ‘Assault on Precinct 13’

Ranking Every Movie Directed by John Carpenter: An Insight for Carpenter Aficionados

What is John Carpenter’s Vampires?

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One of Carpenter’s last three directorial projects, the film “Vampires,” based on John Steakley’s novel, was crafted by Carpenter himself from a combination of the book’s narrative and other potential adaptations, including those by screenwriter Don Jakoby. This story is set in a universe where the Vatican acknowledges and supports vampire eradication teams, known as “slayers.” The film primarily revolves around Jack Crow (played by James Woods), who is considered one of the most skilled and experienced slayers in the church’s service.

Our story resumes with Jack and his team in New Mexico, as they hunt down vampire lairs and seek a powerful “master” vampire who commands the vicious “goon” vampires lurking in the desert. Upon emptying what they believed to be the master’s hideout without locating him, Jack and his companions withdraw to a hotel for a celebration of their victories. However, it turns out that the master had trailed them instead.

This ancient vampire, with extraordinary strength and unmatched cruelty, is Valek (played by Thomas Ian Griffith), a 600-year-old being. In a horrifying turn of events, Valek manages to kill Jack’s entire crew except for Tony (Daniel Montoya), Jack’s trusted right hand, and a sex worker named Katrina (Sheryl Lee) who happened to be at the party.

Upon discovering that Valek intends to employ an ancient, concealed cross in a ritual enabling him daylight traversal, Jack and Tony embark on a quest to thwart him. Katrina, who was bitten by Valek, becomes their unconventional surveillance tool, serving as a sort of psychic tracker for the vampire. The narrative thus evolves into a fusion of a journey tale and a vengeful Western.

Why you should watch Vampires

As a dedicated fan of John Carpenter, I’ve probably already seen “Vampires” on my horror movie journey, but if you’re yet to explore this late-career gem from the Horror Master, here’s why it’s worth your time. Let’s delve a bit deeper.

In the horror genre, the movie “Vampires” adheres to many traditional vampire tropes while also giving director John Carpenter the freedom to reimagine these creatures in his unique style, blending raw pitifulness with an almost divine intensity. The character Valek embodies the classic villainous vampire persona, always clad in black and scheming malevolence, and the special effects by Robert Kurtzman, Greg Nicotero, and Howard Berger further enhance this eerie atmosphere. Despite its brutal nature, it’s the duality of this being a compact vampire flick that makes it especially appealing.

Via Carpenter’s perspective, and his signature wide-angle lens, the film “Vampires” transforms into a Western tale of mercenaries grappling with the dilemma of pursuing an assassin more skilled and lethal than they are on their heels. The movie showcases remnants of some of Carpenter’s favorite films, such as Howard Hawks’ masterpiece “Red River” and Sam Peckinpah’s “The Wild Bunch,” which can be seen interwoven throughout, reflecting the director’s enthusiasm for the vast desert backdrops and his narrative about morally ambiguous characters simply trying to endure. In a career marked by films that creatively reinterpret established, frequently pulpy ideas, “Vampires” is a clever twist on many classic Western motifs, with vampires added as an intriguing twist, and should be appreciated for the stylistic spectacle it presents.

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2025-02-07 23:02