Must See Movie...

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Sweet Susan Ritter (an appealing performance by adorable blonde Sherry Miles) and her easygoing husband Lee (Michael Blodgett in fine cocky form) accept an invitation from the alluring and enigmatic Diane LeFanu (expertly played to the seductive and entrancing hilt by the gorgeous Celeste Yarnall) to visit her in her secluded dessert estate. However, the couple are unaware that Diane is really a lethal and predatory centuries old bisexual vampire. Director Stephanie Rothman, who also co-wrote the quirky and intriguing script with Charles S. Schultz and Maurice Jules, does an ace job of creating and maintaining a deliriously dreamy and erotic atmosphere, makes excellent use of the arid and isolated setting, and offers some inspired and interesting tweaking of the standard bloodsucker lore (Diane drives a dune buggy in broad daylight, doesn't have fangs, eats raw meat, and can see her reflection in a mirror, but still drinks blood to stay alive and has an aversion to crucifixes). Moreover, Rothman brings an unusual artsy and stylish quality to this movie which in turn gives it its own singular identity (a surreal recurring dream set piece in particular possesses a certain oddly hypnotic pull). The sturdy acting from a capable cast rates as another substantial asset: The three attractive leads all do praiseworthy work (Yarnall especially is quite stunning throughout), Jerry Daniels contributes a solid portrayal of Diane's loyal servant Juan, and biker flick regular Robert Tessier has a cool bit as a -- what else? -- biker. Of course, there's also a pleasing amount of yummy nudity and sizzling soft-core sex. Daniel Lacambre's striking cinematography boasts a few artful dissolves and makes bold use of bright color. The funky jazzy prog-rock score by Roger Dollarhide and Clancy B. Grass III hits the right-on groovy spot. A nicely different 70's drive-in horror winner.

Stephanie Rothman's "The Velvet Vampire" is an intriguing slab of erotic vampire horror.The desert setting with the ghost town the characters visit provide plenty of unsettling atmosphere.Stunningly beautiful Celeste Yarnall plays the mysterious beauty Diana who after meeting married couple Susan and Lee Ritter at an art gallery lures them into staying the weekend at her Mojave Desert home.Soon both husband and wife find themselves sexually drawn to their mysterious host who suffers from a rare blood disease."The Velvet Vampire" was one of the first horror movies released by Roger Corman's company New World.The female vampire played by Celeste is a fascinating and deeply sensual character.The only known master print belongs to Quentin Tarantino's private collection and he is graciously lending it for the occasion.8 out of 10.

This movie is an interesting, rare take on vampirism from a female perspective. In most movies of this genre, the women are merely adjuncts to the male lead. I (accidentally) saw this as a kid, at a drive-in double-feature in the 70's, and have ALWAYS remembered specific scenes. I hadn't seen it since until recently, in 2008. Of course, nothing is as good as you remember. My younger friend who watched the DVD with me wasn't impressed with it. I guess this'll be forgotten like so many other films - regardless of the hard work that went in to producing them. The Cheezy Films DVD has a couple of good trailers for bad films - exactly what Tarentino was paying homage to in Grindhouse.

A vampire in the middle of the desert? That is just what is the subject of this somewhat forgotten, semi-erotic tale made in the only decade one would make a movie about a female vampire with inclinations toward both sexes: the seventies! Now before I get too far, let me say that this film is unique in several ways. It has as its vampire a vampire that defies almost all of the traditional myths about vampires. This one, named Diane, can go about freely in the sun. She can see her reflection in the mirror. She sleeps in a luxuriously large bed(all the more room to entertain her guests). She does feed on blood. She is reputed to be over a century old.. She has a deathly aversion to the Crucifix. What does all this mean? I really don't know, but I am of the opinion that the director and writer were portraying a real vampire rather than a mental vampire(one that believes herself to be a vampire). Diane, played deliciously by Celeste Yarnell, meets a guy and his wife while at a club in Los Angelos. They are invited to her house in the middle of nowhere in the Mojave Desert. Once there, we see Diane and company explore a mine shaft, visit a ghost town, have sexual relations in three different pairings, ride on a dune buggy, and see Diane suck the venom out of a bikini-clad Sherry Miles's leg. This is a strange film not always sure where it is going, but it does lots of things fairly nicely. The acting is pretty good. Yarnell, aside from being beautiful, gives a good performance despite the flaws she inherited with a script fraught with problems. The script keeps cohesive though never explains anything really and tries way too hard at the end. The sex scenes are really quite tame by today's standards. I liked the guitar score throughout much of the film. Though I believe the movie tried to heap much on its being seen as a risqué film in its favor, the film is much more than that. It is far from great, but it is definitely worth a look.