Vampires (1998 film)

Vampires
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Carpenter
Screenplay byDon Jakoby
Based onVampires
by John Steakley
Produced bySandy King
Starring
CinematographyGary B. Kibbe
Edited byEdward A. Warschilka
Music byJohn Carpenter
Production
companies
  • Film Office
  • JVC Entertainment Networks
  • Largo Entertainment
  • Spooky Tooth Productions
  • Storm King Productions
Distributed by
Release date
  • October 30, 1998 (1998-10-30)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million
Box office$20.3 million (domestic)

Vampires (also known as John Carpenter's Vampires) is a 1998 American neo-Western action horror film directed and scored by John Carpenter and starring James Woods. It was adapted from the novel Vampire$ by John Steakley.

Woods stars as Jack Crow, the leader of a team of vampire hunters. After his parents were murdered by vampires, Crow was raised by the Catholic Church to become their "master slayer". The plot is centered on Crow's efforts to prevent a centuries-old cross from falling into the hands of Jan Valek (a reference to Valac, played by Thomas Ian Griffith), the first and most powerful of all vampires. The film also stars Daniel Baldwin as Tony Montoya, Crow's best friend and fellow hunter; Sheryl Lee as Katrina, a prostitute who has a psychic link to Valek after being bitten; Tim Guinee as Father Adam Guiteau; and Maximilian Schell as Cardinal Alba.

The film was followed by two direct-to-video sequels, Vampires: Los Muertos (2002) and Vampires: The Turning (2005).

  1. ^ Roman, Monica (February 7, 1999). "JVC to forgo Largo". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2021.