Vamps: A Bit of a Clueless Reunion

Amy Heckerling is well known for a few films, including Clueless and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Alicia Silverstone was very good in Clueless but did not have any more top roles (though a few decent ones, including a couple years as the voice in a cute animated series called Braceface). 

Heckerling's film directing had lost her mojo when this film was made. Why not try to get some help from past films, especially Silverstone and Wallace Shawn who had a supporting role in Clueless? Fans of the earlier film will also enjoy a cameo by the pizza-delivering person.  

Vamps (2012) also has some other familiar faces, including Sigourney Weaver as the "stem" who turned the two BFFs (AS in the 1840s and Krysten Ritter in the 1990s) into vampires. Both (like many other vampires) rely on animal blood so don't worry. They are nice vampires. 

It is a somewhat bittersweet comedy. Alicia Silverstone's character is tired and feels time passed her by. 21st Century culture does not appeal. Maybe, a little message from the aging director. She meets an old flame and her bestie falls for Van Helsing's (vampire hunter) son.  

It turns out that a turned vampire can get pregnant but the pregnancy will not survive in a vampire. Unless they turn back into a human. Goody decides she lived (so to speak) long enough and helps her bestie kill their stem, even though it means all the turned vampires will become humans with their true ages. Goody dies and Van Helsing has a half-vampire granddaughter. 

The question then becomes what of all the other people the stem turned. Van Helsing killed her assistant. The implication seems to be that she did not leave any other people alive. A stem can do that or just totally kill their victims. You would think there would be more out there. Oh well. 

The film has enough talent and good production values to be a decent watch. I watched the whole thing, which is notable for me these days. Alicia Silverstone, in a role that is sort of her Clueless character all grown up and mature, is a major reason. I cared about her character. 

The film is meant to be a horror comedy and has some amusing moments. Where the stem hides out is somewhat clever. Overall, it's a good free download or something on a boring afternoon. 

Which it was for me.