Mark of the Vampire

We're nearly out of candles again

I have been meaning to watch more Bela Lugosi movies. After all, he is famous as father of all vampires; think widow's peak, fancy capes and hideous grimaces. Thus, I found myself watching Mark of the Vampire, another vampire-related movie starring Lugosi.

What's the story about? It initially comes across as a vampire-terrorizes-town sort of movie. People are hanging vampire repellent herbs all over their homes which is obviously a sign that a blood sucker lives nearby. Then there is a broken down old house where the evil vampire, Count Mora and his goth-looking daughter, Luna, roam about. Enter a young couple in love (into town and not into the creepy old house). They are off to meet her father, who happens to live in this scary town. Apparently her rich daddy, Sir Karell Borotyn, wasn't too concerned about the Scooby-Doo like occurrences which was to his folly because guess who was found face-down next to glass of port with two puncture wounds to the neck? Not so smug now, are we? Anyway, many of people close to Borotyn are targeted by Count Mora, including the charming couple themselves. Now it's up to Inspector Neumann to resolve this matter along with the help of Baron Otto and eccentric vampire guru Professor Zelen.

This movie was fascinating for a number of reasons. Admittedly it was not an edge-of-seat thriller like The Last Man on Earth. But the plot-line and character development did make up for the lack of creepy thrills. Keeping aside the somewhat annoying comic relief moments, the story meanders with weird little twists and turns. It certainly makes you curious about what's going to happen next.

Secondly, I quite liked the little idiosyncrasies that fleshed out each character. First there was the spring-heeled and annoyingly jovial boyfriend of the rich heiress, Irena, who develops a moody I-drink-too-much look once the tension in the house gets a tad much. Then there was the quirky vampire expert, Professor Zelen. He sways a bit much as if he had a generous dose of port and loves waving his glasses under everyone's noses. And the fate of the world in his hands? I suppose he is a better choice when compared to the twitchy house doctor. Luna more than made up for the lack of scary moments; there were a number of times she peered into a room with that stony yet hungry glare. The award of course goes to Count Mora. He skulks down corridors, he hunches his shoulders and twists fingers into claws and, most importantly, at no point in time does his chest sparkle! Take note young ones.

And, on an ending note, here's what you will learn from the movie. If you don't pay your house servants extra for occupational hazards (Enter exhibit one, the chubby maid with indifferent mannerisms), chances are, they will use the age-old "Vampire!" excuse to flee room/house/town. And if Count Mora keeps breaking into your house and sneaking up on you in the passageway, take out some of that inheritance moolah to install a good lock. Or perhaps always leave a stock of candles outside the window; Mora's vermin-infested house, while lacking in all amenities, has a good stock of brand new candles. Maybe this is why the undead is really breaking into your home? Finally, Mora mainly attacks men and Luna goes for the girls. If there is such a pattern, cross-dressing is bound to confuse them long enough to stake them both.