Vampira The Movie
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Movie Reviews of Vampira The Movie
Movie Review: My First And Favorite Ghoul-Fiend...
Summary: 4 Stars
VAMPIRA (the late, great Maila Nurmi) tells her own story, w/ lots of inside stories, famous names (James Dean, Marlon Brando, et al), and a "shocking" tidbit involving VAMPI and an unsuspecting doorknob! At 82, Maila was still full of life and good humour (she reminds me of Ruth Gordon). It's fun to see / hear her in her own words. VAMPIRA is legendary, known mostly from her iconic appearance in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, she has since burned her way into the hearts of thousands (millions?) of fans. I thoroughly enjoyed her take on Ed Wood, his directing "style", and her first impression of the Maestro. Packed w/ tributes from such beloved immortals as Zacherley, Svenghouli, Count Smokula, Forest J. "Famous Monsters" Ackerman, The Misfits' Jerry Only, Sid Haig (Captain Spalding himself!), Bill Moseley, and ultimate amazon queen / goddess Julie Strain (Delta Delta Die) among other luminaries! We even get Cassandra Peterson (yep, Elvira) telling her side of the lawsuit story! My only quibble is that there's nowhere near enough 50s VAMPIRA TV footage. Still, there's enough here (including a coffin-full of extras) to satisfy the curious...Movie Review: A great visit with Vampira
Summary: 4 Stars
If you've ever been curious about who Vampira is and how her presence has affected the genre of goth/horror film, this DVD has the answers. Glamor-goul Vampira as she is today walks you through how it all began; and how films changed her life. She was WAY ahead of her time, and this shockumentary is a fantastic chronicle of her journey with insights and commentary from a host of goulish actors, musicians, filmmakers, etc. There's lots of reflection on her appearance in Ed Wood's film "Plan 9 From Outer Space".
This is clearly a DVD made by a knowledgeable fan of old horror films who brings many of the names of horror-hosts old and new to one fascinating discussion on the Queen of Horror!
At the end of the shockumentary, we get the chance to listen to the filmmakers and how they brought it all together. If you like horror films and are fascinated on how it all began, you'll enjoy this immensely.
Movie Review: Excellent documentary on a lost icon in horror
Summary: 4 Stars
Kevin Sean Michaels has enlightened me as to the first original Gothic horror television host, Vampira! I loved the candidness of Maila Nurmi's interviews and all the supporting commentaries that were included, especially David J. Skal, one of the most knowledgeable authorities on horror anywhere.
The film is just filled with dvd extras and interviews with many fans and horror industry legends, such as Forrest J. Ackerman,Bill Moseley, Ari Lehman, and David J. Skal, as well as Svengoolie, Elvira, and Johnny Coffin of Coffin Cases. Such an eclecticism of horror personalities and hosts.Find out some of the history behind Ed Wood and the making of Plan 9 From Outerspace. Well worth one's money.
Movie Review: What a scream!
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a fascinating look into the life of a cult character. Maila Nurmi was quite an independent woman for the 1950's, and she speaks very candidly of her past, of her treatment by those in charge of productions, of her personal life, and of what it took to become that haunting figure whose very strangeness was compelling. And that tiny, tiny waist: Vampira had always seemed so unreal to me, that it was a delight to meet her real alter ego!Movie Review: Vampira, really not a movie!
Summary: 3 Stars
A more difficult project then rating this attempt is defining what exactly it is.
It's not a movie. I know that much. Kevin Michaels looks to me like he attempted to tell Maila Nurmi's story in biopic format with Maila telling the story of her life ( when prompted) & then there is the audio commentary dropped in over the visuals if you want a different take. Still with me? Good, because now it gets crazy. Insert a young woman who might have resembled Maila back in the day to in a limited way boost the product & allow us to visualize in a more real manner selected scenes ( from Maila's life) that presented a more youthful balance to the story. Add to that snipit communtary during the feature from seemingly every B Movie actor/actress, Vampira Wannabe, Horror Memorabilia person or just about every other person on the planet that ever heard the word Vampira uttered. Besides the non-movie there are the extras & there are lots of extras but the only 2 I appeciated was the Ted Mikels Limited Comments & the Count Smokula Vampira theme which is excellent. I give this DVD 3 stars. One star for Maila telling her story which I appreciate, 1 star for a million guest cameo appearances & 1 star for the Smokula Vampira theme & the only known/available footage from Vampira's Horror show from back in the day. If I was making this film I would have had an actress act out her life from beginning to end, no interruptions & play her up. Then in the extras have Maila tell her story. Done deal, nothing else required. Thats the way I see it. I was glad to hear Maila's story as she died not long after this film was produced. It was a nice tribute but didn't come together the way it should have.