"Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
09-26-22, 08:53 PM
#1
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"Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Mark of the Vampire (1935)  Selected by mallratcal |
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These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags aren't always used in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS.
______________________________
These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags aren't always used in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS.
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Last edited by Chad; 09-26-22 at 09:30 PM.
10-19-22, 08:03 PM
#2
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Where/how are people planning to watch this one? Every other subset film I found in like a minute of googling, this one will take more time apparently.
10-19-22, 08:57 PM
#3
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Ok, false alarm. A little more looking and it’s on DailyMotion and InternetArchive.
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Undeadcow (10-20-22)
10-19-22, 11:48 PM
#4
Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
For people with TCM, this is on early Thursday morning, 8:45 am.
10-20-22, 11:38 AM
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DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Personally some of these vampire movies tend to feel formulaic to me and MotV did well at subverting that by making a sly film about pretenses in vampire horror (although it was based on a 1927 silent film).
Bela Lugosi is in top form as a cryptic vampire and his female companion - this version is nicely dreamlike and surreal and the hypnosis subplot worked well with that along with the ending reveal that the show was show.
Bela Lugosi bragging about his performance as a vampire was hilarious.
I think it might be good to revisit Mark of the Vampire again knowing the twist at the end to see some of the seeding and theatrical red herrings.
Bela Lugosi is in top form as a cryptic vampire and his female companion - this version is nicely dreamlike and surreal and the hypnosis subplot worked well with that along with the ending reveal that the show was show.
Bela Lugosi bragging about his performance as a vampire was hilarious.
I think it might be good to revisit Mark of the Vampire again knowing the twist at the end to see some of the seeding and theatrical red herrings.
10-20-22, 02:58 PM
#7
Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Throughout the film, Count Mora (Bela Lugosi) has an unexplained bullet wound on his temple. In the original script Mora was supposed to have had an incestuous relationship with his daughter Luna, and to have committed suicide. After filming began, however, MGM deleted references to the crime (and any remaining references may have been deleted when 20 minutes of footage was removed after the film's preview).
I wondered about Bela's head wound. Twist ending was unexpected. Trivia mentioned an ending that a telegram was sent by the actors apologizing for not being able to arrive at the castle but that was rejected. Would have made for an interesting twist-twist ending.
A cool publicity shot of Carroll Borland and Bela Lugosi.
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10-20-22, 03:02 PM
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Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
This was fun. It had some marvelous, iconic b&w horror imagery with the gypsies, villagers, Lugosi as Dracula, his creepy female vampire, old castles, etc. I really liked the first 3/4 of it. But the ending was lame and destroyed the build-up, IMHO. Everyone knows Lugosi is a real vampire! lol
I can see where the creators thought it a clever twist at the time, but I found it a let down of the cool vibe they'd built up. Still a fun watch and, I agree, one to see again knowing the twist ahead of time.
I can see where the creators thought it a clever twist at the time, but I found it a let down of the cool vibe they'd built up. Still a fun watch and, I agree, one to see again knowing the twist ahead of time.
10-20-22, 07:06 PM
#9
Senior Member
Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
I always felt let down by the twist , but Bela and Carol looked fantastic and the film is moody and atmospheric in the fine gothic tradition universal established.
10-20-22, 10:02 PM
#10
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Glad I didn’t read the Amazon video description before I watched it.
I enjoyed this. I’d probably pick up the BD at some point.
I enjoyed this. I’d probably pick up the BD at some point.
10-21-22, 10:08 AM
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Re: "Mark of the Vampire" Reviews/Discussion - 2022 Horror Challenge
Yes, I went into this one blind and I felt it worked well. A good mystery with great visuals, and Bela playing a vampire.
