The fact that little-seen B-movies get more expansive special editions than most Hollywood blockbusters just baffles me. It’s certainly welcome, and the rise of these releases and the boutique labels for collectors keeps physical media alive. Visual Vengeance has been cranking out releases, many of which I’ve seen, some of which I’m familiar with, and others that have just flown right over our heads.
This month, their releases lean more toward the latter category, especially Vampire Time Travelers (1998), which is new to me. Directed by Les Sekely, the film prioritizes laughs over story, the absurd over substance, and in this case, that’s actually okay.
This is usually the point where I give a quick synopsis of the plot before diving into the review. When I say the film has a thin plot, this goes several steps beyond that. A group of college co-eds wanders into a delirious swirl of bargain-bin vampires, fractured timelines, and escalating supernatural absurdity.
You think you know where it’s going when we get the campus setup, but it quickly mutates into a self-aware horror spoof that goes completely off the rails. A vampire who is too weak to feast on the neck but is then instructed to “bite her in the butt” is pretty funny.
Vampire Time Travelers makes no apologies and knows exactly what it is. It’s a fast-paced laugh-a-thon that only gets zanier as time goes on. There’s plenty of absurdity here, but right out of the gate, you realize the cast is 100% down. It’s that dedication that really sells this thing, no matter how cheap or goofy it gets.
There aren’t many topics off-limits, all with a filmmaker who enjoys winking at the camera just as much as his cast. It’s low-brow, campy fun that seems to be missing from modern cinema.
This disc has more bonus features than expected. Along with the director-approved SD master from the original tape elements, you get a commentary track, interviews, the short film: Not So Grim Reaper, and the Visual Vengeance trailer for Vampire Time Travelers. Those are just the beginning.
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You also get the bonus film I Know What You Did in English Class (2000), directed by Sekely, which has its own set of extras. There’s a collection of Visual Vengeance trailers along with a reversible sleeve with the English Class artwork and a mini-poster.
Vampire Time Travelers is what you’d expect, but not what you expected, if that makes any sense. Grab some drinks and a few friends because this one works best with friends.
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