Vampire's Kiss / High Spirits Double Feature

I love when Scream Factory churns out a double-feature Blu-ray featuring titles I've never seen. "Vampire's Kiss/High Spirits" come out of the 1988 movie vaults and were chastised upon their original theatrical run; both make their Blu-ray debuts here. Of course they're not award winning films but should be added to any movie collection for fans of offbeat comedies.

Nicholas Cage (a year after "Moonstruck" and seven years before "Leaving Las Vegas") insanely overacts to the point of absurdity in the little-seen "Vampire's Kiss." Cage plays Peter, an alcoholic womanizer and like any successful yuppie from the 1980s, he's vapid and aloof. After picking up a floozie from a local bar, he gets attacked by a bat that suddenly turns into the alluring Jennifer Beals ("Flashdance"). I swear I'm not making this up.

Peter starts acting erratic and harasses his overworked secretary (Maria Conchita Alonso). It becomes apparent that Peter has vampire-like qualities and broods over his downward spiral. I sat with my mouth agape watching "Vampire's Kiss"... the Blu-ray features an audio commentary with Cage and director Robert Bierman and it tries to explain the insanity of this movie.

Featuring a better and brighter high-definition transfer is "High Spirits" which star a slew of 1980's actors (Steve Guttenberg, Daryl Hannah, Jennifer Tilly). This farce has Peter O'Toole turning his financially troubled castle into a haunted tourist attraction. Soon, real ghosts show up to create havoc. Look for a young Liam Neeson in an early role as one of the spirits. Like its previously released DVD, "High Spirits" has no special features.

"Vampire's Kiss/High Spirits"
Blu-ray
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