Innocent Blood

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John Landis was the perfect director for Innocent Blood, a horror-comedy hybrid that does for French vampires in Pittsburgh what Landis's An American Werewolf in London did for hungry lycanthropes in Picadilly Square. Anne Parillaud, the sexy star of La Femme Nikita, is perfectly cast as a beguiling vampire who must feed regularly on human blood, and when she spots a local Mafia kingpin (Robert Loggia), she says to herself, "I think I'll try Italian!" But once the Mafioso realizes he's now an undead vampire, he goes on a rampant crusade of bloodthirsty vengeance, biting his soldiers and consigliere (Don Rickles, no less!) to recruit an army of undead henchmen. Pretty soon Parillaud's teamed up with an undercover cop (Anthony LaPaglia) in an attempt to stop her victims from proliferating throughout the Pittsburgh underworld. (Disconnecting the central nervous system will kill a bloodsucker, and the powerful Parillaud can snap necks as efficiently as she bites them.)

Landis keeps it all moving at a raucous pace, favoring humor without sacrificing intelligent plotting and interesting characters. Parillaud evokes sympathy even when her eyes glow fiery red and she's ripping the throats out of her victims--hey, she's only trying to survive, right? And Loggia takes one of his best-ever roles and runs with it, spouting lines of Mafioso dialogue made hilarious by the fact that he's a walking, blood-soaked corpse. Morbid humor and gruesome makeup are abundant here, as well as Landis's trademark inclusion of cameos by such horror-movie icons as Dario Argento, Sam Raimi, and monster-fan extraordinaire Forrest J. Ackerman. With tenderness, toughness, a dash of kink, and plenty of laughs, this is the kind of guilty pleasure that includes "I've Got You Under My Skin" on the soundtrack, just for the sheer enjoyment of a campy double-entendre. How can you resist? --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

An over-looked gem.......2007-08-26

I liked this one from the opening sequence.Then,as it progressed,I couldn't help but smirk.John Landis brought his A game to this one!Horrific&funny all at once,so reminiscent of An American Werewolf in London!Get this one!

Crime and vampires in Pittsburgh.......2007-07-09

Marie, played by Anne Parilland, was hungry. So she decided to feast on some mobsters in Pittsburgh. They're just her type.
The problem is one of them, played by Robert Loggia, is turned into a vampire and now she has to destroy him before he can cause too many problems. With Anthony LaPaglia playing a cop, Don Rickles playing a laywer and even Sam Raimi playing a small part this has lots of star power. Funny to the point of being camp, bloodly to the point of being a tad gross, with sex, nudity and tons of humor, I don't know why more people don't rave about this film.
A almost forgotten classical vampire movie, I suggest you get it, new or used. The DVD has no extras but it's cheap so that's OK.

Innocent Blood.......2007-03-08

Purchased a DVD and Amazon indicated that because of that DVD I should also purchase Innocent Blood. The movie was old, very old, poor quality and not worth the money I paid, should have been in the dollar box. I only lasted 30 moinutes into the movie before I lost it.

Just Plain Funny.......2006-12-24

I am a science fiction fan and I like some horror movies. That's NOT why I like this film. If you want unrelenting gore and true science fiction you probably should look elsewhere. But if you like unusual genre combinations you should appreciate this one. Objecting to the mix of the mafia and vampirism means that you've just missed the point entirely. I found the mix hilarious. The movie requires that you just suspend judgement, and enjoy the unfolding of the what if proposition: What if the Godfather had been bitten by a female Dracula? The fact that the screenwriter thought to ASK that question cracks me up. What is more serious and harrowing than a mafia film? To me comedy is about the surprise element, the ability to turn generally serious matters and turn them on their head. If you can allow for that, you'll be on your way to seeing how and why this film succeeds.

Comedy?.......2006-07-19

This film fails as a comedy, it fails as a vampire film with really silly vampire effects; the vampire's eyes glow different colours depending on how she's feeling; when she's feeding madly, they're glowing red, when she's happy they're a soothing green - obviously because the director thinks the audience is so dumb as not to be able to tell without all these additional 'hints'.

When released here in Australia they had so much faith in it, that they renamed it "A French Vampire in America" in order to cash in on the fact that it was done by the same guy who did "An American Weerewolf in London" (which really does blend horror and laughs much more effectively)

But, in short this is about a French vampire in America who feeds on Italian (mafia men). She has scruples, because she only kills bad guys, then blows their head away to stop them coming back as vampires too. Dumb!

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Innocent Venus 2: Blood of Betrayal
Starring: Innocent Venus 2-Blood of Betrayal
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000UP87Y6
Release Date: 2007-10-16

Description

Innocent Venus is a post-apocalyptic thriller with slick animation and lightning mech action. An elite paramilitary group is formed to suppress the desperate renegades living beyond the domed cities. Now two special soldiers have escaped with a mysterious girl who may hold the key to Earth's survival. Sophisticated settings, great character designs, and 3D animation effects make Innocent Venus a visual tour de force.

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Innocent Venus 2: Blood of Betrayal Box
Starring: Innocent Venus 2-Blood of Betrayal
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ASIN: B000UP87Z0
Release Date: 2007-10-16

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Takin' a stroll down memory lane w/ a yokel street gang.

Young Thugs: Innocent Blood
Starring: Koji Chihara
Director: Takashi Miike
Manufacturer: Arts Magic
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0004Z33SM
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Description

From Takashi Miike, acclaimed director of AUDITION, and GOZU, this film focuses on the humorous antics of delinquent youth. It is depicted through the high school life of two young boys growing up in the working class neighborhood of Kishiwada, Osaka and living by fighting with other gangs in a never-ending game.

DVD Special Features:
Interview With Director
Original Trailer
Osaka History And Culture
Biographies & Filmographies
Scene Selection

Customer Reviews:

Takin' a stroll down memory lane w/ a yokel street gang........2005-06-21

There is an ineffable something about this self-described nostalgia film by one of the world's best film scriptwriter-directors that will inhabit the nether-regions of your psyche, and when you flip through your dvd collection its cover will beckon to you. Now that I think about what I have just written, I appreciate the irony of that statement and feel compelled to show obeisance to Mr. Takashi because I realize that his filmographic trip down memory lane has elicited feelings of nostalgia in me which I should not feel as I am neither Japanese, nor have experienced anything remotely similar to what is depicted in this movie. In the DVD extras we learn that Takashi has created a story around the capers and caperings (however violent and unfunny) of a street gang from Osaka who because they are not from Tokyo are what amount to 'small town thugs' even though Osaka is a city of nearly nine millions. They are bumpkins akin to what a Chicagoan is to a New Yorker (the director chose local, unknown, Osakan actors for their accents and habits, some of whom I'm happy to say have since gone on to other films). What we witness is the progression of young punks who, to begin with want nothing more than a good punch up and a bit of fun with their girl friends, then use their street hood status to earn points and then jobs in the yakuza underworld. At some point decisions are made and actions taken that transform their lives from innocent punks to fledgling adults whose must choose either maturity and a conformist life or the terminal infantilism of the gangster world. Suffice it to say that in the process some people die, some people get hurt before muddled thoughts clear, and love once again raises its fair head only to find....

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Innocent Blood & Creepshow (2pc) (Long)

Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Innocent Blood / Creepshow (Two-Pack)
Starring: Warner 2pak
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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