Ep. 101: Cube ➡
Episode 100: Wes Craven’s Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 41%
A vampire drifts into Brooklyn with destiny on his mind—and somehow leaves horror and comedy at the door. We pull apart Vampire in Brooklyn with a candid look at how a dream lineup of Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, and Wes Craven gets tripped up by clashing tones, studio pressures, and choices that confuse more than they charm. From the opening shipwreck to the final showdowns, we trace the moments that could have worked if the film had committed to being scary first and funny second.
We dig into the big swings and misses: the inconsistent accent that derails character, the infamous wig that becomes a distraction, and the lack of chemistry that saps the romance subplot. Still, there’s a pulse in the supporting cast. John Witherspoon and Kadeem Hardison inject real laughs and carry entire scenes with timing and throwaway lines that have aged better than the effects. We also talk soundtrack choices, backlot “Brooklyn,” and why some mid-90s morphs hold up while other visual beats get overplayed.
Pulling in the broader context, we examine Murphy’s 90s rollercoaster and Craven’s own lesson: don’t “play funny”—make it scary and the humor follows. Expect sharp comparisons to better alternatives, from Dracula: Dead and Loving It to Renfield and Vampires Kiss, and trivia that reframes the production, including reports of creative clashes and a tragic stunt accident. If you’re a horror fan, a comedy nerd, or just curious how a genre mashup can go sideways, this breakdown brings clarity, receipts, and a few genuine laughs along the way.
Sinister Sips
The Vampiro
From: The Educated Barfly
Recipe:
2 oz Reposado Tequila
1 oz Tomato Juice
1 oz Orange Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Grenadine
7 drops Hot Sauce
1 pinch Salt
1 pinch Black Pepper
Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin
Add ice and shake for 15 seconds
Strain into a chilled rocks glass with ice
Garnish with a lime and orange wedge
Plot Summary:
A Caribbean vampire seduces a Brooklyn police officer who has no idea that she is half-vampire. (taken from IMDb)
Watchability Scale
We all gave the film a 1 on the Watchability Scale.
Links
Siskel & Ebert’s Review (YouTube)
Movie Trivia (TV Tropes)