VAMPIRE'S KISS

US, 1988, 99 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Cage, Jennifer Beals, Maria Conchito Alonso, Elizabeth Ashley, Kasi Lemmons.
Directed by Robert Bierman.

Vampire's Kiss is an oddball vampire film about a New York yuppy who may have become a vampire or who may imagine that he is a vampire (and acts, disastrously, accordingly). It has its moments of humour, but Nicolas Cage's performance is highly exaggerated - over the top. Maria Alonzo Conchita is his secretary, Jennifer Beals is the mysterious vampire, Elizabeth Ashley his psychoanalyst. A might-have-been comedy satire.

1. Popularity of vampire films? This film a variation on a theme?

2. New York city, day and night, the way of life, the apartments, psychologists' offices, trendy New York? Musical score?

3. Peter as the single yuppy, his relationship with Jackie, the bat in his apartment, his racing out, his meeting of Rachel, the sexual encounter, the bite, his becoming a vampire?

4. Peter at work, the publishing business, his anger directed towards Alva, walking out on Jackie at the gallery, the phone call pleading and his not turning up? The repercussions at work and his continued attacks on Alva?

5. The discussions with the psychiatrist: reality, fantasy? His final imagining the interview, her suggesting a relationship with Sharon?

6. His going mad: buying the teeth and using the plastic teeth, the destruction of his room, sleeping under the couch, going to the Tunnel nightclub, biting the woman on the couch, the fight with Rachel and her boyfriend, his talking to himself, finally getting a stake? Alva's brother and his killing Peter?

7. Alva, her trying to please Peter, doing the work, getting hassled, the attack in the lift, going home, her mother's concern, her brother? Staking out Peter and killing him?

8. The New York lifestyle, the satire about vampires in this context? The point?