Queer Vampyres

My Best Friend is a Vampire

movie      fiction

  • My Best Friend is a Vampire
  • Author: Tab Murphy
  • Director: Jimmy Huston
  • Producer: Kings Road Entertainment
  • Year: 1987
  • Country: US
  • 89 minutes
Warnings
 
Violence:2
movie cover Other images

Description:
A high-school student meets and spends the night with a very attractive girl, who turns out to be a vampire. Despite his incredulity he finds himself turning into a vampire, but figures it's no big deal - despite the help of a veteran vampire mentor and a handbook entitled 'Vampirism - A Guide To An Alternative Lifestyle.'

As his transition to the sanguinary-lifestyle continues, his need for blood is satisfied by that of a pig, but ultimately he must choose the path he will ultimately take once he completes his transformation.

Qvamp says:

Big hair, huge shoulder-pads, and the rest of the gear of the times, this has film an unmistakable 80s vibe and message -- cheesy and quite the product of that decade. Like many 80s films, this 'literary gem' encourages people to be who they are, as long as they're not too different. So, while there is no worthwhile message for the queers of today, this film is an insightful look into the time of its created.

In many ways, this is the ultimate straight male fantasy, in that a straight geek gets pursued, seduced and laid by a hot (female) vamp. As his transformation shows itself, family and friends of the newly-birthing vampire are forced to deal his changes, ultimately leading him to be a stronger, more confident and more respected man.

The film follows Jeremy, a typical high-school teen, as he follows his own sexuality into an unsuspected abyss -- doing it with a freaky vampire. After this shallow encounter, he sets his sights on an 80s stereotype (and modern tom-boy). As he begins his transformation, he is surprised to find out that the 'vamp-phobic' allegiance is gunning for his best friend, and ready to take him down. He must now deal with his family's, friend's and girlfriend's mis-perceptions about his orientation.

By today's standards this film is not very impressive. But at the time it was made, it was trying to make sense of the new type of man in society --- a man who was sensitive to his girlfriend, yet not interested in sleeping with men.

Gay -- no! But a noteworthy step for queer horror, along with films like A href='http://queerhorror.com/Qvamp/items/82.html'>Fright Night. This film showed a rising tolerance of gays, and an acceptance of gay children rarely seen before; showcasing scenes like the main character's parents reading books like 'One Teenager in 10' and 'Are You Still My Mother' after seeing him change and hearing a man's voice in his room in the middle of the night.

Rating --
Queer Vampire Rating --
Amount of Gay Content alluded to

 

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User Ratings

By: Access_R ( rlamery@turbont.net )
Overall Rating: C+     Queer vampire Rating: F    

First of all, the film's protagonist is the vampire and not the best friend of said vampire.

Jeramy is cute nice-guy-finishes-last high school teen who's delivering groceries to a new address when meets an erotic young woman who desires him. She invites him back to her home later. When he excepts her invitation, he's a bit shocked that the two of them are interrupted by a crazed lunatic. Jeramy is convinced he is the woman's lover. He is then pursued by the lunatic and confronted by a strange pale man who claims that Jeramy is being followed by vampire hunters because he is now, in fact, a vampire.

The film is quite typical. A PG-rated comedy about the way Jeramy changes in adapting to his new lifestyle. Features some very brief/intense moments of horror, but at best could be considered a dark comedy. Sean Patrick Leonard (Jeramy) is very cute. His parents suggest he might be gay and that takes care of gay content in the film. Not very supportive of the gay way, Jeramy never has to deal with his parent's suspicions.

Kathy Bates plays Jeramy's girlfriend's mother.

 

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