Monster of the Day #1094

Updated on February 10, 2015 By Ken Begg 13 Comments

OK, so we finished up our B-Fest monsters yesterday, due to the monster famine in the line-up’s second half. So let’s move on.

This is the third of Toho’s interesting, Hammer-influenced ‘Vampire’ trilogy, although if I remember correctly, it’s more of a ghost story. I have copies of these, I should really break them out again.

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  • Flangepart

    Boy, the Japanese sure love their cutlery.

  • Gamera977

    Never seen any of these but it does have me wondering- do Japanese vampires hop like Chinese ones?

  • Not in these films, from what I understand.

  • Eric Hinkle

    I would love to see the Toho vampire films, I understand that they’re utterly insane.

  • The Rev.

    I read about them in an ancient issue of “G-Fan,” and since I barely remember the article I barely remember anything about these. I, too, need to see them.

  • Rock Baker

    It’s pretty much a vampire film, although the only one of the three not to focus on Dracula himself. While all three are pretty good, I think this one may actually be the best of the trio. THE VAMPIRE DOLL, for those wondering.

  • Rock Baker

    That’s right, these are pretty traditional vampires. The only trapping Toho overlooked was the ability of the cross to repel a vampire (which sticks out rather glaringly considering everything else falls in line with the Hammer model). It doesn’t seem to be a cultural exclusion based on the engrained shinto beliefs, either, since everything else is traditional.

  • Rock Baker

    Chinese vampires hop because burial practices there include binding the legs together. No such tradition in Japanese vampires, which are heavily influenced by the Hammer films.

  • Rock Baker

    All things considered, they’re fairly low key for Oriental films of a supernatural bent. Well worth seeing, at any rate.

  • Gamera977

    Thanks Rock, I didn’t know if the hopping thing was part of an eastern vampire lore or just a Chinese thing.

  • The Rev.

    Oh, that’s right; they were aiming for a more Western-style vamp in these, weren’t they? I do vaguely remember that.
    I see you beat me on the hopping thing down there. Man, I’m still not used to having someone around whose knowledge base seems so close to my own…giant monsters, mythological beasties…I still have zombie movies, I guess.

  • Rock Baker

    A genre you’re more than welcome to, in general.

    Just stuff I’ve picked up over the years. This is really the only place I have where it occasionally comes in handy!

  • Rock Baker

    Ironically, I first saw this film on Mother’s Day. If you’ve seen the picture, you know what I mean….