Horrorfest 2015: Cravenfest - Vampire in Brooklyn

Back to the big screen for 1995's VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN, a horror comedy starring none other than Eddie Murphy. Sounds good on paper, right? Doesn't quite work on the big screen.

It's the usual vampire story – suave vampire tries to seduce descendant of long lost ancient love, this time in modern day Brooklyn. In an awkward bit of miscasting, Murphy actually plays the suave vampire. Angela Bassett is on hand as the love interest, a tough cop who is recovering from the death of her mentally ill mother.

First thing's first: upon arriving in Brooklyn from his Caribbean home on a derelict ship, Murphy recruits his "ghoul" helper, a hapless small-time crook and dock-worker (Kadeem Hardison) and moves into his cranky uncle's (John Witherspoon) tenement building.

Meanwhile, Bassett investigates the bodies that start piling up upon the vampire's arrival, along with her handsome partner (Allen Payne). The two of them have a shy, budding romance that neither of them wants to admit in the face of professionalism and tough-guy-ness.

Like DEADLY FRIEND before it, VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN's greatest weakness is its tone. There are some legitimately funny moments, but there is far too much time wasted on dramatic scenes between Murphy and Bassett. The two have good chemistry, but it's hard to take Murphy seriously as a vampire, especially when you WANT him to cut loose and be funny. Why couldn't he have been a funny vampire? How come suave guys have to be boring?

There are two scenes where Murphy is allowed to work out, bu they're painfully unfunny. He appears in multiple roles as a drunken preacher and an Italian mobster, but both scenes outstay their welcome and squander any laughs they might have had.

The real shining stars here are Kadeem Hardison and John Witherspoon as Murphy's hapless helpers. Earlier in his career, Murphy might have been content with the Hardison role, which has all the best lines and comedic moments. Hardison and Witherspoon have great chemistry together, as well. The movie ends with the two of them riffing off of each other as Hardison inherits Murphy's vampire powers and it left me wishing the whole movie had been about these two and left Murphy on the cutting room floor.