Expert: Popcorn Guy - 11/10/2006

Question
Hello from Japan and thanks for the recent advice
as to how I might find a copy of "Silent Scream."
Video from America shares the same format here,
so it is simply a matter of purchasing the tape
or holding out for a pristine version no doubt
coming out on DVD sometime in the near future.
I appreciate your guiding me with the link, too.
And because you happen to be a Tom Savini fan,
did you know he has a small part in a vampire
flick by John Landis called "Innocent Blood"?
He plays a reporter/photographer driving a car.
What struck me somewhat about this film was how
much vampire folklore was changed or dismissed.
Do vampires growl like werewolves when angered?
Can modern vampires see reflections in mirrors?
Bela could not ... not even in a cigarette case.
So, can you think of any other films that take
traditional movie monsters and reject trademark
signatures, origins, identifying characteristics?
Any films where, when the silver bullets run out,
we can simply use harsh language to kill a wolf?
Thanks again for answering my previous question
with such meticulous care and thoughtfulness.

Cordially,

David


Answer
Hi, again, David...

These days, the whole vampire mythos gets reinterpreted in almost every movie... the growling, however, does pop up in the myths, though, because vampires can, in some cases, morph into wolves just like they can bats... the mirror thing is iffy... it had a lot to do with the way mirrors were originally made, with SILVER as the backing... silver was as much of a hindrance to vampires as it was to werewolves, apparently.. if you're big into the vampire mythology, check out a trilogy of books written by Christopher Golden, starting with "Of Saints and Shadows." He takes the whole vampire mythology and spins it into a conspiracy built by the Catholic church to keep vampires in check... Very interesting take on vampires... well worth buying them...

Tom Savini... my hero... LOL... he acts all the time! He's in the original "Dawn of the Dead," which he also did EFX for... my favorite performance of his, though, is in a George Romero film (no zombies!), called "Knightriders." DEFINITELY should see this movie, David... it finally made it to DVD here a while back... go ahead and buy it because you will want to keep it...

Harsh language killing werewolves??? You got me there....

PCG