Review of The Vampires or, The Arch Criminals of Paris (1915) by Richard D — 17 Aug 2008
This is nothing less than brilliant. Super-villains with no morals and threatening pseudonyms (Satanas, Venemos) terrorise pre-war Paris in a comic-book style thriller serial. Its incredible to see Feuillade break generic codes and rules before they've even been established, and for sheer invention this is inspiring stuff - proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that silent cinema was much more than just Chaplain falling over a banana skin or DW Griffifth being a bigot.
Les Vampires is funny, horrific (for example, the severed head early on), and tense. Irma Vep is one of the classic cinema villains, too, and there is an exploration of the thin line between good and bad guys that is a genre staple even today (Batman is a prime example). Awesome, and recommended, even if you don't like silent films.
This review of The Vampires or, The Arch Criminals of Paris (1915) was written by Richard D on 17 Aug 2008.
The Vampires or, The Arch Criminals of Paris has generally received positive reviews.
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