Review of The Vampires or, The Arch Criminals of Paris (1915) by Adam R — 22 Mar 2010

Watching Les Vampires has to be one of the most fashinating experiences you can get from moviewatching. Realising that the moviemakers kind of knew their stuff back then as well as now, and the fact that good movies can completely spellbound you, no matter if it was made in 1915 or a hundred years later.

7 and a half hour is Louis Feuillade's Les Vampires (1915), but there is not one dull minute! I advise you though specially if not used to watching silent movies, to watch one episode and then when you feel ready, watch the next.

I was amazed through the whole picture. So incredibly entertaining, creative and action-packed! A masterpiece, all through.

This not a vampire-movie in that sense with bloodsucking, Dracula and silver crucifix, like many of you may think when just having heard the title. Les Vampire is the name of the gang of bandits that are terrorizing the parisians. In every episode we follow the reporter Phillipe (the Vampire's worst enemy), and his fellow Mazamette and their attempts to defeat the evil gang led by Le Grand Vampire (the title of their leader that once in a while got killed and replaced) and the vamp Irma Vep (anagram for vampire).

It's actually a series of movies, with the first episode released in november 1915 and the last one in june 1916.

These are the english titles if the ten episodes. (Yes, there are alternative english titles as well, but since I think it would be too much information I decided just to write these...:).

The Severed Head.

The Killer Ring.

The Red Cypher.

The Ghost.

The Escaping Dead Man.

The Hypnotic Gaze.

Satanas.

The Thunder Lord.

The Poisoner.

Bloody Wedding.