Why So Blu?

My Best Friend Is A Vampire – Collector’s Series (Blu-ray Review)

The Vestron Video Collector’s Series is one that pops up with a surprise throughout the year then vanishes. There are leaks with them, but nothing the likes of some of the boutique labels can have. A lot of this series has tickled my fancy with bringing titles that I remember VHS boxes at the rental store when I was younger but never actually took to watching. The latest in that is My Best Friend Is A Vampire, whose box boasted a coffin in the place of a high school locker with sneakers under it. Complete with new bonus features, it was released on July 25th. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows this reviews at the bottom of the page. Go ahead and sink your teeth into it!

Film

Return to Milton High School in this beloved ’80s teen comedy now available on Blu-ray™ for the first time. Shortly after high school student Jeremy Capello (Robert Sean Leonard) goes on a hot date, he finds he can’t stand garlic and can’t see his reflection in mirrors, but he can make a delicious raw-steak shake. As maniac vampire hunter Professor McCarthy (David Warner) stakes him out, Jeremy just wants to pursue his high school crush. Also starring Rene Auberjonois with an appearance by Oscar^® winner Kathy Bates.

My Best Friend is a Vampire is another in the line of 1980s vampire comedies that seemed to be the rage back in that era. This one primarily seems to be taking its cues from Fright Night, but holding on much more to the teen comedy side of things. To be a pitch meeting kind of person, it feels like “Fright Night meets Teen Wolf”. Content and story from one and the tone/character work coming from the other. Unfortunately, this doesn’t double the power and is much less than those two.

One of the places that this one sort of flounders is in the teen leads for the film. None of them have any sort of “it factor” or can completely command a scene much. Luckily they are surrounded by some fun performances by their adult colleagues. There’s a goofy bit of fun here by a game David Warner and a nice small part Kathy Bates plays. But its Rene Auberjonois who really is the best part of the movie. He’s on a level where everyone else needs to be. Whenever you have a scene with him, you see what this movie could have been at its best.

Unfortunately, the film does feel a product of its time and not in sort of the charming ways but many of the uglier or eye rolling ones. Its full of homophobia and carries that whole “stunningly attractive girl is ugly” trope. Cheryl Pollak is the best looking person in the entire movie and they barely even try to make her look mousey or normal. Is it because she has short hair and in one scene wears glasses? I’m not sure. But, its humor isn’t even too good and many of the characters we are too be rooting for are a giant shrug.

If you’re looking for a B-side/C grade companion to the aforementioned Fright Night or Teen Wolf, My Best Friend Is A Vampire makes a nice double feature for those. I went a little harsher on this movie, but its clearly with its issues and lacks in comparison to its contemporaries. Nonetheless, in a marathon of lesser seen horror flicks (or horror comedy ones), its a decent enough curiosity to have seen once (maybe twice).

Video

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Layers: BD-50

Clarity/Detail: My Best Friend Is A Vampire doesn’t provide any more details than it being digitally restored when it comes to the transfer. It holds up with rest of the Vestron Lot in being decent enough but having room for improvement. Its got a solid filmic look with solid details and nice layer of grain.

Depth: Depth of field is a little bit above average. Never looking flat, but nothing wildly three dimensional for most of it. Movements are filmic and smooth with no issues coming from any motion distortion causing blur or jitter.

Black Levels: Blacks are deep and rich, carrying heavier grain in the darker areas. No crushing witnessed.

Color Reproduction: This one carries a rather solid color palette that is a little bit on the washed out side of things. There are good pinks and pastel blues and more vibrant colors but they don’t really jump out. Some things like stained glass windows or car tail lights do have a good pop.

Flesh Tones: Skin tones are a little washed but consistent from start to finish. Facial features and textures are pretty visible in close ups and a majority of the medium sots.

Noise/Artifacts: Again, some lighter noise in darkened, grainier scenes.

Audio

Format(s): English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English 2.0 DTS-HD MA

Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish

Dynamics: My Best Friend Is A Vampire comes with a pretty solid 5.1 track. Its more front heavy but there are some good mixed things that help keep balance and depth to what you are watching. Its effective enough while also keeping together a sound that feels of its era at the same time.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: The subwoofer has some decent hits to it, though not really commanding. The music probably sees the biggest bumps.

Surround Sound Presentation: The front speakers feature some nice side to side action while also clearly keeping together the presentation of accurate on screen action. Rear channels provide some ok ambiance as well as helping out the music to feel a little more full.

Dialogue Reproduction: Vocals are clear and crisp.

Extras

My Best Friend Is A Vampire – Collector’s Series comes with a redeemable digital code.

Audio Commentary

• with Director Jimmy Huston and Film Historian Nathaniel Thompson

A Most Alternative Lifestyle (HD, 19:03) – A conversation with writer and associate producer Tab Murphy and production executive Ken Aguado. The two of them go through the steps together from start to finish of the film. They bring up how it came to be, that it was called “Bad Blood” for a while during production and how it has struck a chord with the gay community in a positive way. They even talk about wondering if would ever get a Blu-ray.

Gabbing With Grimsdyke (HD, 12:28) – An interview with actor Paul Wilson. Wilson has a good recollection of the production and those he worked with, while also giving his own personal experience. He mentions that Robert Sean Leonard had mono while filming the movie.

Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:38)

Teaser Trailer (HD, 1:28)

Still Gallery (HD, 6:26)

Summary

My Best Friend Is A Vampire is a nice curiosity if you’re looking for more beyond the A titles or must see ones from the horror genre comedy films of the 80s. Lionsgate’s Vestron Video label puts out a rock solid release of it which a solid presentation and good extras. And at $11, its a pretty easy pick up for fans!

This is a paid Amazon Associates link