THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 20, 1996 TAG: 9608200043
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: 49 lines
IRREVERENCE WAS always the mainstay of the ``Tales from the Crypt'' franchise, dating back to the EC Publications comic books in the 1950s. These were the kinds of naughty comic books kids read with a flashlight under the covers. In 1988, ``Tales from the Crypt'' was revived as a highly successful HBO show featuring short, gory and often funny horror stories.
Now ``Bordello of Blood,'' a tale of blood donors who didn't exactly volunteer, surfaces as the second (after ``Demon Knight'') full-length feature film under the banner.
While it's sometimes tasteless and never subtle, ``Bordello of Blood'' knows its audience and goes directly for them. It is best when it aims outright for humor but, unfortunately, there aren't enough of these moments. What's left is a lot of morphing effects (things ``melting'' to become other things) and bloody innards.
The skeletal Crypt Keeper is back (with the high-pitched voice of John Kassir) to introduce what he calls our ``ghoul friends'' - female vampires, inhabitants of the title bordello. TV evangelist Jimmy Current (played by Chris Sarandon) brings back Lillith, ``the most bloodthirsty seductress of all time,'' to run the place. It's below a mortuary and the customers enter in a coffin. (Lillith is played by red-headed former Sly Stallone sweetie Angie Everhart). She says things like ``Don't eat your heart out. That's my job.''
Dennis Miller, who hosts his own show on HBO, plays a down-and-out detective on the prowl. He looks as if he'd like to ad lib and have more fun with the format. But like everyone else, he is stuck in the rather routine nature of it all. Erika Eleniak (Ellie Mae in the movies' ``Beverly Hillbillies'') plays a sweet-faced girl who hires him to find her wandering brother (former teen rebel Corey Feldman, who is getting yet another chance).
It's pretty lame most of the way, but interspersed with authentically humorous references. There are religious references that will offend some. The Crypt Keeper himself calls it a ``Romeo and Ghouliet'' story, pointing out that ``the fastest way to a man's heart is through his rib cage.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
MOVIE REVIEW
``Bordello of Blood''
Cast: Dennis Miller, Erika Eleniak, Angie Everhart, Chris
Sarandon, Corey Feldman
Director: Gilbert Adler
MPAA rating: R (nudity, language)
Mal's rating: Two stars by CNB