Transylvania Twist
Encyclopedia
Transylvania Twist is a 1989
comedy film
that parodies
horror movies
. Originally released by Concorde Pictures, this film is distributed on home video
by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
. In the film Angus Scrimm
reprises his role of the "Tall Man" from the Phantasm
movies, as a parody. The humor of the film is most often said to be in the style of Airplane!
, and Mel Brooks
comedies. It occasionally breaks the Fourth wall
rule with characters looking at the camera, and one even saying "I'm in the wrong movie." The film's main theme has been released on a variety of album
s, it and the entire soundtrack was released on CD
and as a direct download in the year 2010, twenty-one years after the movies initial release.
, a seemingly helpless young woman is pursued by Jason Voorhees
, Leatherface
, and Freddy Krueger
; she is then chased into a cave where she reappearing after a few seconds later with an item from each of the three. She then faces the camera and laughs (showing her fang
s) and says, "Amateurs!" The advertisement sequence is for a "mortuary, crematory, cemetery" called "Death City" where a salesman tries selling viewers "new and used coffins, with the help of his assistant Lovely Rita."
Dexter Ward (Steve Altman) enters a 'Death City' location, and is greeted by two morticians, one of which is noted science fiction anthologist Forrest J. Ackerman in a cameo appearance, who is holding a copy of Famous Monsters of Filmland
. Dexter is there for the funeral of his uncle, who is suffering from a 'medical condition' and not actually dead. After helping his uncle out of the coffin and back to a library, Dexter is then sent by his uncle Ephram (Jay Robinson
) to find and bring back The Book of Ulthar, a book of great power capable of unleashing terrible evil in the wrong hands; librarian
Ephram had mistakenly let someone check it out. Dexter's search leads him to aspiring singing star Marissa Orlock (Teri Copley
), who is about to be informed of the death of her father Marinas (Howard Morris
), and her inheritance of Castle Orlock in Transylvania
. Dexter goes with her to the castle.
Victor Van Helsing
(Ace Mask), a professional vampire
hunter, accompanies Marissa and Dexter to the castle as the executor of her father's estate. Count Byron Orlock (Robert Vaughn
), and his three adopted-daughters whom are also vampires are already at the castle. One of them is named Patricia (Monique Gabrielle
) the seemingly helpless girl in the prologue. When 'viewing the will' they find out that Marissa has been left the castle and the money, and Orlock was left luggage. As a toss-up gift they are left to find the book somewhere within the castle. Orlock is determined to find the book so that he can create an age of evil; assisting him is the butler Stephan (Angus Scrimm
).
The book is finally found by Dexter but Byron steals it from him and uses it to summon an enormous monster called The Evil One (which was originally seen in It Conquered the World
), but Dexter and Marissa (who is possessed by her ancestor of the same name) stop him and while Dexter is freed and destroys the book. The possessed Marissa blasts Byron with a lightning bolt, but as he burns to death he declares that he'll be back in the sequel
.
Marinas, who was suffering from a epileptic seizure and was not dead, tells Marissa that she must stay in the castle to ensure that the monster never returns; Helsing, who is now a vampire, also stays. Dexter arranges for Marissa to make her latest music video
in the castle, with the help of her vampire cousins and Helsing.
The film ends with the local villagers, who throughout the movie have been trying to find the castle so they can destroy it, finally giving up and going home.
steps out of an acupuncturist's
office and says, "I don't care what anyone says — this hurts!" At one point, Dexter looks into a room and meets Boris Karloff
(in a clip from the movie The Terror
); in another, Dexter and Marissa step into a room that's apparently in 3-D
, but because neither of them is wearing 3-D glasses, all they see is jumbled red and green. As a parady of 3-D film
s.
Many of the films characters are parodies of from other sources, including; Dexter Ward from The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
, Byron Orlock from Targets
, Van Helsing
from Dracula
, and the mock advertisement scene's Lovely Rita
. Television shows are also referenced such as The Honeymooners
, The Late Show
, Meet the Press
, The Twilight Zone
, and Wheel of Fortune
. While others are puns or such as "Vampires of the Caribbean
", "Elvis has left the body
", and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
" being spoken as part of the spell to summon the Evil One. And Dexter finding a Skeleton in the closet
.
Films being parodied consist of; Nightmare on Elm Street
the character Freddy Krueger with Swiss Army knife
glove. Casablanca (film)
the lines "You talking to me, no one else here you must be talking to me." The Exorcist
séance scene and spewing green liquid from the mouth. Friday the 13th films the character Jason Voorhees. The Haunted Palace
the summoning of the 'Evil One' scenes. Hellraiser
the character Pinhead. Horror of Dracula
meeting the daughters, Van Helsing pointing out blood on vampire's mouth, and throwing back of female vampire from her intended victom. It Conquered the World
the 'Evil One' creature. Night of the Living Dead
the lines "Yeah, they're dead--they're all messed up." Phantasm
the 'Tall Man' character with Angus Scrimm paroding himself in the role. Taxi Driver
the taxi drivers comments. Texas Chainsaw Massacre films character Leatherface. The Terror
footage of Boris Karloff.
videocassette on September 22, 1993 and on DVD
on March 27, 2001, both of which are currently out of print. The DVD separates the story into twenty-four scene chapters with the following titles;
inspired horror spoofs." To the more negivtive reviews that state "Moronic comedy about vampires, teenage vampire hunters and half-naked babes." One of its most positive reviews comes from Variety
stating that; "Mixed into the cosmic stew are many delightful reflexive bits," and that it "is an occasionally hilarious horror spoof notable for the range of its comical targets."
also composed by Chuck Cirino. It is currently sold in Compact Disk, and Direct download
formats from various music sites.
Transylvania Twist
1989 in film
-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
that parodies
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
horror movies
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
. Originally released by Concorde Pictures, this film is distributed on home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
. In the film Angus Scrimm
Angus Scrimm
Angus Scrimm is an American actor, best known for playing the Tall Man in the 1979 horror movie Phantasm and its sequels.-Life and career:...
reprises his role of the "Tall Man" from the Phantasm
Phantasm (film)
Phantasm is a low-budget "cult classic" horror film produced in 1977 and released in 1979. The film was directed, written, photographed, co-produced and edited by Don Coscarelli...
movies, as a parody. The humor of the film is most often said to be in the style of Airplane!
Airplane!
Airplane! is a 1980 American satirical comedy film directed and written by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker and released by Paramount Pictures...
, and Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
comedies. It occasionally breaks the Fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
rule with characters looking at the camera, and one even saying "I'm in the wrong movie." The film's main theme has been released on a variety of album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s, it and the entire soundtrack was released on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and as a direct download in the year 2010, twenty-one years after the movies initial release.
Plot summary
The film opens with two short sequences before the main story line begins, first a prologue, and then a mock television advertisement. In the prologuePrologue
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...
, a seemingly helpless young woman is pursued by Jason Voorhees
Jason Voorhees
Jason Voorhees is a fictional character from the Friday the 13th series of slasher films. He first appeared in Friday the 13th , as the son of camp cook-turned-murderer, Mrs. Voorhees, in which he was portrayed by Ari Lehman. Created by Victor Miller, with contributions by Ron Kurz, Sean S...
, Leatherface
Leatherface
Leatherface is the main antagonist in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre horror-film series and its spin-offs. He wears masks made of human skin and engages in murder and cannibalism alongside his inbred family. He is considered by many to be one of the first major slasher film villains alongside Michael...
, and Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger
Frederick Charles "Freddy" Krueger is a fictional, horrifying character from the Nightmare on Elm Street series of horror films. He first appears in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street as a disfigured dream stalker who uses a glove armed with razors to kill his victims in their dreams,...
; she is then chased into a cave where she reappearing after a few seconds later with an item from each of the three. She then faces the camera and laughs (showing her fang
Fang
Fang is a mammal's canine tooth.Fang may also refer to:* A snake's poison-injecting tooth: see snake venom* Fang people, in Central Africa* Fang language, spoken by Fang people...
s) and says, "Amateurs!" The advertisement sequence is for a "mortuary, crematory, cemetery" called "Death City" where a salesman tries selling viewers "new and used coffins, with the help of his assistant Lovely Rita."
Dexter Ward (Steve Altman) enters a 'Death City' location, and is greeted by two morticians, one of which is noted science fiction anthologist Forrest J. Ackerman in a cameo appearance, who is holding a copy of Famous Monsters of Filmland
Famous Monsters of Filmland
Famous Monsters of Filmland is a genre-specific film magazine started in 1958 by publisher James Warren and editor Forrest J Ackerman.-Magazine history :...
. Dexter is there for the funeral of his uncle, who is suffering from a 'medical condition' and not actually dead. After helping his uncle out of the coffin and back to a library, Dexter is then sent by his uncle Ephram (Jay Robinson
Jay Robinson
Jay Robinson is an American actor specialising in character roles. He was born in New York City.-Career:Robinson began his acting career in summer stock theatre and repertory companies, and eventually made his way to the Broadway stage, where he appeared in Shakespeare's As You Like It and Much...
) to find and bring back The Book of Ulthar, a book of great power capable of unleashing terrible evil in the wrong hands; librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
Ephram had mistakenly let someone check it out. Dexter's search leads him to aspiring singing star Marissa Orlock (Teri Copley
Teri Copley
Teri Copley is an American actress. She was best known for her roles on the American television series We Got it Made and I Had Three Wives. She posed nude for Playboy for the November 1990 issue....
), who is about to be informed of the death of her father Marinas (Howard Morris
Howard Morris
Howard Morris was an American comic actor and director who was best known for his role as Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show.- Life and career :...
), and her inheritance of Castle Orlock in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
. Dexter goes with her to the castle.
Victor Van Helsing
Van Helsing
Van Helsing is a 2004 American action horror film directed by Stephen Sommers. It stars Hugh Jackman as vigilante monster hunter Gabriel Van Helsing, and Kate Beckinsale...
(Ace Mask), a professional vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
hunter, accompanies Marissa and Dexter to the castle as the executor of her father's estate. Count Byron Orlock (Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
), and his three adopted-daughters whom are also vampires are already at the castle. One of them is named Patricia (Monique Gabrielle
Monique Gabrielle
Monique Gabrielle is an American model and actress.Gabrielle was the Penthouse Pet of the Month for December 1982 and appeared in Bachelor Party in 1984. Since then, she has had a career as a B-movie actress. Many of Gabrielle's films have had overtly erotic overtones...
) the seemingly helpless girl in the prologue. When 'viewing the will' they find out that Marissa has been left the castle and the money, and Orlock was left luggage. As a toss-up gift they are left to find the book somewhere within the castle. Orlock is determined to find the book so that he can create an age of evil; assisting him is the butler Stephan (Angus Scrimm
Angus Scrimm
Angus Scrimm is an American actor, best known for playing the Tall Man in the 1979 horror movie Phantasm and its sequels.-Life and career:...
).
The book is finally found by Dexter but Byron steals it from him and uses it to summon an enormous monster called The Evil One (which was originally seen in It Conquered the World
It Conquered the World
It Conquered the World is a 1956 American science fiction film about an alien from Venus trying to take over the world with the help of a disillusioned human scientist. It was directed by Roger Corman, written by Lou Rusoff , and starred Peter Graves, Lee Van Cleef, Beverly Garland, and Sally...
), but Dexter and Marissa (who is possessed by her ancestor of the same name) stop him and while Dexter is freed and destroys the book. The possessed Marissa blasts Byron with a lightning bolt, but as he burns to death he declares that he'll be back in the sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
.
Marinas, who was suffering from a epileptic seizure and was not dead, tells Marissa that she must stay in the castle to ensure that the monster never returns; Helsing, who is now a vampire, also stays. Dexter arranges for Marissa to make her latest music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
in the castle, with the help of her vampire cousins and Helsing.
The film ends with the local villagers, who throughout the movie have been trying to find the castle so they can destroy it, finally giving up and going home.
Inspirations, parodies, and puns
Most of the movie consists of silly moments of comedy and parody; e.g., when PinheadPinhead (Hellraiser)
Pinhead is a fictional character from the Hellraiser series. Created by Clive Barker and portrayed by Doug Bradley, Pinhead is a prominent figure in the series, mostly featured as the main antagonist....
steps out of an acupuncturist's
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
office and says, "I don't care what anyone says — this hurts!" At one point, Dexter looks into a room and meets Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
(in a clip from the movie The Terror
The Terror (1963 film)
The Terror is an American horror film produced by Roger Corman, and famous for being filmed on leftover film sets from other AIP productions, including The Haunted Palace...
); in another, Dexter and Marissa step into a room that's apparently in 3-D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
, but because neither of them is wearing 3-D glasses, all they see is jumbled red and green. As a parady of 3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
s.
Many of the films characters are parodies of from other sources, including; Dexter Ward from The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is a short novel by H. P. Lovecraft, written in early 1927, but not published during the author's liftetime...
, Byron Orlock from Targets
Targets
Targets is a thriller film written, produced and directed by Peter Bogdanovich.-Plot summary:The story concerns a quiet insurance agent / Vietnam veteran, played by Tim O'Kelly, who murders his young wife, his mother and a grocery delivery boy at home and then initiates an afternoon shooting...
, Van Helsing
Van Helsing
Van Helsing is a 2004 American action horror film directed by Stephen Sommers. It stars Hugh Jackman as vigilante monster hunter Gabriel Van Helsing, and Kate Beckinsale...
from Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
, and the mock advertisement scene's Lovely Rita
Lovely Rita
"Lovely Rita" is a song by The Beatles performed on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, written and sung by Paul McCartney, although as with all McCartney or Lennon-written Beatles' songs, it is credited to Lennon–McCartney...
. Television shows are also referenced such as The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
, The Late Show
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, Meet the Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
, The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. Each episode is a mixture of self-contained drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist...
, and Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
. While others are puns or such as "Vampires of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean is a multi-billion dollar Walt Disney franchise encompassing a series of films, a theme park ride, and spinoff novels as well as numerous video games and other publications. The franchise originates with the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, which opened at Disneyland in...
", "Elvis has left the body
Elvis has left the building
"Elvis has left the building!" is a phrase that was often used by public address announcers following Elvis Presley concerts to disperse audiences who lingered in hopes of an encore...
", and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
"Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" is a 1962 novelty nonsensical doo-wop song by The Rivingtons. The song peaked at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #35 on the Cashbox charts.-Cover versions:...
" being spoken as part of the spell to summon the Evil One. And Dexter finding a Skeleton in the closet
Skeleton in the closet (idiom)
Skeleton in the closet or Skeleton in the cupboard is a colloquial phrase and idiom used to describe an undisclosed fact about someone which, if revealed, would have a negative impact on perceptions of the person. "Cupboard" is used in British English instead of the US English word "closet"...
.
Films being parodied consist of; Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street (franchise)
A Nightmare on Elm Street is an American horror franchise that consists of nine slasher films, a television show, novels, and comic books. The franchise began with the film series created by Wes Craven. The franchise is based on the fictional character Freddy Krueger, introduced in A Nightmare on...
the character Freddy Krueger with Swiss Army knife
Swiss Army knife
The Swiss Army knife is a brand of pocket knife or multi-tool manufactured by Victorinox AG and Wenger SA. The term "Swiss Army knife" was coined by US soldiers after World War II due to the difficulty they had in pronouncing the German name....
glove. Casablanca (film)
Casablanca (film)
Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson. Set during World War II, it focuses on a man torn between, in...
the lines "You talking to me, no one else here you must be talking to me." The Exorcist
The Exorcist (film)
The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty and based on the exorcism case of Robbie Mannheim, dealing with the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her...
séance scene and spewing green liquid from the mouth. Friday the 13th films the character Jason Voorhees. The Haunted Palace
The Haunted Palace
The Haunted Palace is a 1963 horror film released by American International Pictures, starring Vincent Price, Lon Chaney Jr., and Debra Paget in a story about a village held in the grip of a cult. The film was directed by Roger Corman, and is usually listed as one in his series of eight films...
the summoning of the 'Evil One' scenes. Hellraiser
Hellraiser
Hellraiser is a 1987 British and American horror film based upon the novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Hellraiser explores themes of sadomasochism and morality under duress and fear. The film spawned a series of sequels...
the character Pinhead. Horror of Dracula
Dracula (1958 film)
Dracula, also known as Horror of Dracula in the United States, is a 1958 British horror film. It is the first in the series of Hammer Horror films inspired by the Bram Stoker novel Dracula. It was directed by Terence Fisher, and stars Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, Carol Marsh, Melissa Stribling and...
meeting the daughters, Van Helsing pointing out blood on vampire's mouth, and throwing back of female vampire from her intended victom. It Conquered the World
It Conquered the World
It Conquered the World is a 1956 American science fiction film about an alien from Venus trying to take over the world with the help of a disillusioned human scientist. It was directed by Roger Corman, written by Lou Rusoff , and starred Peter Graves, Lee Van Cleef, Beverly Garland, and Sally...
the 'Evil One' creature. Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
the lines "Yeah, they're dead--they're all messed up." Phantasm
Phantasm (film)
Phantasm is a low-budget "cult classic" horror film produced in 1977 and released in 1979. The film was directed, written, photographed, co-produced and edited by Don Coscarelli...
the 'Tall Man' character with Angus Scrimm paroding himself in the role. Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver is a 1976 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The film is set in New York City, soon after the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro and features Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, and Cybill Shepherd. The film was nominated for four Academy...
the taxi drivers comments. Texas Chainsaw Massacre films character Leatherface. The Terror
The Terror (1963 film)
The Terror is an American horror film produced by Roger Corman, and famous for being filmed on leftover film sets from other AIP productions, including The Haunted Palace...
footage of Boris Karloff.
Home video
This movie has been released on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
videocassette on September 22, 1993 and on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
on March 27, 2001, both of which are currently out of print. The DVD separates the story into twenty-four scene chapters with the following titles;
- 1. Transylvania Forest
- 2. Death City
- 3. Library of Black Arts
- 4. Action Chick
- 5. A Fare's A Fare
- 6. Gravedigger's Strike
- 7. Local Color
- 8. Vampire Hunter
- 9. My Life's Work
- 10. Musical Interlude
- 11. Castle Orlock
- 12. Exploring The Estate
- 13. Family Tree
- 14. Boris Karloff
- 15. Final Tribute
- 16. Eternal Darkness
- 17. The Newly Dead Game
- 18. The Séance
- 19. Townspeople Revolt
- 20. Vampire Bite
- 21. Hans Down And Out
- 22. Summoning Forth Evil
- 23. The Evil One
- 24. Vampire's Rock
Reception
The film received mixed reviews, from positive reviews such as "what might be the best of the late-80′s wave of Naked GunThe Naked Gun
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is a 1988 American comedy film that is the first in a The Naked Gun series of films starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, and O. J. Simpson...
inspired horror spoofs." To the more negivtive reviews that state "Moronic comedy about vampires, teenage vampire hunters and half-naked babes." One of its most positive reviews comes from Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
stating that; "Mixed into the cosmic stew are many delightful reflexive bits," and that it "is an occasionally hilarious horror spoof notable for the range of its comical targets."
- 2 and half stars out of 4. - TV Guide.
- 2 and a half stars. out of 5- Video Movie Guide 2002
- 2 stars out of 4. - Creature Features: The Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide.
- 2 out of 4. - CinefantastiqueCinefantastiqueCinefantastique was a horror, fantasy, and science fiction film magazine originally started as a mimeographed fanzine in 1967, then relaunched as a glossy, offset quarterly in 1970 by publisher/editor Frederick S. Clarke...
review by J. P. Harris - 1 and a half Bones out of 4. - VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever
- 1 and a half stars out of 5. - All Movie.com
- 1 star out of 5. - AMC (TV channel)
Soundtrack
After the movies original release its theme was released as part of the album "Vampire Circus (The Essential Vampire Theme Collection)" by Silva Screen Records in 1993. On the 1997 album "Vampire Themes" by Cleopatra Records, artist 'Ex Voto' remixes and reinterprets the main theme. The entire soundtrack was then officially released on June 7, 2010, when it was paired with the soundtrack to Not of This Earth (1988 film)Not of This Earth (1988 film)
Not of This Earth is a 1988 remake of the 1957 science fiction-horror Not of This Earth. The film was directed by Jim Wynorsky. The film was made as a result of a wager where Wynorsky bet he could remake the film in the same budget and schedule as the 1957 version by Corman.This film starred Traci...
also composed by Chuck Cirino. It is currently sold in Compact Disk, and Direct download
Digital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
formats from various music sites.
Transylvania Twist
- Amateurs
- Transylvania Twist Main Titles
- Just Give Me Action
- Come To Castle Orlock
- The Road To Hansberg/Van Helsing Before Dinner
- Think Of The Royalties
- Ancestors Of Orlock
- Marinas' Service
- The Newlydead Game
- Seance For Lady Marissa
- Trick Or Treat/Swing And A Miss
- Marissa Points The Way/Dexter Finds The Book
- The Evil One Appears
- Destroy The Book
- Transylvania Twist End Titles
Not of This Earth - Dead City
- Not Of This Earth Main Title
- I'm Coming Home/Dining Out
- Miss Story's Bedroom/First Communication
- Mania
- Birthday Girl
- A Pound And A Half
- Finding Out
- Stop Running, Nadine
- After Johnson
- Not Of This Earth End Titles
Bonus Tracks - Transylvania Twist Suite
- Chopping Mall Suite
See also
- Abbott and Costello Meet FrankensteinAbbott and Costello Meet FrankensteinAbbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is a 1948 American comedy horror film directed by Charles Barton and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It is the first of several films where the comedy duo meets classic characters from Universal's horror film stable...
- Dracula: Dead and Loving ItDracula: Dead and Loving ItDracula: Dead and Loving It is a 1995 comedy film starring Leslie Nielsen, directed by Mel Brooks. It is a parody of the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, and of some of the films it inspired....
- Scary MovieScary MovieScary Movie is a 2000 comedy-parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which heavily parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres...
- Young FrankensteinYoung FrankensteinYoung Frankenstein is a 1974 American comedy film directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene Wilder as the title character, a descendant of the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The supporting cast includes Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, Richard...