Where to watch Bordello of Blood
1 Star
The Tales from the Crypt television series was a seminal and extremely entertaining horror show with high doses of comedy and irony. That delicate combination of tonal elements was superbly handled by the various writers and directors that graced the series during its five years on HBO during the early nineties. Ita shame that none of those attributes made the transition to the two Crypt theatrical features that were released in late ’95 and ’96. Both films are sub par examples of their outstanding forbearer.
Rafe Guttman (Dennis Miller) is a wise-cracking detective with little money and fewer friends. Then one night he gets hired, reluctantly, by Katherine (Erika Eleniak) a volunteer at the local mega-church headed by Reverend J.C. Current (Chris Sarandon). Katherine’s brother Caleb (Corey Feldman) has gone missing at a local whorehouse run by vampires. Rafe uses his detective skills to locate the brothel and the missing sibling, but it turns out Caleb is now part of the undead. The bordello is run by the stunning vampire Lilith (Angie Everhart) who has an unholy pact with the J.C. Current to kill lustful sinners.
The main problem with Bordello of Blood is a curiously lackadaisical pace. This listless film is only 86 minutes long but feels much longer due to its lethargic scripting. The films only bright spot is the near constant quips from the mercurial comedian/star Dennis Miller. His verbal gymnastics feel ad-libbed and bring some freshness to the tired material. Unfortunately, Miller can’t save the entire film which is an embarrassingly lowbrow. Bordello of Blood is one tale that should have never escaped the vault.
Director: Gilbert Adler
Stars: Dennis Miller, Angie Everhart, Erika Eleniak