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Director Ernest Dickerson injects a hearty dose of dark humor in this stylish comic-book horror tale. Based on the campy cable horror series (which was inspired by the 1950s E.C. comic book series of the same name), this tight, modestly budgeted little thriller stars William Sadler as an intense stranger who arrives at a run-down boarding house in flight from the Collector (a cocky, droll Billy Zane). The Collector is after an item in the stranger's possession, which turns out to be a holy relic, and when his efforts end in failure he explodes in a demonic fury that reveals his evil origins, laying siege to the house with an army of zombies and infiltrating the minds of each the boarders with insidious fantasies. It's a seedy Grand Hotel by way of The Exorcist, cooked up with plenty of gore and a smattering of sex, and served with dry wit. Dickerson effectively balances the horror and the humor, maintaining a surprising intensity and an unforced mythic dimension within lurid B-movie conventions. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Billy Zane Rocks!
Funny, scary, and entertaining, "Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight" is the first of a series of films that are derived from the popular HBO series. Unlike the "Creep show" and "Tales From the Darkside" films of the past, "Tales From the Crypt" focuses on one tale of horror and suspense each time, allowing the story to develop into a more entertaining experience.

Directed by Ernest Dickerson ("Juice") "Demon Knight" features the immense talents of William Sadler, Jada Pinkett Smith, and the ever versatile, amazing Billy Zane in a horror movie laced with plenty of comedic moments. The story revolves around a key that Sadler is carrying in order to pass on to the next guardian. There are a total of 7 keys, representing a galaxy each. According to Sadler's story, the key contains the blood of Jesus Christ. While dying on the cross at Golgotha, a follower of Christ pour his blood into the key to prevent the conquest of earth and the rest of the universe by Satan and his legion of demons. Until all keys are together can this happen, and with 6 of the keys in the hand of demons, the fate of the universe lies on Pinkett Smith's character, who is the chosen one to carry the key after Sadler.

I must praise Billy Zane. He is amazing. He plays the perfect villain, and in this role he is dynamite. His performance is more comedic, and he would make similar villains of the past such as Freddy Krueger very proud. I can understand why Hollywood has typecasted him as a villain in almost all of his films after seeing this film. Zane's intense sex appeal will captivate many viewers, and his range of emotions is incredible.

Pinkett Smith who was coming into films fresh from the cancellation of the long-running NBC series "A Different World," is great. As the heroine of the movie she really can kick butt, and her on-screen chemistry with Zane is perfect.

In conclusion, this a great film to view if you are in the mood for horror mixed in with a bit of dark humor. The film can be strong at times with the sight of gore and violence, but if it weren't for Billy Zane's performance, I wouldn't have cared to watch this film at all. He is one of the film world's most gifted actors and this film was a showcase of his talent before he became a bigger name when he starred in "James Cameron's Titanic." "Demon Knight" is an excellent example of how to create an entertaining horror film. Skip "Blair Witch" and try this film instead.

horror movie or comedy?
It seems to be a great combination of the two!

I don't think I ever saw this show on TV but since reading some of the reviews on this particular edition and the impressive cast list, I was curious to see what the fuss was about. That and the fact that I am a fan of Billy Zane and now William Sadler. I never realized that the latter actor was in so many things, such as "The Green Mile" and the "Roswell" series. I also don't think that I've ever seen Jada Pinkett Smith in anything before. I'm glad that she had a good strong character to sink her teeth into.

What WAS interesting was the way the story developed by way of verbal explanations and flashbacks. At the beginning you weren't quite sure who was the good guy or who was the bad guy but Billy Zane played his role extremely well as the wickedly, funny Collector!

Since watching this movie I was interested to see how many other "Tales from the Crypt" were available to buy on DVD. Especially with the !number of famous people which you can always find in the querky stories. Unfortunately there are only 2 that I could find. Hopefully, there will be more of them in the near future.

A great way to spend 1½ hours!

Demon Knight!!!
Wow! What a good Movie! This is byfar the best Demon Possesion movie since the Evil Dead. The demons look a lot like pumkinhead, but with long rock band hair. William Saddler and Jada Pinkett lead the fight against the sly and funny collector (Billy Zane). The fun begins right away with a cool beginning action sequence. As The film goes on, introducing the charcters, the demons arrive and the war begins. I'd say the best parts of the movie is where you see the demons takeover people.

It's really gross! They mutate and deform in different ways! But, if you like funny, actiony horror films that are explosive, This is It!!!

Cheap, B-Movie Fun!
Demon Knight is a blast which is a lot to say for a film that seems to be made on a sixty dollar budget. The special effects are nothing spectacular ( but I appreciated that more than outrageous tricks relied on by films like The Matrix ). This film is the best Tales From the Crypt episode you'll ever see. It may not be filled with the greatest acting or dialogue but it is one of the most entertaining films you'll see in a long time. I saw this in 95' and enjoyed it since then. I've just purchased the DVD and cannot wait to sample the film on high quality stock. Billy Zane shines although a lackluster Jada Pinkett should have been replaced by a more vibrant black actress such as Nia Long. Zane and Pinkett have no chemistry and it surprises that the filmmakers decided to have Pinkett be the " chosen mistress " to Billy's underlord persona. Anyway, this film has a few minor faults but nothing to make this film less than a five-star gem. A hidden jewel if I say so myself.

Tales
Very interesting movie. Some scenes are a bit disgusting. Nevertheless the connection of the story line with the crucifixion of Jesu-Christ is quite interesting. And maybe not so crazy after all.
A film worth seeing and thinking of. Not for children! ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Underrated brilliance
I never understood why so many people hate this movie. Even Fangoria called it 'abysmal'. But I consider it a worthy follow-up to the delicious Demon Knight. It has brilliant acting: Dennis Miller is a treat as smartass private eye. Angie Everhart is not only the hottest female vampire in years, no, she even proves that she can actually act. Corey Feldman has one of his very few good roles. But who really chews the scenery is Chris Sarandon (Fright Night), one of the most underrated actors ever: His performance as a TV preacher alone makes this movie worth watching. Only Erika Eleniak is rather miscast. And watch out for Demon Knight veteran William Sadler (another underestimated actor) as mummy. The make-up F/X are not only unbelievably gory for an R-rated movie; they're so excellent they even surprise genre buffs who thought they've seen it all. The characters are wonderfully weird, and although there's loads of black humour in it, I'm glad Bordello of Blood never turns in a fun-splatter movie and still provides some chills. Even if you heard it's awful: Give it a try! It's more than just another vampire movie and has more imaginery than all those new teen horror films that Scream spawned together. I just hope there'll be a final part to the Tales from the Crypt full-length-feature trilogy.

Vampire Prostitutes
Bordello of Blood is the second Tales From the Crypt movie, and I found it very enjoyable.

Unlike the first movie (Demon Knight) this movie did not start out with the television show's opening. It opened more like a movie than an extra long episode.

Bordello of Blood is the story of a down-on-his-luck private investigator (Dennis Miller) looking for a missing teenager. The search leads him to a funeral home that is a front for a bordello run by vampires. Miller's client tells him to drop the case but he really needs the case to succeed if he is going to get his license back. Miller investigates and plays a very savvy investigator who doesn't fall for anyone's lines and is not surprised by what he finds. Added to this is television evangelism, the lore of vampires and their origin, and the key from the first movie.

The action is similar to the series with the same tongue-in-cheek humor (possibly even more so). I particularly liked the investigator's resourcefulness in eliminating the vampires (a long-range, large-capacity squirt gun filled with holy water) and the vampire applying the SPF100 sun block.

If you like Tales From the Crypt, there is no reason you will not like this one.

The reason Tales from the Crypt died
While the first film was a solid, self-contained horror flick with a touch of humor and a fair amount of sophistication and imagination, Bordello of Blood falls apart under poor direction and a far too free-spirited nature. While it is a failure as a sequel it manages to entertain only as a brainless timewaster.

Dennis Miller does his best with the weak material and ad-libs a lot of humor. A little too much, taking the film even further from it's already vague ambitions. But worry not, his humor is still free and easy, unlike his cryptic (no pun intended) football commentaries. Erika Eleniak is marginally engaging and Corey Feldman is well underused. The weakest performances come from Angie Everhart as the ancient vampire Lillith and Chris Sarandon as the outrageously stereotyped southern TV evangelist. It's these performances that keep the film eternally low brow.

It's sad that Tales from the Crypt totally died after this movie but the powers behind it went on to found the Dark Castle production company (check out those movies they're actually quite scary and effective).

This new version of Bordello of Blood is by Universal and is presented in it's proper aspect ratio of 1.85:1 anamorphic and is in Dolby 5.1. The cheapo snapper case has been replaced by a sturdy keepcase and a new cover art. The only new extra is a trailer.

Tales From The Crypt Presents - Bordello of Blood
When a Private Investigator (Dennis Miller) is hire by a church-going, sexy concerned sister (Erika Eleniak) to find her bad-assed brother (Corey Feldman) the case turns into a bloodbath. When they finally find her brother he is found in a local mortuary which tends to have funerals in the mornings and a whorehouse at night. The whorehouse is run by a vampire (Angie Everheart) whose over 1,000 years old. Full of comedy, gore and (of course) sex, Bordello of Blood is very satisfying and has the ability to entertain multiple viewings. The film also co-stars Chris Sarandon. The DVD isn't much. It only have a Theatrical Trailer.

Picture: B
Sound: B-
Special Features: F

Gorey and fun horror romp
The second (but hopefully not last) Tales From the Crypt film, Bordello of Blood is as nasty as it's title implies. Full of scantily clad vampire women and loaded with a surprising amount of gore for an R-rated movie, this film is pure trashy horror fun with comedian Dennis Miller playing a private eye who stumbles upon a bordello full of vampires being funded by an evangilist (Chris Sarandon). Plenty of toungue-in-cheek dark humor, hot babes, and wild gore; Bordello of Blood doesn't hit the same greatness as Demon Knight, but it doesn't try to either. Also featuring Erika Eleniak, Corey Feldman, and Angie Everhart as the mouthwatering vampire master. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Underrated brilliance
I never understood why so many people hate this movie. Even Fangoria called it 'abysmal'. But I consider it a worthy follow-up to the delicious Demon Knight. It has brilliant acting: Dennis Miller is a treat as smartass private eye. Angie Everhart is not only the hottest female vampire in years, no, she even proves that she can actually act. Corey Feldman has one of his very few good roles. But who really chews the scenery is Chris Sarandon (Fright Night), one of the most underrated actors ever: His performance as a TV preacher alone makes this movie worth watching. Only Erika Eleniak is rather miscast. And watch out for Demon Knight veteran William Sadler (another underestimated actor) as mummy. The make-up F/X are not only unbelievably gory for an R-rated movie; they're so excellent they even surprise genre buffs who thought they've seen it all. The characters are wonderfully weird, and although there's loads of black humour in it, I'm glad Bordello of Blood never turns in a fun-splatter movie and still provides some chills. Even if you heard it's awful: Give it a try! It's more than just another vampire movie and has more imaginery than all those new teen horror films that Scream spawned together. I just hope there'll be a final part to the Tales from the Crypt full-length-feature trilogy.

Vampire Prostitutes
Bordello of Blood is the second Tales From the Crypt movie, and I found it very enjoyable.

Unlike the first movie (Demon Knight) this movie did not start out with the television show's opening. It opened more like a movie than an extra long episode.

Bordello of Blood is the story of a down-on-his-luck private investigator (Dennis Miller) looking for a missing teenager. The search leads him to a funeral home that is a front for a bordello run by vampires. Miller's client tells him to drop the case but he really needs the case to succeed if he is going to get his license back. Miller investigates and plays a very savvy investigator who doesn't fall for anyone's lines and is not surprised by what he finds. Added to this is television evangelism, the lore of vampires and their origin, and the key from the first movie.

The action is similar to the series with the same tongue-in-cheek humor (possibly even more so). I particularly liked the investigator's resourcefulness in eliminating the vampires (a long-range, large-capacity squirt gun filled with holy water) and the vampire applying the SPF100 sun block.

If you like Tales From the Crypt, there is no reason you will not like this one.

The reason Tales from the Crypt died
While the first film was a solid, self-contained horror flick with a touch of humor and a fair amount of sophistication and imagination, Bordello of Blood falls apart under poor direction and a far too free-spirited nature. While it is a failure as a sequel it manages to entertain only as a brainless timewaster.

Dennis Miller does his best with the weak material and ad-libs a lot of humor. A little too much, taking the film even further from it's already vague ambitions. But worry not, his humor is still free and easy, unlike his cryptic (no pun intended) football commentaries. Erika Eleniak is marginally engaging and Corey Feldman is well underused. The weakest performances come from Angie Everhart as the ancient vampire Lillith and Chris Sarandon as the outrageously stereotyped southern TV evangelist. It's these performances that keep the film eternally low brow.

It's sad that Tales from the Crypt totally died after this movie but the powers behind it went on to found the Dark Castle production company (check out those movies they're actually quite scary and effective).

This new version of Bordello of Blood is by Universal and is presented in it's proper aspect ratio of 1.85:1 anamorphic and is in Dolby 5.1. The cheapo snapper case has been replaced by a sturdy keepcase and a new cover art. The only new extra is a trailer.

Tales From The Crypt Presents - Bordello of Blood
When a Private Investigator (Dennis Miller) is hire by a church-going, sexy concerned sister (Erika Eleniak) to find her bad-assed brother (Corey Feldman) the case turns into a bloodbath. When they finally find her brother he is found in a local mortuary which tends to have funerals in the mornings and a whorehouse at night. The whorehouse is run by a vampire (Angie Everheart) whose over 1,000 years old. Full of comedy, gore and (of course) sex, Bordello of Blood is very satisfying and has the ability to entertain multiple viewings. The film also co-stars Chris Sarandon. The DVD isn't much. It only have a Theatrical Trailer.

Picture: B
Sound: B-
Special Features: F

Gorey and fun horror romp
The second (but hopefully not last) Tales From the Crypt film, Bordello of Blood is as nasty as it's title implies. Full of scantily clad vampire women and loaded with a surprising amount of gore for an R-rated movie, this film is pure trashy horror fun with comedian Dennis Miller playing a private eye who stumbles upon a bordello full of vampires being funded by an evangilist (Chris Sarandon). Plenty of toungue-in-cheek dark humor, hot babes, and wild gore; Bordello of Blood doesn't hit the same greatness as Demon Knight, but it doesn't try to either. Also featuring Erika Eleniak, Corey Feldman, and Angie Everhart as the mouthwatering vampire master. ... Read more