Mike Nelson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 reviews:

Vampire In Brooklyn

See horror-master Wes Craven's attempt to direct a comedy!
See Eddie Murphy in his biggest flop since Best Defense!
See sitcom star Kadeem Hardison in what he thought would make him a star!
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss ten bucks goodbye!
Leonard Maltin says, "Oddball film presents its familiar vampire plot in nearly comic terms (Murphy cracks jokes, but he's thoroughly evil); on the other hand, it's not scary enough to work as a horror film...and it's overlong (1' 42") to boot."
Joe Bob Briggs said during MonsterVision host segments for Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead he has forgiven Wes Craven for making this film, and Eddie Murphy for being in it, "I try not to hold grudges. It's not healthy."
The guy stuck in space with two robots reviewing movies on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Mike Nelson) says:

"Very little is known about Bram Stoker. Well, very little is known if you don't take the time to look up his name in the encyclopedia. If you work from memory, like I do, little is known beyond the fact that he wrote Dracula, and that he was not in the movie Stoker Ace. Beyond that--a mystery."

Though my picture of him remains characteristically foggy (a lingering effect of watching The Shadow previously, perhaps), his legacy is clear."

"Clearly Nosferatu remains a favorite. And people still applaud Bela Lugosi's nearly heroin-free performance in the Universal classic Dracula (1931)."

"I recently viewed two films that cast doubts on Mr. Stoker's career. They are "Once Bitten," starring Jim Carrey, and "Vampire In Brooklyn," with Eddie Murphy and Angela Bassett."

"It's a more conventional vampire story that has yuck-meister Eddie Murphy (in cool hair extensions) playing an evil shape-shifter from the West Indies. He stows away on a ship bound for America, probably having gotten really tired of jerk chicken and steel drum bands. The ship crashes in Brooklyn, and Murphy immediately captures himself a "ghoul"--basically, an undead personal secretary who progressively rots over the course of the film like a leftover from Night Of The Living Dead. His septic body parts rotting and falling off is all played for laughs, and if you find yourself not laughing, well, then, you're probably well adjusted and in touch with your soul."

"Angela Bassett portrays a cop trying to solve the grisly murders that Murphy perpetrates. The poor woman tries--I wanted to reach out to her, give her my counselor's number or send her a fruit basket--and though she lends a tiny sliver of dignity to the film, at heart it is a very ugly and dark work, and there is the dank smell of Murphy and his family members all over it. I found its treatment of women pretty reprehensible. Any woman portrayed as less than virginal is torn to pieces, vividly and graphically (though it's possible I'm seeing something that isn't there and I should just lighten up)."

"Also, the language is pretty rough. But provided you're a stable boy or a marine drill instructor, you shouldn't find it too offensive.
To sum up, I'm giving both movies (this and "Once Bitten") a thumbs-down, and urging you to run, run like the wind away from them!! Don't look back!! For the love of God, RRRrruuunnnnnnnnnnnn!!"
(I apologize if my review seems ambiguous)

"Vampire In Brooklyn" is available on on video and on DVD from Amazon.com

Books by Michael Nelson available from Amazon.com include Movie Megacheese (now out of print but they've got some used ones for sale). Mike's episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 are available from Amazon.com on video and on DVD, and he co-wrote the book

Megacheesy movies like this one air from time to time on the SYFY Channel and USA Network

Mike's Once Bitten review, in which Jim Carrey takes on a vampire who's a real cougar. More recently, Eddie Murphy starred in Haunted Mansion

Back to MST 3000 page or MonsterVision.org

© 2000 Michael J. Nelson. All rights reserved, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles & reviews. Mike Nelson is no relation to Lloyd Bridges and has never run low on air while hunting around under the sea.
"I can truthfully say I will never make a bad film." Eddie Murphy (Photoplay, 1987)