Innocent Blood (1992)

38% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(6,881 ratings)

An uneven but entertaining blend of graphic horror and black comedy from John Landis, very much in the mode of the director's successful An American Werewolf in London. French actress Anne Parillaud -- star of Luc Besson's acclaimed thriller La Femme Nikita -- plays Marie, a lithe and lovely vampire… More An uneven but entertaining blend of graphic horror and black comedy from John Landis, very much in the mode of the director's successful An American Werewolf in London. French actress Anne Parillaud -- star of Luc Besson's acclaimed thriller La Femme Nikita -- plays Marie, a lithe and lovely vampire with a conscience who will not take "innocent blood" and maintains a low profile by dining exclusively on criminals and lowlifes. She finds a virtual smorgasbord in Pittsburgh's criminal underworld, arriving in the thick of a bloody mob war sparked by ruthless kingpin Sal Macelli (Robert Loggia). After preying on one of Macelli's hoods (Chazz Palminteri), Marie fumbles her attack on the boss himself and he manages to escape, eventually transforming into a vampire himself. Macelli soon comes to appreciate his new superhuman condition and hatches a diabolical scheme to control the syndicates by turning his underlings into vampires -- including his beleaguered lawyer, Emmanuel Bergman (Don Rickles). Marie, faced with a new and powerful undead enemy, is forced to take matters into her own claws. To this end she enlists the reluctant aid (and eventual affection) of undercover cop Joe Gennaro (Anthony LaPaglia), whose cover has just been leaked to the press, making him a target for Macelli and his growing army of blood drinkers. Landis has crafted a dark and brooding film, pumped up with bouts of extreme gore and gangland violence -- but where American Werewolf's occasional comic touches helped to ground the story and give the "straight" horror scenes more punch, most attempts at humor here seem jarring and out of place. The film's highlights come from numerous horror in-jokes, including cameos from Sam Raimi, Clive Barker, Dario Argento and Linnea Quigley; Rickles' explosive death scene ranks among the weirdest in cinema history. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: John Landis
Written By: Michael Wolk
Genres: Horror, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 25, 1992 Wide
On DVD: Mar 30, 1999
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
[An] overlong, overproduced spectacle.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Innocent Blood is an uncomfortable marriage of vampires and mobsters; it doesn't work on either the supernatural or the criminal level.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Like one of the victims, Innocent Blood feels about five quarts low.
, Film4
It lacks the bite (so to speak) of the classics in this genre, but is a stylish blend of cool black comedy and obvious gore.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The incessant shots of old, and better, vampire movies on the various characters' TVs become distracting and annoying.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
No review available.
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
A stupid, badly paced horror-comedy that's not funny, scary or suspenseful. A dog.
, Time Out
Regrettably, all too often the tone lurches from stylish suspense to smart-ass in-jokiness and silly slapstick.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A fitting follow-up to American Werewolf
Andreas Samuelson, Slasherpool
Not for all tastes, but a wild ride if you get into it.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Pretty fair vampire film suffering from Landis' usual over-producing.
Kathleen Maher, Austin Chronicle
It loses steam and coherence about midway through, leaving us rooting for it but doomed to disappointment.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Phil H

A kind of partner or sequel almost to his mighty werewolf flick, Landis' movie is underrated and a truly thrilling ride. The idea is a nice take on the vamp line but the word vampire is never used in the whole film, it is about vampires but not officially for some reason. Like… More
A kind of partner or sequel almost to his mighty werewolf flick, Landis' movie is underrated and a truly thrilling ride. The idea is a nice take on the vamp line but the word vampire is never used in the whole film, it is about vampires but not officially for some reason. Like 'Werewolf' the effects are really good, even now compared to cgi, the eye effects look cool and the finale effects on the baddie look great as well. Think of it as a mafia vamp flick :)
Melvin W

Innocent Blood is a movie I just can't stand. I know it's not trying to be great, but it's so bad I had trouble making it through the whole thing. John Landis has made good movies that I've really liked, so it's weird I hate this so much. The whole… More
Innocent Blood is a movie I just can't stand. I know it's not trying to be great, but it's so bad I had trouble making it through the whole thing. John Landis has made good movies that I've really liked, so it's weird I hate this so much. The whole vampires-mob plot was just a little too much.
Dr Blood

Chic French beauty Anne Parillaud is possibly the best reason to watch this romantic comedy/thriller but all horror buffs will love it for the endless in-jokes and clips from the classic Dracula films.
Dean M

French actress Anne Parillaud's cool as a vampire who wants occassional bad guy to sink her fangs. She's a bit hotter in naked & sex scenes.
Anthony V

Saw it on opening day. Was way disappointed.
Barry L

Sexy and well written. I love women vampires.
Sean S

Could have been better, I am not so keen on vampires for vampires sake.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Anne Parillaud as Marie

            Robert Loggia as Sal "The Shark" Macelli

            Anthony LaPaglia as Joe Gennaro

            David Proval as Lenny

            Don Rickles as Emmanuel Bergman

            Don Rickels
            
            Chazz Palminteri as Tony

            Rocco Sisto as Gilly

            Kim Coates as Ray

            Forrest J Ackerman as Stolen Car Man

            Yancey Arias as Coroner's Assistant

            Lamont Arnold as Morgue Desk Man

            Lisa Ann Baker as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Angela Bassett as US Attorney Sinclair

            Marshall Bell as Marsh

            Christina Bowers as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Leo Burmeister as Flinton

            Gilbert Cates as Dog Boy

            Russ Cochran as Panhandler

            Kim Currow as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Peter Cushing as Van Helsing

            Christina Diaz as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Marina Durrell as Nurse

            David Earle as Reporter

            Harry Gions as Orderly

            Charlie Gomorra as Gorilla

            Bernard Hocke as Motel Clerk

            Ike as German Shepherd

            Pitty Jennings as Reporter

            Christina Jimenez as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Elaine Kagan as Frannie Bergman

            Christopher Lee as Count Dracula

            Tony Lip as Frank

            Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula

            Jerry Lyden as Vinnie

            Kim Melton as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Vic Noto as Tommy

            Robin Place as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Regina Poole as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Dan Quayle as Vice President of the United States

            Linnea Quigley as Nurse

            Tracy Rolen as Meloday Lounge Dancer

            Ron Roth as Gus

            Tony Sirico as Jacko

            Rohn Thomas as Coroner

            Tammy Ulm as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Robert Walker Jr. as Bruno

            Teri Weigel as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Katrina Witt as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Michael Wolk as Surgeon

            Maribe Zolli as Melody Lounge Dancer

            Dario Argento as Paramedic

            Rick Avery as Cab Driver

            Luis Guzman as Morales

            Bob Minor as Bus Driver

            Frank Oz as Pathologist

            Sam Raimi as Roma Meats Man

            Michael Ritchie as Night Watchman

            Tom Savini as News Photographer

            Sharon Howard-Field
            
            Steve Johnson as Orderly

            Anthony La Paglia
            
See full cast