Nadja (1994)
-
57% of critics liked it
(23 reviews) -
61% of users liked it
(1,895 ratings)
This stylish combination of expressionistic horror and deadpan black comedy centers on the activities of a beautiful female vampire on the streets of New York City. Playing fast and loose with the Dracula legend, the film examines the legendary count's children, particularly the alluring and… More This stylish combination of expressionistic horror and deadpan black comedy centers on the activities of a beautiful female vampire on the streets of New York City. Playing fast and loose with the Dracula legend, the film examines the legendary count's children, particularly the alluring and mysterious Nadja (Elina Lowensohn). At the film's beginning, Nadja is celebrating her father's demise and hoping to begin a new life. She hopes that this life will include Lucy (Galaxy Craze), a spunky young woman that she seduces after an encounter in a New York bar. Unfortunately, Lucy is already married, to the nephew of eccentric vampire hunter Van Helsing (Peter Fonda), who disposed of Nadja's father and has now set his sights on capturing the daughter. Matters are further complicated when Nadja's brother Edgar (Jared Harris), a vampire who wishes to give up his blood-sucking nature, also becomes involved. Gorgeously shot by cinematographer Jim Denault in a mixture of 35mm black-and-white and low-budget Pixelvision video, the film resembles a combination of the surrealist visions of co-producer David Lynch and the quirky humor and stylized sensibility of Hal Hartley. The convoluted narrative sometimes fails to gel, and the self-conscious, arty approach will not appeal to audiences looking for conventional thrills, but those with a taste for the unusual may find the film an appealing contemporary spin on a familiar legend. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Directed By
- Michael Almereyda
- Written By
- Michael Almereyda
- Genres
- Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
R,
- In Theaters
- Aug 25, 1995 Wide
- On DVD
- Jul 25, 2000
- Studio
- October Films
Critic Reviews
-
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This offbeat horror item works much better as a dreamy mood piece with striking poetic images and as a semicomic appreciation of a few quintessential low-budget actors than as straight-ahead storytelling.
-
Variety Staff, Variety
A lovely idea for a film that's been beautifully executed but slips too far off its narrative tracks to get where it wants to go.
-
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Highly stylised b/w camerawork and Pixelvision, moody poeticism, and farcical genre parody merge to tantalising if not altogether coherent effect.
-
Caryn James, New York Times
It is refreshing to see so much style and life in the old undead tale, and to watch this strong cast with its perfect deadpan attitudes.
-
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Michael Almereyda's insanely brilliant fantasia on the Dracula legend.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Elina Löwensohn
as Nadja
-
Suzy Amis
as Cassandra
-
Galaxy Craze
as Lucy
-
Martin Donovan
as Jim
-
Peter Fonda
as Dr. Van Helsing
-
Karl Geary
as Renfield
-
Jared Harris
as Edgar
-
David Lynch
as Morgue Security Guard
-
Isabel Gillies
as Waitress
-
Bernadette Jurkowski
as Dracula's Bride
-
Jack Lotz
as Boxing Coach
-
Nic Ratner
as Bar Victim
-
Bob Gosse
as Garage Mechanic
-
Rome Neal
as Garage Mechanic
