¡Vampiros en La Habana!
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¡Vampiros en La Habana! | |
---|---|
Directed by | Juan Padrón |
Written by | Ernesto Padrón Juan Padrón |
Music by | Rembert Egues |
Cinematography | Julio Simoneau |
Editing by | Rembert Egues Rosa Maria Carreras |
Release date(s) | 1985 |
Running time | 69 min. / 80 min. |
Country | Cuba |
Language | Spanish |
Allmovie profile | |
IMDb profile |
¡Vampiros en La Habana! (English title: Vampires in Havana) is a Cuban animated film from the mind of Juan Padrón. Originally released in 1985, the film was promoted as an adult animation in the US. The tagline was "Not since Fritz the Cat has there been such a freewheeling sexy cartoon romp!"
The film features trumpet performances by the legendary Arturo Sandoval.
A sequel to the film was released in 2003 called Más vampiros en La Habana.
[edit] Plot summary
Joseph Amadeus Dracula is a trumpet player who spends his time away from the bandstand dabbling in quasi-terrorist plots to overthrow the Cuban government. Unbeknownst to him, he is a vampire, and his uncle has been using him as a test subject for a potion that negates the usually fatal effects of sunlight.
Meanwhile, a Chicago-based vampire crime syndicate and a vampiric European Union of sorts both have learned of the formula and wish to possess it towards different ends—the Chicago group to suppress it and thus maintain their monopoly on indoor, artificial beach resorts, and the Europeans to market it as "Vampisol." When Dracula learns of his true heritage (and his uncle's wish to give the formula away to vampires everywhere) he becomes the target of a multi-pronged manhunt, leading all parties involved on a wild chase through some of the seediest neighborhoods of Havana.
At the film's climax, Joseph and his girlfriend find themselves cornered by the Chicago vampire cartel, led by vampire mobster Johnny Terrori. He tells Joseph to have O positive blood as his last drink, for it is the most delicious among vampires. However, when he spits it in disgust, Terrori starts deducting how he dislikes blood (vampires love it), he was harmed by a lead bullet earlier (vampires can only be harmed with silver bullets) and he is completely impervious to sunlight (it instantly kills vampires). In a frenzy, he hands over the vampisol formula to the European group, realizing that its effect is to turn vampires into humans. As a final resolution, Joseph sings the formula over the radio to vampires worldwide, instructing to use it on a much distant basis that he has been doing all his life. This proves successful, and both vampire cartels find themselves defeated.
At the very end a vampire claims "Be careful, because that guy next to you on the beach... might just be a vampire!"