Directed by Joe Sherlock
Review by David Carter


Released by SRS Cinema
Running Time: 108 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: 2.0 Stereo English
Region Code: 1, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: Full Screen
16:9 Enhanced: No
Special Features: Commentary track, behind the scenes, Blooper Reel, Photo Gallery
Trailer Online: Yes

Short Version: Hilarious no-budget hi-jinks

Often is it that I receive a group of DVDs with which I am completely unfamiliar. I’ve never heard of any of the stars, the directors, or even the films themselves, so I blindly browse through the stack until something catches my eye. As you might expect, the DVD INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES piqued my interest almost immediately on the strength of the title alone. I’m happy to say that the film more than lived up to the expectations I had for it. The film has recently been released by SRS Cinema, who also released it in 2004 under its original title, BLOODSUCKING REDNECK VAMPIRES – an equally brazen title but one that fails to capture the magic of INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES.

Our vampire is Catherine, who, along with her human servant Lendel, finds herself on the run and forced to hide in a remote town called Backwash. Catherine is undaunted by this setback, however, and plans to use the town as her base to launch an attack on the human populace by turning all of the town’s residents into vampires. It’s a decent plan, but Catherine didn’t take into account the sheer stupidity of the townspeople. Once turned into vampires, they promptly begin killing themselves accidentally: walking out in the sunlight, going to the tanning bed, eating garlic, and bathing in holy water. Her “army” of vampires dwindles down to a handful, making them easing pickings for a vampire hunter passing through town.

INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES isn’t really about Catherine and her vampires, however.

INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES is really about the Poissier Family (pronounced “pisser”) and the shenanigans they get into in the days leading up to Backwash’s annual Tripe Days Festival. Ma Poissier has her hands full getting ready for the Tripe Cook-off, preparing daughter Eva for the Ms. Tripe Days pageant, and entertaining French interior decorator Jean-Claude. Tripe Days takes precedent, so Jean-Claude is left in the incapable hands of Lil’ Junior and his incorrigible friend Cletus. The trio becomes fast friends despite their differences and has a series of beer-fueled misadventures. It’s at the Tripe Days Festival that the Poissiers and Catherine cross paths, with the rednecks getting the upper hand on the ancient vampire.

A lot of indie comedies fall flat, which makes it all the more impressive that INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES is as funny as it is. To each his own, but there were several moments in the film that I found to be laugh-out-loud funny. The laughs here are intentional – you’re laughing with the film more often than you’re laughing at it. There are occasionally some miscues, but on the whole the humor is enjoyable and the majority of the cast delivers their lines well and with appropriate comedic timing.

I’d like to single out Bill Bradford for individual praise in his role as the hard-drinking Cletus. Mr. Bradford is the source of a good many of the film’s biggest laughs and gives 110% in every scene in which he appears. I doubt the film would have been as enjoyable without Bradford, who has an excellent chemistry with his costars and an incredible screen presence. The filmmakers also deserve a share of the praise in consideration of the fact that Bradford, a dwarf, is never made the butt of any of the film’s humor. INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES breaks almost every taboo with its humor but still has the class not to poke fun of Bradford’s stature.

While Cletus, Jean-Claude, and the Poissiers will keep you suitably entertained, the film loses momentum in the scenes with Catherine and Lendel. Felicia Pandolfi’s scenery chewing performance as Catherine is too clichéd to be amusing and neither she nor her costar bring the same level of energy to their performances as the Poissier clan. The titular “inbred redneck vampires” are occasionally good for a laugh, though; a fact largely due to the film’s delightfully cheesy special effects.

The DVD of INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES is rounded out by a commentary track, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and an enjoyable blooper reel. I’ll admit to being surprised at how much I liked this film. I went into it expecting to possibly get a kick at how poorly it was made but the film won me over by the twenty minute mark. I have a feeling that a lot of you out there will have the same experience. The team of Joe Sherlock, Michael Hegg, Ron Bonk, and the cast has a good feel for comedy and avoid going too far over the top as so many low-budget comedies do. INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES is a guaranteed good time.