The Fearless Vampire Killers

Professor Abronsius (Jack MacGowran) and his clumsy assistant Alfred (Roman Polański) travel to remote Transylvania to research vampires. They are hosted in an inn where Alfred falls in love with the inn-keeper’s beautiful daughter Sarah (Sharon Tate). When Sarah is abducted by the mysterious Count von Krolock (Ferdy Mayne), Professor Abronsius and Alfred head to his creepy castle. Will they manage to save her from the aristocrat vampire? The Fearless Vampire Killers, a fast-paced horror comedy directed by Roman Polański, offers a humorous yet erudite take on key vampire themes, with references to the work of John Polidori and painting (Pieter Bruegel’s The Triumph of Death), and with brilliant play with clichés from numerous vampire films: the crucifix (the cult line ‘You’ve got the wrong vampire’ delivered by a Jewish vampire), garlic (administered orally, if need be), absence of reflection in the mirror, sleeping in the coffin, etc. The female lead is played by Sharon Tate – Roman Polański’s future wife (brutally murdered a few years later). The couple met at the set by chance, Tate wasn’t the first choice to play her character. Her role was to be played by Jill St. John, who quit shortly before shooting.
Tomasz Kolankiewicz

This screening will be presented together with The Shining by Stanley Kubrick.

• Director — Roman Polański
• Writers — Roman Polański, Gérard Brach
• Genre — horror, comedy
• Production — USA, UK
• Year of production — 1967