Daughter of Darkness ** (1990, Anthony Perkins, Mia Sara, Jack Coleman, Robert Reynolds) – Classic Movie Review 9563

Director Stuart Gordon’s 1990 made for TV horror movie Daughter of Darkness stars Anthony Perkins and Mia Sara.

Mia Sara plays Kathy Thatcher, who is plagued by strange dreams that lead her to Romania in a search for her mysterious father. There she meets Anton (Perkins), who warns her to be careful. But vampires soon abound and the horrifying truth about Kathy’s heritage is revealed.

Director Gordon turns his hand to this TV movie with some small success, keeping it eerie and atmospheric, though failing to chill or thrill to any very significant degree. But the basic vampire premise is a welcome, good one, the photography and Hungarian locations are striking, and Perkins effortlessly adds a much-needed element of creepiness.

Also in the cast are Jack Coleman, Robert Reynolds, Dezsö Garas, Mari Kiss, Ferenc Némethy, Erika Bodnár, István Hunyadkürthy, Ági Margitai, Attila Lõte and Kati Rák.

It was shot Budapest, Hungary, in September 1989.

Daughter of Darkness is directed by Stuart Gordon, runs 96 minutes, is made by Accent Entertainment Corporation and King Phoenix Entertainment, is released by CBS (1990) (US) (TV) and Trimark Home Video (1994), is written by Andrew Laskos, is shot by Ivan Mark, is produced by Andra Hamori and is scored by Colin Towns.

RIP Stuart Gordon, Re-Animator director, who died on 24 March 2020, aged 72.

Best known for the rousing, campy 1985 action horror comedy Re-Animator, Stuart Gordon also directed another Lovecraft adaptation From Beyond (1986), The Dolls (1987), Robot Jox (1989), the remake of The Pit and the Pendulum (1991), Fortress (1992), Dagon (2001), King of the Ants (2003) and the David Mamet’s Edmond (2005).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9563

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