Rediscover Wes Craven and Eddie Murphy’s Underrated Vampire in Brooklyn — 30 Years Later
Vampire in Brooklyn marks its 30th anniversary this year: the horror-comedy directed by Wes Craven and starring Eddie Murphy was released on Oct. 27, 1995, and is currently available to stream on Tubi.
Film Basics
Vampire in Brooklyn is a 1995 horror-comedy directed by Wes Craven and produced by Paramount Pictures. The film stars Eddie Murphy as Maximillian, with Angela Bassett, Kadeem Hardison, Allen Payne and John Witherspoon in supporting roles. It was released in the United States on Oct. 27, 1995.
Roots and Influences
The film links to a longer tradition of Black vampire cinema and the Blaxploitation era, most notably the 1972 film Blacula. In that earlier film, William Marshall played Mamuwalde, an African prince transformed into a vampire and given the name “Blacula.” His performance reshaped the role from an originally written stereotype into a regal character.
Plot and Cast
The story follows Maximillian, a vampire descendant of Dracula. According to the film’s backstory, his ancestors fled to Egypt and later to the Bermuda Triangle. Maximillian arrives in Brooklyn aboard a ghost ship whose crew has been killed. Ship inspector Silas Green (John Witherspoon) and his nephew Julius Jones (Kadeem Hardison) discover the ship and later encounter a black wolf that transforms into a man.
Angela Bassett plays Detective Rita Veder, and Allen Payne plays her partner, Detective Justice. Eddie Murphy’s character targets Rita as part of a plan to continue his vampire line. Julius becomes an important secondary figure who is drawn deeper into Maximillian’s scheme.
Tone and Production
Wes Craven directed the film after completing his work on the Nightmare on Elm Street series. Craven later returned to genre blending with Scream, which was released after Vampire in Brooklyn. The movie combines elements of horror, comedy and crime drama, and it uses makeup and transformation effects for both comedic and Gothic moments.
The cast includes established actors from Black cinema of the era: Angela Bassett, who had an increasing profile in the 1990s; Kadeem Hardison and John Witherspoon, both known for their comedic work; and Allen Payne, who had appeared in several genre and drama projects during that period.
Reception and Legacy
On release, the film earned modest box office returns and received mostly negative reviews from critics. Over time, it has developed a cult following and has been reassessed by some critics who highlight aspects such as Craven’s direction and the on-screen chemistry between Murphy and Bassett. The theatrical release also included a short post-credits scene that hinted at a sequel, though no direct sequel materialized.
Where to Watch
As of its 30th anniversary, Vampire in Brooklyn is available to stream on Tubi.
