Frost on the windows, garlic on the rafters, and footprints that end in mid-snow: The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) is a featherlight stake through the heart of Gothic horror. Director Roman Polanski sends the befuddled Professor Abronsius (Jack MacGowran) and shy assistant Alfred (Polanski) to the Carpathians, where the elegant Count von Krolock (Ferdy Mayne) hosts a midnight ball-and sets eyes on Sarah (Sharon Tate).
It’s a mood piece that giggles: baroque sets, powdery moonlight, and proper scares-undercut (delightfully) by pratfalls, squeaky floorboards, and a waltz of the undead.
Why it works
- Gothic candy-box visuals. Snowbound inns, crimson drapes, candlelit crypts-pure, painterly atmosphere.
- Comedy with fangs. It spoofs the genre without breaking it; the castle still feels dangerous.
- A ballroom to remember. The masquerade sequence is the film’s signature: elegant, eerie, and darkly funny.
Cast & tone
- Jack MacGowran makes Abronsius a moth-eaten crusader for “science.”
- Roman Polanski plays Alfred as pure, hapless earnestness.
- Sharon Tate’s Sarah is all porcelain curiosity and bath-bubble siren calls.
- Ferdy Mayne gives Count von Krolock sly, courtly menace.
Did you know? The story later leapt to the stage as the hit musical Dance of the Vampires (1997), directed by Polanski with songs by Jim Steinman and book/lyrics by Michael Kunze-a cult favorite from Vienna to beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “The Fearless Vampire Killers” (1967) about?
A: A bumbling scholar and his timid assistant hunt vampires in the Carpathians, only to be drawn into Count von Krolock’s castle and a lavish undead ball that turns their rescue mission into a moonlit farce.
Who stars in “The Fearless Vampire Killers” (1967)?
A: Jack MacGowran (Professor Abronsius), Roman Polanski (Alfred), Sharon Tate (Sarah), and Ferdy Mayne (Count von Krolock).
Is “The Fearless Vampire Killers” (1967) scary or mostly a comedy?
A: It’s a horror–comedy: genuine Gothic chills and striking visuals, softened by physical humor and genre parody.
Is “The Fearless Vampire Killers” the same as “Dance of the Vampires”?
A: The film inspired the stage musical Dance of the Vampires (1997), but the movie is the original 1967 screen version.
Is “The Fearless Vampire Killers” (1967) suitable for younger viewers?
A: It includes mild blood, suggestive humor, and spooky imagery; best for teens and adults comfortable with classic horror vibes.
