Riding in the Van with Michael Murphy

Count Yorga, Vampire (1970)
directed by Bob Kelljan
rating: 3 out of 5 cravats
on DVD from Netflix

Although Count Yorga never approaches the geometry of Model Shop in its love of Los Angeles terrain, Kelljan shows a lot considering a vampire's penchant for interior sets and nightfall. I'm sure there's a joke about Isaac's best friend dying because his car broke down in LA, but I've never liked Michael Murphy better. The soft-core origins of the film emerge mostly in unintentional but clever insights into Dracula's personality. For one thing, a distinguished Bulgarian count has a better chance seducing aging widows than their daughters, who more often than not must be physically overpowered by the lumbering help. And what, in the end, are Dracula's brides if not a trio of goth lesbians more interested in each other than a kill? It's the coffin routine as striptease.

Judy Lang, in what appears to be her last film role, goes out in style, with a grin as wonderful as Megan Fox's in Jennifer's Body. Like Megan, Judy's mouth is covered in blood, and former household pets are again the reason why. I can't explain it, but that's the sort of casual carnage that just gets me.