VAMP (1986)

• Director: Richard Wenk
• Cast: Chris Makepeace, Robert Rusler, Gedde Watanabe, Dedee Pfeiffer, Grace Jones
• Film: 93mins | USA | Subtitles | Intermission
• Event: 20:45 – 23:10 [18+]

“GRACE JONES WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY… FOR GOOD!”

Wannabe frat boys travel to a downtown bar in search of entertainment, unaware it is occupied by bloodthirsty vampires.

BAR TRASH celebrates our 3rd year and 10th sensational season with WE ARE TRASH!, a fan-made mixtape of cult and chaotic cinema (14 May to 20 Aug 2025).

Richard Wenk’s comedy horror — with bite — VAMP (1986) was one of the first titles dropped in our audience suggestion box, making it the perfect way to celebrate the many wonders of our BAR TRASH community (and much of it takes place in a bar!). VAMP also mainlines one of the themes we’re celebrating throughout this season; kick-ass women in exploitation cinema.

Making a spell-binding return to BAR TRASH, Grace Jones (previously seen in CONAN THE DESTROYER) is spellbinding in another supporting role. Reported struggles with her acting resulted in almost all of Jones’ dialogue being removed, but that only adds to VAMP’s neon pink and green weirdness. When her lead vampire Katrina takes to the stage, Jones’ surreal striptease is an avant garde jaw dropper.

VAMP is superbly designed by many of Grace Jones’ own award-winning collaborators — including iconic queer artist Keith Haring — and features stunning practical FX by four-time Oscar winner Greg Cannom (THE LOST BOYS, BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA). Described by veteran critic Roger Ebert as “sort of a vampire version of AFTER HOURS”, VAMP is a bloody mess of genres, but these are cocktail ingredients we imbibe with love and affection at BAR TRASH!

Polite notice: We are projecting VAMP with subtitles from the best available digital source.

// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for updates. //