A bizarre vampire legend from 1960s and 70s London has been immortalized in "The Highgate Vampire", a biting comedy that is equal parts laugh-out-loud and eerily unsettling. The story centers around David Farrant and Sean Manchester, two men who became embroiled in the frenzy surrounding alleged vampire sightings at Highgate cemetery. What started as an amateur sleuthing effort quickly escalated into a bitter contest to be the first to vanquish the beast.
The film is presented as a lecture, with both Farrant and Manchester taking turns leading the narrative, each trying to outdo the other in a game of one-upmanship. The result is a frenetic and hilarious exchange of wits, with neither man willing to back down. The show's clever script, penned by James Demain and Alexander Knott, weaves together elements of Hammer horror with witty banter and physical comedy.
As the story unfolds, Farrant and Manchester transform into various eye-witnesses, regaling each other (and the audience) with tales of bizarre encounters and supernatural happenings. The show is full of clever references to literary and historical figures, including Karl Marx, whose grave lies nearby.
While "The Highgate Vampire" never quite reaches the level of scariness it strives for, its offbeat charm and energy more than make up for it. The talented cast delivers a charming performance, with standout moments coming from the show's ingenious use of sound effects and music to create an unsettling atmosphere.
Ultimately, this is a strange and wonderful creature - equal parts ghost story, comedy, and meta-theatre. Its offbeat roots make it a refreshing alternative to traditional Christmas fare, and its potential as a promenade show only adds to its allure. If you're looking for something that will leave you grinning from ear to ear, but also send shivers down your spine, then "The Highgate Vampire" is definitely worth seeking out.
The film is presented as a lecture, with both Farrant and Manchester taking turns leading the narrative, each trying to outdo the other in a game of one-upmanship. The result is a frenetic and hilarious exchange of wits, with neither man willing to back down. The show's clever script, penned by James Demain and Alexander Knott, weaves together elements of Hammer horror with witty banter and physical comedy.
As the story unfolds, Farrant and Manchester transform into various eye-witnesses, regaling each other (and the audience) with tales of bizarre encounters and supernatural happenings. The show is full of clever references to literary and historical figures, including Karl Marx, whose grave lies nearby.
While "The Highgate Vampire" never quite reaches the level of scariness it strives for, its offbeat charm and energy more than make up for it. The talented cast delivers a charming performance, with standout moments coming from the show's ingenious use of sound effects and music to create an unsettling atmosphere.
Ultimately, this is a strange and wonderful creature - equal parts ghost story, comedy, and meta-theatre. Its offbeat roots make it a refreshing alternative to traditional Christmas fare, and its potential as a promenade show only adds to its allure. If you're looking for something that will leave you grinning from ear to ear, but also send shivers down your spine, then "The Highgate Vampire" is definitely worth seeking out.
omg I'm OBSESSED with this show!!! the whole concept of a vampire legend turning into a game of one-upmanship between these two guys is just genius 
and I love how it incorporates all these literary and historical references - Karl Marx's grave in Highgate cemetery?! 
that's some next level meta-theatre right there 
and while it may not be super scary, the energy is infectious and the cast delivers such a charming performance 
. it's like they took every weird and wonderful part of vampire folklore and mashed them all together into one wild ride 
I'm so glad this show exists - it's exactly what I needed to shake off the holiday blues 
and it's literally like they took all the wackiest ideas from my school's folklore club and turned them into a comedy 
. i also loved how they referenced karl marx's grave nearby - like, who knew that was a thing? 
anyway, it's not super scary but it's def funny and has this weird energy to it 
are insane! it's like they took every spooky horror movie cliche and turned them into a witty comedy. i loved how they poked fun at all the literary references too 
but honestly who cares when you're having this much fun?
and yeah, it never quite reaches the scary level but honestly who needs scares when you have humor that good 
. i loved how its got a bit of horror and supernatural vibe but also just has this wacky, offbeat energy 
. That being said, the cast totally pulled off the absurdity of it all and the energy is infectious! The references to Karl Marx's grave next door are so cool 
. Overall, this is a super unique and entertaining show... would def recommend it to anyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary 
!
. I love how it just kinda... exists as a weirdo show, not trying to fit into any one genre, that's what makes it so refreshing 
!
. My only reservation is that it doesn't quite reach its scare factor potential... but I'm willing to give it a try just for the quirky vibe 
. And the use of sound effects and music to create an unsettling atmosphere? Mind blown 
its refreshing to see somethin different from the usual christmas fare that just tries 2 be scary all the time 
. the cast is great, and I love how they play off each other like that 
. but what really gets me is how they're poking fun at the whole vampire genre while still paying homage to its roots 
and the sound effects and music are seriously chilling 
it's like, yeah we get it you're trying to be edgy and paranormal but come on let's just have a laugh about it 
it's literally so much fun! they got these 2 guys who are like rival vampire hunters & their banter is insane 
they add to the whole eerie vibe. it's not super scary but it's def worth watching if u wanna laugh & shiver at the same time