Illustration : Koria

Twice Bitten
 

Cirio H. Santiago | Philippines, USA | 1978

1978 was a busy year for Filipino producer/director Cirio Hermoso Santiago, the man behind several 70s and 80s exploitation favourites such as Savage! (1973), Ebony, Ivory and Jade (1978), Caged Fury (1983) and Equalizer 2000 (1986). Vampire Hookers (aka Twice Bitten) was one of four features he directed that year, but the only one to feature a major star in the form of John Carradine Sr.. Although shot in Manila in the Spring of 1978, the film feels like it was made at the tail end of the 1960s, jumbling pubertal comedy, quoted Shakespeare, topless vampires and cheap sets, with only a breezy charm saving it from being a total debacle. After a career spanning four decades and over 70 films, Santiago died in 2008 from lung cancer.

On shore leave whilst docked in a Filipino port, two randy midshipmen, Tom Buckley (Bruce Fairbairn) and Terry Wayne (Trey Wilson) retire to a murky bar with fellow crew member Captain Eddie and his cab driver friend. Eddie takes off with the mysterious and striking Cherish (Karen Stride), whilst Tom and Terry end up in the brig after getting involved in a brawl. Eddie is driven to a creepy cemetery and lured into a secret underground chamber, finally becoming the victim to a trio of female vampires and their decrepit leader, the poetry quoting Richmond Reed (Carradine Sr.).

Puzzled by Eddie's disappearance, Trey and Terry set out to find him, striking it lucky when they spot the cab driver. Tailing the cabbie to the cemetery, Trey investigates the underground crypt, only to be discovered by Pavo (the incomparable Vic Diaz), a flatulent(!) ersatz Reinfield character who yearns of becoming a vampire like the others he serves. The two are captured by the vampire clan, but are saved by the dawn sunlight and manage an escape. The following day, Trey returns to the crypt with police officials, who leave him stranded there after finding nothing unusual. Trapped inside, Trey is knocked unconscious by the spying Pavo, eventually waking up in the bed and the waiting arms and fangs of the three female vampires…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A film of this calibre would only ever end up as a supporting feature in the UK, so it’s not surprising that there was no theatrical exposure for Santiago’s picture. The eager video market of course was a different story, and Denham based Abacus Video (set up by former Iver Film Services’ boss George Davis) duly obliged with it’s July 1983 release.

According to the BBFC’s own classification database, Twice Bitten (a video generated re-titling) was passed without cuts and distributed by Network Distribution (Midlands) Ltd.. However, although the sleeve illustration features artwork by Network regular Koria (who signed this Vampire Lovers/House by The Cemetery inspired piece twice), it appears to only have come out on Ariel with distribution via CBS.

 

aka : Vampire Hookers; Ladies Of The Night; Night Of The Bloodsuckers; Sensuous Vampires; Vampire Hookers of Horror

cast : John Carradine Sr., Bruce Fairbairn, Trey Wilson, Vic Diaz, Leo Martinez, Karen Stride, Lenka Novak, Katie Dolan, Lex Winter, Mark Campbell, Irving Glick