My quick rating - 5.1/10. If seeing Lloyd Kaufman in the cast doesn’t immediately tell you what kind of movie you’re getting into, the opening narration should clear things up. This isn’t your grandmother’s Bambi, and it isn’t a Bambi story at all. No, this is a story about a Bampire. And apparently, those suck. Literally.
We kick things off with two women trespassing through the woods in the pouring rain. Naturally, they have a perfectly reasonable explanation. They want to take their pants off and borrow somebody’s hot tub. Romance is in the air until something rushes them, and we’re treated to an animated attack before the practical gore takes over. It’s an unusual combination, but Bampire wastes little time letting us know what is on the menu.
From there, we jump back 25 years to meet our cast of characters, including Kaufman lending his voice to a strip-club announcement. Because of course he is. The first act is appropriately named Bambi, and Dark-haired Nonda (Melody Parra) has a stoner boyfriend named Branson (Malakhai Schnell), while Amy, played by Katie Gibbons, is hitchhiking her way into the story. Made me wonder if it was 1998 or 1968. Amy ended up being one of the more memorable characters of the bunch, which is saying something when the movie features bloodthirsty deer-vampire business.
Eventually, five community college students and their professor head into the foothills of the Cascades to document evidence of the supposedly rare musk deer. This collection of young people's intelligence leaves the Bampire at a distinct advantage. Joining the expedition is the seven-year-old version of our narrator, who also happens to be the teacher’s son. Naturally, things get complicated. The teacher falls into a hole, and the family connections start making a little more sense. You know, standard academic field-trip stuff.
The real charm of Bampire is its scrappy approach to a creature-feature. The animated sequences add a playful, almost cartoonish quality to the carnage, while occasional stop-motion work gives the production an extra dose of old-school weirdness. Combined with the practical gore, that extra little bit reminded me of the low-budget horror and schlock of the ’80s and ’90s I love to rent on VHS. Back when filmmakers could accomplish a surprising amount with creativity, late-night decisions, and a bucket of fake blood.
Once the backstory wraps up, we return to the present to see what our narrator is up to, along with a little tease that suggests the Bampire business might not be finished.
Is Bampire a polished masterpiece? Not even close. But it has enough goofy humor and DIY horror spirit to make it an entertaining little indie creature feature. Fans of vintage schlock and bargain-bin monster movies should find something to sink their teeth into.
And if you fall in love with these bloodsucking woodland weirdos, you can find their official Linktree. Just remember -> If a deer offers you a hot tub, maybe keep your pants on.
https://jackmeat.com/bampire-2025/
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