suggests the film may have worked better as a dark comedy. James Berardinelli gave the film two and a half stars out of four, stating "Vampires is decent enough, but it's unlikely anybody will remember this film in the following years, or perhaps even in following weeks." In one of Vampires''s most positive reviews, Gene Siskel awarded the film with four out of four stars, calling the film "a high-action homage to westerns and classic horror that actually has a unique story and masterful cinematography" and "a film that should put John Carpenter back on the map as a horror director and a film director in general." Siskel also expressed his fondness in the fact that film starred an all-adult cast without any teenagers and portrayed both vampires and vampire hunters in an original way. At the end of the year, he placed James Woods as his pick for his "Best Actor" suggestion to the Oscars. John Steakley, the author of the original novel, liked the film but said it contained much of his dialogue and none of his plot. Accolades According to Carpenter, Gary Kibbe was shortlisted for the Best Cinematography at the 71st Academy Awards. See also Vampire film References External links 1998 films 1998 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films American action horror films American vampire films Films based on American horror novels Films directed by John Carpenter Films set in ghost towns Films set in New Mexico Films shot in New Mexico 1990s English-language films American supernatural horror films 1998 horror films Films scored by John Carpenter Largo Entertainment films Neo-Western films American exploitation films 1990s American films American splatter films American Western (genre) horror films