Vampire's Kiss

Nicholas Cage doesn't make 'em like this anymore, which is kind of a shame. While his career follows a more conventional track today, there was a time early on when he took daring risks: such as when he followed up Moonstruck with this 1989 bloody black comedy about a New York literary agent who becomes convinced that he's a vampire. Cage is so full-tilt gonzo here that he makes his critically drubbed performance in Peggy Sue Got Married seem downright tame by comparison. For better or worse, this is a one-of-a-kind film, but beyond the curiosity factor, what will make this disc of real interest to Cage fans is his candid commentary with director Robert Bierman. Regarding the film's most infamous scene, Cage calls his ingestion of an actual cockroach "a business decision," while Bierman recalls a then-combative Cage's insistence that a real bat be used for one crucial scene (Cage responds: "I was a method actor, and not the most pleasant person to be around"). Sporting a handsome transfer, and presented in both full screen and widescreen formats with a Dolby Digital stereo soundtrack, this is an optional purchase overall, although Cage fans will definitely want to sink their teeth into this one. (K. Lee Benson)