TO DIE FOR (1989)

Directed by Deran Sarafian

Starring Brendan Hughes and Sydney Walsh

Not to be confused with the Nicole Kidman film of the same name, this somewhat better-than-average low-budget vampire flick is an interesting examination of women's attraction to violent, monstrous men.

The two female protagonists of the film (Walsh and Amanda Wyss of "Nightmare on Elm Street") dump their whimpy boyfriends and start chasing Vlad, a new resident of Los Angeles who happens to live in a castle. It turns out, of course, that he's really Vlad the Impaler, the real-life inspiration for Dracula. The two women fight over him, while Vlad gets in a battle with another vampire over who has the rights over Walsh.

The whimpy boyfriends are devastated when their lovers leave them for a vampire, so they both pick up their crosses and become vampire hunters.

With a bigger budget and better special effects, the film could have been great. The characters are good and the acting O.K. It's a somewhat worthwhile watch, but a little slow. There was a sequel.

Duane Jones, who played Ben in the original "Night of the Living Dead," co-stars as a cop investigating some vampire killings.