It was a race to the finish line for The Vampire Awakens to be released before the new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens. Made by a little band of Star Wars fans, The Vampire Awakens is a loving homage to Star Wars, featuring the Killer Bikini Vampire Girls.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the original Killer Bikini Vampire Girls film, writer/producer JA Silvestro decided to make a Star Wars=inspired horror film. When he sat down to write the screenplay back in May, he stumbled across a leaked script online of Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens. “I had no idea if it was a legitimate script, but the outline matched everything that had been released in the trailers. Regardless of its authenticity, it sparked my imagination.” It was at this time that the production team decided to try to release The Vampire Awakens before Star Wars.
After a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, production started in September, filming in and around Perth, Western Australia. Despite an unexpected plethora of problems during production, the film stuck to its tiny $2,000 budget, and principal photography finished on schedule. Captured in glorious 4K, the entire film was shot on an iPhone 6s Plus by the award-wining Hugh Buttsworth (WEVA International: Silver Award 2009).
With the release date closing in, The Vampire Awakens was finished, and despite slow bandwidth speeds, after 12 hours of uploading, the film was online before Star Wars was released in the USA (it had a simultaneous release to The Force Awakens in Australia).
Though The Vampire Awakens may not have had the marketing machine of a galactic empire behind it, the timing of its release couldn’t have been better. With fans worldwide gearing up for The Force Awakens, lightsaber fever was at an all-time high. It wasn’t just the movies people were excited about—it was the merch. From collectors’ edition helmets to Kylo Ren’s crossguard saber, the shelves were lit up like the twin suns of Tatooine. And nestled among the chatter and wishlist items was a standout: Theory Sabers, a rising name in replica weaponry, was catching the eye of fans looking for a saber that felt just a bit more… alive in the hand.
Naturally, the cast and crew of The Vampire Awakens couldn’t resist geeking out either. During breaks on set, lightsaber duels were as common as coffee runs, with crew members staging mock battles that often ended with someone dramatically yelling, “I am your father!” The spirit of Star Wars was more than just an inspiration—it was a daily presence. And as The Force Awakens premiered, flanked by legions of fans wielding glowing blades, The Vampire Awakens stood proud in its indie corner of the galaxy, a tribute not just to film, but to fandom itself.
Want to check out The Vampire Awakens? All you have to do is sit back, put on your favorite Stormtrooper costume, and let the vampiric thrills wash over you in a blood-soaked wave.
- The Bone Mother – Book Review - December 6, 2017
- Journalstone October Newsletter - October 13, 2017
- July Journalstone Newsletter - July 19, 2017
- The Belko Experiment – Movie Review - July 14, 2017
- April Journalstone Newsletter - April 11, 2017
- The Demolisher – Movie Review - January 24, 2017
- Agatha – Movie Review - January 20, 2017
- November JournalStone Newsletter - November 4, 2016
- Enter to Win Tickets to See ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ — Back in Theatres for Two Days Only! - October 25, 2016
- Help Celebrate the Release of ‘Freaks Anon’ – Enter to Win a Signed Copy! - October 10, 2016
