Actor Al Lewis began his career with an uncredited part in a '50s vampire movie (I Vampiri), and is best known for playing a vampire in The Munsters in the '60s. And he was still flashing those fangs and swishing his cape in the '90s, starring in children's comedy/horror movie My Grandpa is a Vampire (AKA Moonrise).
When it comes to kids' movies, I prefer it if there is something for the adults to enjoy as well, but My Grandpa is a Vampire is strictly for the young ones: the humour is aimed squarely at pre-teens and the creepiness is kept to a minimum. I imagine most grown-ups will find the film quite difficult to sit through. Of course, that doesn't mean that it is a terrible film - just not designed for an old git like myself.
Lewis plays vampire Vernon Cooger, who has lived his whole life as a human, raising a family and never once touching a drop of blood. When Vernon pops his clogs of old age, his grandson Lonny (Justin Gocke) is very upset, but vampires never really die, and his grandpa rises from his coffin to continue cracking bad jokes and performing magic tricks for Lonny and his best pal Kanzoria (Milan Borich). Keeping grandpa's secret hidden proves tricky, however, and when nosey neighbour Ernie (Noel Appleby) discovers that Vernon is a vampire, he begins sharpening some stakes...
The gags in this one are childish and the story is puerile, perfect for undemanding kids who want to watch something silly and spooky (and who don't mind outdated special effects). My advice is to stick this on the telly for the tikes, and then find something better to watch for yourself.
