Vampire Burt's Serenade

Director-writer Ken Roht's "Vampire Burt's Serenade" channels the spirits of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," then heaps on delightful mounds of cheese and camp on a scale equal to Roger Corman films. This raunchy, bloody movie is culled from a live theater presentation -- an idea that acquits itself as near-genius by the time the credits roll, as "Vampire Burt's Serenade" proves to be aspirational, grass-roots filmmaking of the highest order.

Burt himself is handled by Kevin Scott Richardson, apparently a Backstreet Boy of note in a past or current life. Here he's unshackled from those conventions, and Really Rather Great as a power-wielding district manager of all area vampires. On one impulsive evening, he tears into the neck of pal Todd (Brandon Heitkamp), vampirizing the hell out of him. Todd then turns stripper girlfriend Connie (Diva Zappa) into a bloodsucker, and one who prove well up for it all. But their non-vamp friends are less enthralled, and deem it necessary to sort out Vampire Burt by way of a contracted vampire hunter (Kenneth Hughes).

Backed by a warhead payload of terrifically whimsical original songs, "Vampire Burt's Serenade" is an elevated diversion in a time when elevated diversions are mission critical. Recommended and then some. - (Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!)