Vampire in Brooklyn

Eddie Murphy teamed up with shockmeister Wes Craven to make this stale attempt at a horror-comedy. Murphy had the right idea, because the concept is intriguing: He plays a vampire from the Caribbean fulfilling a prophecy to rejoin his vampire queen, who turns out to be a Brooklyn cop (Angela Bassett) who is half-bloodsucker but doesn't understand the impulses being awakened in her. Bassett is a seductive presence and Murphy looks the part: sleek, inviting, and spooky. But Craven, perhaps the most overrated horror director working, can't handle comedy--at least not intentionally--and his idea of horror here is extravagant (and not particularly convincing) makeup. --Marshall Fine