Vamp

Vamp

Year: 1986

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard Wenk

HorrorComedyHorror

Ever have one of those nights? Two fraternity pledges go to a sleazy bar in search of a stripper for their college friends, unaware it is occupied by vampires.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Vamp yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Vamp (1986) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Vamp (1986), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Two college students, Keith, Chris Makepeace and AJ, hatch a plan to hire a stripper to bribe their way into a campus fraternity so they can trade a noisy, cramped dorm for a place of their own. They borrow a Cadillac from Duncan, Gedde Watanabe a lonely, wealthy student who insists on tagging along to scout strip clubs in a nearby city. The trio lands in a club tucked away in a shady quarter, where they’re captivated by the surreal, artistic performance of a stripper named Katrina, Grace Jones. AJ crosses to her dressing room to press the deal, and Katrina pounces in a flood of dark drama: she pins him to a waterbed slick with blood, seduces him with slow, hypnotic touches, and then, as she begins to change into a vampire, she shatters his arm to keep him from resisting and sinks a deep bite into his neck.

Back on the street, Keith grows anxious when AJ doesn’t return to the bar. He enlists Amaretto, Dedee Pfeiffer a waitress who insists she knows him, and together they hunt through the neighborhood while dodging a brutal albino street gang and a rising vampire presence. In a dumpster, Keith uncovers AJ’s corpse, only to confront a jarring twist when he returns to the club and finds the undead AJ waiting for him. AJ confesses that he is now a vampire, and, moved by Keith’s willingness to risk everything for him, decides to end his own torment by driving a jagged piece of broken furniture through his heart.

Keith, Amaretto, and Duncan flee the club, but their car is rammed by vehicles controlled by vampires. They survive the crash and discover, with growing dread, that Duncan has also become one of the undead. The trio escapes the burning vehicle, though Duncan is left behind as it explodes. In the sewers, Amaretto reveals her real name is Allison and that she knows Keith from a game of spin the bottle in fifth grade. The escape takes them through a macabre underworld where they burn a nest of vampires, but Allison is captured by Katrina, who remains formidable despite the daylight she’s wearing as a mask. An arrow to the face and a pipe driven through the chest fail to stop Katrina, yet Keith kills her by firing arrows through a covered grate, letting in sunlight that wipes out the vampire threat.

They nearly reach the surface, but Vlad, Katrina’s vampire consort, closes in. Vlad is dispatched in a sudden, startling moment when a revived AJ stakes him from behind, revealing how the stakes he once wielded misfired—turned out to be formica. With daylight beckoning, Keith and Allison crawl toward the safety of the morning sun, while AJ lingers in the shadows of the sewers, plotting a strange, stubborn plan to stay close to Keith—whether by night school or a graveyard shift—so they can continue living as roommates in a world that is finally waking up to a new and dangerous reality.

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 at 00:47

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Frantic urban horror movies like Vamp

A single, terrifying night spirals into chaos in a hostile urban underworld.If you enjoyed the high-stakes, all-night chaos of Vamp, explore more movies like it. This group features other horror films where a simple night out devolves into a frantic struggle against supernatural or criminal threats in a gritty urban landscape.

franticgrittyurban decaytensegruesomedesperatenocturnal

Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a 'night from hell' structure, where characters enter a dangerous situation and must use their wits and resilience to navigate a series of escalating crises. The plot is linear and fast-moving, focusing on the immediate physical threat rather than deep backstory, leading to a dawn that may offer escape but rarely a clean victory.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared frantic energy, high-intensity pacing, and the central theme of an ordinary night transforming into an extraordinary fight for survival. They create a cohesive experience of urban dread and chaotic action.

Horror comedies with a dark edge like Vamp

Where gruesome horror meets absurd humor, creating a uniquely uneven tone.This thread features movies like Vamp, where horror and comedy collide. If you liked the blend of sleazy vampires and bizarre humor, you'll find similar films that balance genuine scares with dark, satirical, or slapstick comedy.

bizarregruesomesatiricalsleazycampydark humorgrindhouse

Narrative Summary

The narrative often walks a tightrope, using humor to undercut tension or to highlight the absurdity of the horrific situation. Character reactions can be exaggerated, and the world itself may have cartoonish or surreal logic, even as the stakes remain dire. The ending often reflects this tonal mix, landing somewhere between triumph and tragedy.

Why These Movies?

This grouping is defined by a specific tonal recipe: the deliberate juxtaposition of horror and comedy. The movies share a sensibility where the grotesque is played for laughs, and the humor arises from the darkest situations, creating a distinct, often grindhouse-inspired vibe.

Unlock the Full Story of Vamp

Don't stop at just watching — explore Vamp in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Vamp is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Vamp Timeline

Track the full timeline of Vamp with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Vamp Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Vamp

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Vamp. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Vamp

Vamp Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Vamp that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Vamp Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Vamp

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Vamp: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Vamp

Similar Movies to Vamp

Discover movies like Vamp that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.