Product Details

• Actors: Norm Macdonald
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Entertainment One
• DVD Release Date: September 25, 2012
• Run Time: 91 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B008H1Q36O
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,095 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

An enduring friendship forms when a boy unwittingly adopts a 600-year-old talking vampire dog named Fang (voiced by Norm MacDonald). Together, they discover that with each other's help if they face their fears, they can do anything.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Family Friendly Fare That Lacks Much Bite: A Cute Premise That's Never Fully Explored September 24, 2012

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

I guess I need to be wary of movies that use the word "dog" in their titles, it just might represent truth in advertising! What do you think about when you hear "Vampire Dog?" Right away, I conjured dozens of wacky sight gags, silly puns, and ridiculous spoofs. Just the notion of this dog having vampiric tendencies (even comical ones) opens up a myriad of mental images and potentially humorous situations. The problem with "Vampire Dog" is that its screenplay is so lazy, it never makes a convincing argument that Fang (the doggie in question, voiced by Norm MacDonald) is supernatural or even special. It cracks wise, to be sure, but is never particularly funny. What makes it a vampire exactly? Apparently it's very old, comes from Transylvania, moves like lightning, and consumes red jelly (this is actually Jello, but I guess they couldn't afford brand royalties). That's the back story of Fang in a nutshell.

Fang is taken in by an awkward youth (Collin MacKechnie). The primary message of the movie is that it's okay to be yourself. While that's always a welcome inspiration, a little cleverness in the telling would have been greatly appreciated. In addition to helping MacKechnie fit in at school (and score his first girlfriend), the plot also has a couple of evil scientists pursuing the canine. These two bumble along in slapstick scenarios to get close to Fang in order to develop an anti-aging technology. At best, it's mildly amusing. At worst, it's the sloppiest kind of filmmaking. At times, whole scenes seem to be missing as the action isn't tied together in any tangible way. One example: the bad guys are shown approaching Fang's house one evening. The scene then cuts away, and never returns to this action. Later, though, Fang says something like "oh, it's you guys again" when encountering the duo. But they've never interacted before! Another example: MacKechnie's girlfriend hears Fang speak and thinks it's ventriloquism. There is a cut-away and in the next conversation, she is having a heart to heart with the dog about his past. Huh? Just how much of this movie was left on the cutting room floor?

I could go on and on about the screenplay's inconsistencies. Fang can't be in sunlight but he's outside in dozens of scenes. That's another winner. The dialogue is leaden and the performances are wooden. A complete misfire on almost every level, the only time I laughed were during the outtakes over the end credits. I never expected "Vampire Dog" to be a great movie, but I had hoped to be somewhat entertained. If you're going to take a silly premise, just run with it! It would have been easy to make this fun, clever, and/or outrageous. It's none of those things, unfortunately. It's a cheapie production that might be passable for free on Saturday morning TV for very young children. I don't suspect, however, that the little ones will be clamoring for repeat DVD viewings. KGHarris, 9/12.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great kids movie May 10, 2013

By STEPH

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

My 6 year old loves this movie. It is a good family night movie. We love it. Thanks for reading

1.0 out of 5 stars Family Friendly Fare That Lacks Much Bite: A Cute Premise That's Never Fully Explored March 30, 2013

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:Amazon Instant Video

I guess I need to be wary of movies that use the word "dog" in their titles, it just might represent truth in advertising! What do you think about when you hear "Vampire Dog?" Right away, I conjured dozens of wacky sight gags, silly puns, and ridiculous spoofs. Just the notion of this dog having vampiric tendencies (even comical ones) opens up a myriad of mental images and potentially humorous situations. The problem with "Vampire Dog" is that its screenplay is so lazy, it never makes a convincing argument that Fang (the doggie in question, voiced by Norm MacDonald) is supernatural or even special. It cracks wise, to be sure, but is never particularly funny. What makes it a vampire exactly? Apparently it's very old, comes from Transylvania, moves like lightning, and consumes red jelly (this is actually Jello, but I guess they couldn't afford brand royalties). That's the back story of Fang in a nutshell.

Fang is taken in by an awkward youth (Collin MacKechnie). The primary message of the movie is that it's okay to be yourself. While that's always a welcome inspiration, a little cleverness in the telling would have been greatly appreciated. In addition to helping MacKechnie fit in at school (and score his first girlfriend), the plot also has a couple of evil scientists pursuing the canine. These two bumble along in slapstick scenarios to get close to Fang in order to develop an anti-aging technology. At best, it's mildly amusing. At worst, it's the sloppiest kind of filmmaking. At times, whole scenes seem to be missing as the action isn't tied together in any tangible way. One example: the bad guys are shown approaching Fang's house one evening. The scene then cuts away, and never returns to this action. Later, though, Fang says something like "oh, it's you guys again" when encountering the duo. But they've never interacted before! Another example: MacKechnie's girlfriend hears Fang speak and thinks it's ventriloquism. There is a cut-away and in the next conversation, she is having a heart to heart with the dog about his past. Huh? Just how much of this movie was left on the cutting room floor?

I could go on and on about the screenplay's inconsistencies. Fang can't be in sunlight but he's outside in dozens of scenes. That's another winner. The dialogue is leaden and the performances are wooden. A complete misfire on almost every level, the only time I laughed were during the outtakes over the end credits. I never expected "Vampire Dog" to be a great movie, but I had hoped to be somewhat entertained. If you're going to take a silly premise, just run with it! It would have been easy to make this fun, clever, and/or outrageous. It's none of those things, unfortunately. It's a cheapie production that might be passable for free on Saturday morning TV for very young children. I don't suspect, however, that the little ones will be clamoring for repeat DVD viewings. KGHarris, 9/12.