My Stepbrother Is a Vampire!?!

Movie review by Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media
My Stepbrother Is a Vampire!?! Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 11+

Goofy take on vampire story is cheesy, not scary.

NR 2013 92 minutes
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Parents say

age 9+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 2 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that My Stepbrother Is a Vampire!?! is a 2013 silly comedy. The teenage obsession with the Twilight series is cited repeatedly throughout. High school boys and girls try to figure out how to attract each other, and when a magnetic handsome stranger comes to their school, the girls want him and the boys want to know his secrets. His stepsister is convinced he's a dangerous vampire and plots to kill him with comic results. Sex is implied, but nothing more than a nano-second peck is shown on-screen. Crucifixes are wielded as protection against vampires. An unstable therapy patient comically wields sharp hatchets but doesn't harm anyone. Nancy runs around throughout the movie in a state of alarm, trying to panic her friends about the threat of vampires among them. In a comic scene, Jimmy and Mitch stab voodoo dolls of each other and scream in pain.

Community Reviews

dvdgirl
dvdgirl Adult
February 7, 2021
age 9+

Not bad

Cute movie if you like these kinds of movies.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

MY STEPBROTHER IS A VAMPIRE!?! Is a comic take on the vampire story. Years after the death of Nancy's father, her therapist mother finally meets a nice man. Soon after, they marry, and he and his handsome teenage son, Vic, move into Nancy's house. As a teenage writer of occult fiction, Nancy immediately decides that Vic is a vampire set on attacking her and all her friends. She picks up vampire-killing supplies at the local occult shop and stocks her room with garlic, stakes, crucifixes, and daggers (for lopping the weakened vampire's head off at the right moment).

Is It Any Good?

The opening action is narrated by a sarcastic cat, and that interesting device showcases the script at its most clever; things go downhill from there. Director David DeCoteau, also known for such works as 90210 Shark Attack and Bigfoot vs. D.B. Cooper, trained under director/producer Roger Corman (Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf), king of the cheap and terrible horror/slasher flicks, and the sets, costumes, and performances look about as low-budget as it gets. Male model Jud Birza, winner of the 2010 Survivor series, gets away with a one-note performance -- his job is to be a chick magnet, which he accomplishes handily by simply standing there in front of the camera. Not the best, but could be silly fun for a sleepover party.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way vampires have become romantic figures in popular culture. Does Vic embody that romance, or does he just seem like a regular, albeit polite and handsome, guy?

  • Nancy is convinced Vic is a vampire. Why do you think she comes to that conclusion? Do plot points early in the movie support her suspicions?

  • Miss Fortune's occult shop offers ways to kill vampires, including holy water, stakes, and daggers. Does the way the movie presents this information make it scary or comic?

Movie Details

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