Vampire Cop Ricky A.K.A. Vampire Cop, Ricky • 흡혈형사 나도열 (2006)

VAMPIRE COP RICKY is a wildly entertaining South Korean action comedy that mixes police crime, supernatural horror and vampire mayhem. Kim Soo-ro stars as Na Do-yol, a corrupt detective whose life takes a bizarre turn after he is bitten by a vampire mosquito that originated in Transylvania. The result is an unusual Korean cult film where crime-fighting meets supernatural comedy and a very unconventional vampire hero.

STORY OVERVIEW

Na Do-yol is a hard-nosed detective whose questionable methods and criminal connections have made him anything but a model police officer. Everything changes when a mosquito that has previously bitten Dracula makes its way from Transylvania to Seoul and sinks its fangs into Do-yol. The bite does not turn him into a traditional vampire, but it gives him strange bloodsucking urges and supernatural abilities.

As Do-yol struggles to understand his new powers, his transformation becomes increasingly difficult to control while he continues investigating crimes and dealing with enemies from his own past. His unusual vampire abilities eventually give him an unexpected advantage, forcing the corrupt detective to decide whether he will continue protecting himself or finally use his newfound powers to take on the people threatening him and those around him.

MARTIAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS

Vampire Cop Ricky is not a traditional kung fu film, but its action-driven style makes it an interesting addition to a collection of Asian genre cinema. Police confrontations, physical comedy, supernatural abilities and hard-hitting action are blended with the film's vampire mythology, creating a distinctly Korean approach to the action-comedy genre.

WHY COLLECTORS PICK IT

Collectors looking for unusual Korean genre films will find plenty to enjoy here. Vampire Cop Ricky combines Korean police action, comedy, horror and superhero-style vampire powers around Kim Soo-ro's memorable performance as Na Do-yol. Its unusual premise and distinctly Korean sense of humor make it a fun cult-cinema title from the mid-2000s.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Released in South Korea in 2006, Vampire Cop Ricky stands out as an inventive example of Korean genre filmmaking from the period, combining supernatural horror with comedy and action rather than following the conventions of a straightforward vampire movie. The film was directed by Lee Si-myung and distributed theatrically by Showbox. 

• Verified A.K.A.s:
  • Vampire Cop Ricky – International English title
  • Vampire Cop, Ricky – Alternate English title
  • Vampire Cop Na Do Yeol – Alternate English title
  • 흡혈형사 나도열 – Original Korean title
  • Heubhyeol Hyeongsa Na Do-yeol – Revised Romanization
• Director: Lee Si-myung
• Writers: Kim Se-gyeom, Jeon Soon-wook
• Starring: Kim Soo-ro, Cho Yeo-jeong, Chun Ho-jin, Son Byung-ho, Oh Gwang-rok
• Na Do-yol / Ricky: Kim Soo-ro
• Yeong-hee: Cho Yeo-jeong
• Inspector Kang: Chun Ho-jin
• Tak Mun-soo: Son Byung-ho
• Vampire Hunter: Oh Gwang-rok
• Country: South Korea
• Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy, Horror
• Martial Arts Focus: Korean Action, Police Combat, Supernatural Action, Physical Comedy
• Original Language: Korean
• Release Year: 2006
• Format: DVD
• Edition: Bonzai Media Corporation
• Running Time: Approximately 110 Minutes
• Video: NTSC, 16:9 Anamorphic, MPEG-2
• Audio: Korean, Dolby Digital
• Subtitles: English
• Color: Color / Stereo
• Publisher: Bonzai Media Corporation

Carefully researched and prepared for collectors of classic Asian martial arts, action and genre cinema by ClassicKungFuMovies.com.