* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Krzysztof Komeda's score contributes mightily to the film's atmosphere.
* CultClassic: A flop in its original release, the film got a better reception after Polanski's ''Film/RosemarysBaby'' was released. The DirectorsCut being made available,[[note]]the original version was subject to heavy ExecutiveMeddling[[/note]] attempts to cash in on Creator/SharonTate's murder, and ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire'' fans curious about the source material also helped.
* HarsherInHindsight:
** [[spoiler:Creator/RomanPolanski fails to save Creator/SharonTate from a murderous cult. OUCH.]]
** Really, the fact that this was the film where Polanski and Tate's relationship started makes '''the whole goddamn film''' this.
** Tate's character [[spoiler:being turned into a vampire.]] Tate died from multiple stab wounds, and one of her killers allegedly licked Tate's blood off her fingers, declaring, "To taste death, yet to give life... Wow, what a trip!"
* HilariousInHindsight: In a dark way, Vienna being Alfred, the Professor, and Sarah's destination. Thirty years after the release of this movie, Vienna saw the world premiere of ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire''... aka ''The Fearless Vampire Killers: TheMusical''. The implication that [[spoiler:Sarah and Alfred are going to spread vampirism]] gets even funnier with the current ending of ''Tanz'', which takes place in a world where [[spoiler:the vampires have taken over, including vamps walking into the house and biting the audience.]]
* NightmareFuel:
** The LogoJoke in the original European release, involving Leo the Lion turning into a vampire as a drop of blood trickles down one of his fangs.
** Count von Korlock attacking Sarah while she's helpless in the bathtub. The parallel to RealLife sexual assaults is obvious. This is [[HarsherInHindsight not helped]] by Polanski's later conviction for child molestation.
* SpecialEffectsFailure: When Hebert and Alfred sit on the bed together in front of a mirror, Alfred's movements clearly don't match the movements of his "reflection," which was obviously footage of Alfred recorded separately and displayed on the "mirror" while the actors played out the scene.
* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The three humans being the only ones reflected in a giant mirror in a ballroom full of vampires. Keep in mind this was decades before CGI was possible.
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