Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire (2003)

 

This is the first of the direct to video Scooby-Doo! movies to feel like an extended TV episode (especially an episode of What's New Scooby-Doo!) rather than something large and special as well as the first to have the gang back to their original costumes instead of the more modern ones worn in the previous movies).

Though this film can be viewed as a step back from Scooby-Doo! on Zombie Island (1998), Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost (1999), Scooby-Doo! and the Alien Invaders (2000) and Scooby-Doo! and the Cyber Chase (2001), when you take into account there are many smaller scale Scooby-Doo! movies now this does not feel like a problem. In fact this is quite a fun film in its own right. The mystery is definitely a darn good one. There are plenty of suspects and they all have quite good motives. This is one that will keep you guessing who done it. The villain is, like the best, Scooby-Doo! movies creepy and threatening but never too much so to take away from the lighthearted fun of the franchise. The outback proves to be a very good backdrop for a Scooby adventure and gives this movie a different atmosphere that stands out from the other entries in the franchise. While this isn't one of the funniest entries the humor still works fairly well and gets a few laughs. Also The Hex Girls making a return is very welcome. 

This is a quite enjoyable entry, even if it is not as great as its predecessors. 

-Michael J. Ruhland