When I came across the recent post for Favorite Werewolf Films, it made me think about Vampires which is my favorite horror subgenre than werewolves, Frankenstein, zombie movies. The vampire has always had a fascinating mystic of repulsion and attraction and can open up captivating opportunities for even greater interplays with male and female seduction than werewolf movies even though there have been some great movies in that subgenre. Also there are almost twice as many movies about vampires than werewolves, not counting the many other comedies and spoofs of the famous vampire. Thus to balance the horror discussion, a thread on vampires and vampire lovers is offered.
My favorite vampire movie has to be:
Count Dracula (1977)(TV) that was produced in the United Kingdom and picked up in the United States by the Public Broadcasting System and shown on television. Starring Louis Jordan, this amazing and brilliant adaptation presents what I consider the most faithful, realistic vampiric experience in period of this most seductive and dangerous monster.
Other notable vampire movies that I thought were memorable included:
Blade (1998). This movie suffers only in that for purists, this movie is more about action-thrills than the psychological-creepiness and omits the sensual horror angle.
Fright Night (1985). A comedy-horror version that co-starred Roddy McDowell, one of the most prolific supporting actors of all time, most famous for his role in The Planet of the Apes (1968) as Dr. Cornelius, the sympathetic ape doctor. This light but somewhat scary movie introduces the vampire in a contemporary world and maintains the fascinating horror of temptation and sin.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1995). From Robert Rodriquez (Sin City, Grindhouse), this is the gore-blood fest of vampire movies.
The Hunger (1983). A serious modern version of the vampire genre, with a female vampire at the helm. A haunting movie.
Interview with the Vampire (1994). A breakthrough movie based on the novel by Anne Rice who rejuvenated and popularized the genre through great writing, introducing the now famous vampire character Lestat.
The Lost Boys (1987). A serious vampire movie directed at the young male adolescent.
Nosferatu (1922). One of the classic silent movies about the vampire that captures well the more stilted but nevertheless basic vampire standards required for many vampire movies to come.
Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht (1979). Directed by Werner Herzog and starring Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula, this foreign remake captures some of the classic tone and flavor of the original movie, using more modern acting and camera work.
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I love vampire flicks, especially the grade-b movies and those lovable Hammer studio releases.
Favorites include:
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) Dracula (1931) Vampire Hunter D (1985) Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974) Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1973) Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970) The Return of Dracula (1958) The Vampire (1957) Dracula's Daughter (1936) The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) The Horror of Dracula (1958) Daughters of Darkness (1971) Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) Son of Dracula (1943) Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) Blacula (1972) Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1973) Scream, Blacula, Scream (1973) Vampyres (1974) House of Dark Shadows (1970) Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) The Brides of Dracula (1960) The Return of the Vampire (1943) Love at First Bite (1979)
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