good list dude but theres a few classics missing i think. Also I think priest wasn't nearly that bad to be put on the "avoid like toxic waste" list but i guess that doesn't matter...
The Vampire List - My Top Ten Vampire Movies
By Kevin Williams
Blood, Sex, Immortality, Death – These are just a few of the things that we have come to associate with Vampires. The vampire has penetrated the zeitgeist more so than any other member of the undead ranks, to the point where one of the most successful book and film franchises is based on a teenage girl and her desire to become (and ultimately transformation in to) a vampire.
Why the obsession with vampires? Humans across all cultures the world over have their own variation on the vampire myth which has dissipated over time as medical knowledge and science have prevailed over superstition. However the cultural impact of the vampire has lingered. Much of the vampires’ success can be traced back to the commercial success of Bram Stokers novel, Dracula.
Dracula is an interesting book, both in subject matter and in the way the story unfolds through diary entries, letters to loved ones and journal recordings. The notion of a monster from the middle ages as a romantic figure permanently changed the way vampires have been viewed and the impact can still be seen in literature and film/television today.
The link between sex and death is never more palpable than in the embrace of a vampire. At the moment the teeth sink in, the victim (in the romanticised incarnation) almost always gasps in masochistic pleasure, perhaps contemplating the thought of an eternal life with an exotic European Count.
The horror aspect of vampires has diluted over time and in the over-romanticism of the genre. The films that have the greatest impact as horror movies are those which return the roots of the myth – that of the insatiable monster, a beast more powerful than man, unable to control their bloodlust with no thoughts of romance or love – merely an uncontrollable instinct to feed.
My list below details my top ten Vampire movies that I think capture the different elements that have made vampires so enduringly popular, this is in no way a definitive list and I invite you to disagree with me. These are the vampire films which have the most profound effect on me and I feel are truly important within the genre. I have also made a list of notable films that are really worth watching as well some to avoid like toxic waste.
In any case here’s the top ten..........
1 - Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Dir. Neil Jordan, Starring: Tom
Louis de Point duLac is recounting the story of his long life to a journalist who is chronicling the tale of man condemned to a life of immortality by the vampire, Lestat.
Neil Jordan’s beautifully crafted film is a visual feast for the viewer to behold. The central story of the co-dependent relationship between Lestat and Louis is the main driver of the film which spreads to Louis’ search for meaning and for companionship when this dysfunctional family disintegrates.
Where this film truly achieves greatness is in bringing together amazing performances from
The film looks fantastic both in terms of the production design and the amazing array of costumes. The colour palette brings a melancholy to the screen that gives greater power to the themes of grief and loss that power the film.
2 – Near Dark (1987)
Dir. Kathryn Bigelow, Starring: Adrian Pasdar, Lance Henriksen, Jenny Wright and Bill Paxton
Caleb is a young man who after seducing a young woman who is not all she seems. After finding himself becoming a vampire he reluctantly joins a ‘family’ of travelling vampires led by Jesse a powerful and dangerous patriarch.
Released at same time as The Lost Boys, Near Dark lost out at the box office, however is the better of the two movies. The dynamic of the ‘family’ brings a palpable sense of tension within this film and Bill Paxton is a menacing, unpredictable presence as Severen. The pool hall scene is a standout within the film and highlights the savagery of this breed of vampire.
A desert vampire movie, Bigelow’s vision has inspired countless movies in style and execution from the palettes used in From Dusk Till Dawn, or the dust bowl settings of John Carpenter’s Vampires or (the frankly shoddy) The Forsaken. Much imitated but never bettered Near Dark is an 80s film which has aged well as a good vampire should expect.
3 – Let the Right One In (2008)
Dir. Tomas Alfredson, Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
Oskar is unpopular young boy growing up in 1980s Sweden. Bullied and neglected, Oskar finds love and acceptance when he meets Eli. As their relationship deepens and Oskar’s confidence grows he learns that Eli is a vampire, will he accept her for who and what she is and what consequences will this have for his tormentors.
A simply beautiful film. Stunningly shot and superbly acted. The relationship between Oskar and Eli is both touching and believable – the love that these outsiders share is sweet but never descends in to saccharine. Having been adapted for screen by the source novel’s author John Ajvide Lindqvist the faithfulness to the book lends authenticity to the film when it hints at some of the book’s more unsettling themes without explicitly showing them.
Full of arresting images, notably the swimming pool scene or the sigh of Eli scaling a hospital block this movie stays with the viewer long after it has finished. Not the easiest of films to digest and certainly not the most comfortable watch this is cinema that is intelligent and entertaining and brings much needed thought to the genre.
4 - 30 Days of Night (2007)
Dir. David Spade, Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George and Danny Huston
Barrow, Alaska. A town that is plunged in to darkness with no sun for 30 days and nights is attacked by Vampires. Organised, ferocious and deadly, it is left to Sheriff Eben Olsen, his estranged wife Stella and a small band of survivors to reclaim the town and fight off the blood sucking menace.
David Spades follow up to his testicle scaring debut Hard Candy is a force of nature and successfully returns the vampire back in to the realm of horror. These vampires are not beautiful, they do not glitter they are not romantic. What they are is ruthless, deadly and without fear of the sun.
Based on Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith’s graphic novel, 30 Days of Night removes the vampires’ biggest fear and the only real weapon man has against them. In doing so, the level of terror is dramatically increased.
Spades direction and the effective sound design and score ramp up the impending tension. The film feels almost claustrophobic as the impending doom we know is awaiting the Barrow residents draws in.
A terrifying thrill ride, it’s a shame Spade followed it with his entry in the Twilight saga.
5 – Stake Land (2010)
Dir. Jim Mickle, Starring: Connor Paolo, Nick Damici and Kelly McGillis
In a post apocalyptic America, Martin (Paolo) is taken under the wing of Mister (Damici) aruthless vampire hunter who teaches Martin the trade whilst attempting to get him across the hostile terrain and through the danger posed by the undead and lawless survivors.
Similar in look and feel to both The Road and The Book of Eli, Stake Land paints a world almost bereft of hope. The vampires (easily confused for zombies) are an ever present threat, but they are not evil, they are monsters in the man-eating tradition however the biggest threat in stake land and the main source of dramatic tension are other survivors. From cannibals to religious, vampire worshipping sects the ugly side of humanity is never far from view.
A movie that belies its low budget with striking visuals and some excellent action, Stake Land is a film that draws heavily on films that have come before but has enough heart to stand on its own and in Mister has a truly badass vampire killer worth the ticket fee alone.
6 – Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Dir. Francis Ford Coppola, Starring: Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Sadie Frost and Richard E. Grant
Dracula travels to England to seduce Mina Murray, the fiancée of Jonathan Harker who bears an uncanny resemblance to his long dead lover Elisabeta. It is a journey that will bring death to all who cross Dracula’s path and result in a showdown between the monster and Jonathan aided by eccentric vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing.
Gloriously over the top and riddled with incongruous accents, this is a film that really should disappoint. However, it works. Aside from Reeves’ wooden performance as Harker, the film is a successful adaptation of the book full of arresting imagery and scenery chewing from Oldman and Hopkins.
This film has a special place in my heart as I have always been a fan of Dracula and this is a film which whilst far from perfect is the first to recreate the material on the scale it deserves, a triumph of spectacle and eroticism this Dracula captures what the romantic vampire should be, deadly, amoral and above all else, seductive.
7 – From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Dir. Robert Rodriguez, Starring: George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Salma Hayek, Juliette Lewis and Quentin Tarantino.
The Gecko brothers - two fraternal career criminals on a road trip of death and destruction take hostage a faith questioning preacher and his two teenage children. Before long the brothers and their captives end up at the ‘Tittie Twister’ bar, a strip club whose employees hide a deadly secret.
This genre mash-up, part Tarantino crime flick and part schlock horror is just about the perfect midnight movie. Seeing for the first time and the twist being revealed is a great cinematic experience and one which now, has been ruined for most people.
The film has a lot to enjoy particularly the performance of Clooney, who really kick started his movie career with this role as the charismatic bastard Seth Gecko. This is an insanely quotable film (as you would expect from a Tarantino script) full of striking and memorable imagery. However, the one scene that no one forgets is the introduction of Santanico Pandemonium a deliciously seductive Hayek who clearly relishes the role.
This is a vampire film to throw on late with a tequila and an open mind. Ready to enjoy the ride.
8 – The Lost Boys (1987)
Dir. Joel Schumacher, Starring: Keifer Sutherland, Corey Haim, Jason Patrick, Diane Wiest and Corey Feldman
Michael and Sam move to Santa Carla with the mother only to discover it is the ‘murder capital of the world’ – The reason for this? Vampires. Before long Michael has been inducted in to the vampire gang by the charismatic David and Sam must join forces with vampire hunters, the Frog brothers if he is to save his family from the undead. Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It's fun to be a vampire
Joel Shumacher’s vampire tale is everything you would expect from an 80s vampire film from the man who brought us Batman and Robin. Okay, it’s a little unfair to mention that film as this is actually a great movie. Whilst not as good as Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark out in same year, this was the vastly more successful vampire film of ’87. The main reason for that is likely to be that it’s a lot of fun. Anyone who grew up in the 1980s will remember this film fondly it’s as akin to the vampire genre as it is to films such as The Goonies.
Written by Richard Donner, this is a smart take on the vampire film, playing with the lore of the monster and taking pot shots at other films that have come before it. The film is very much of its time and as such has aged as well as others – however this does not diminish the fun to be had watching this. Full of striking visuals and not skimping on the gore, the Lost Boys delivers entertainment in spades and almost makes peroxide mullets cool. Almost.
9 – Dracula Prince of Darkness (1958) AKA Horror of Dracula
Dir. Terence Fisher, Starring: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Michael Gough
Jonathan Harker attacks the Count at his castle but is unsuccessful in destroying him. The count attacks the family of Harker’s fiancée and soon the only man who can protect them from this evil is Doctor Van Helsing.
Playing fast and loose with the source material, this incarnation marker the first appearance of Christopher in almost certainly his most iconic role. Peter Cushing also shines as Doctor Van Helsing the determined vampire hunter out to rid the world of this menace.
One of the striking things about this film is the lack of dialogue given to the Count. Lee manages to engender so much menace simply through body language and facial expressions that his is probably the definitive Dracula, perhaps not as a romantic figure but certainly as a horror icon.
In what marked a golden era for Hammer Horror this was one of many Dracula films made but is certainly the best produced during this period.
A must for Dracula (and vampire) fans a classic interpretation of the great Count.
10 – Cronos (1993)
Dir. Guillermo Del Toro, Starring: Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman and Claudio Brook
An ancient and mysterious clockwork device falls in to the hands of antiques dealer Jesus Gris. Once activated it grants its owner immortality and a lust for blood. Before long a powerful but dying man seek to take the trinket from Jesus by any means.
Del Toro’s first feature offers an unusual take on the vampire myth. Dealing with mortality, aging and what people are capable of when facing these issues Cronos presents the viewer sympathetic characters and yet another excellent turn from Del Toro regular Ron Perlman.
As Jesus Gris, Luppis brings a tender sensitivity and his relationship with his granddaughter is both touching and believable. As the dawning realisation of what he is becoming hits Jesus, Luppi fills the character with an understated strength.
The most memorable image of the film is Jesus licking blood from a bathroom floor and is an image that is not easy to forget. A scene that is both horrifying and elicits sympathy from the viewer, this has become a hall mark of Del Toro’s work – particularly his Spanish language films.
Not a conventional vampire film by any means, this is a touching story that hinted at the master film-maker that Guillermo Del Toro would become.
Notable exclusions – definitely worth a look
- Fright Night (Both Versions)
- Blade
- Underworld
- Day Breakers
- The Wisdom of Crocodiles
- Let Me In
- Innocent Blood
- Blood: The Last Vampire (2000 – Anime)
- The Addiction
- Twins of Evil
- Queen of the Damned
- Prowl
- The Night Flier
- The Hunger
- Frostbitten
- Thirst
- Shadow of the Vampire
- Dracula (Bela Lugosi)
- Nosferatu
- John Carpenter’s Vampires
- Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
Toxic Waste - Ones to avoid
- The Twilight Saga (All films)
- Blood and Chocolate
- The Foresaken
- Van Helsing
- I Am Legend (If you concede the creatures are vampires – either way don’t watch)
- Dracula 2000 (I like it, but I think I’m the only one – it seems the popular consensus is that this film is rubbish)
- Priest
- The Sub-species series
And if you really want to be scared, but for all the wrong reasons watch Vamp. Grace Jones as a stripper – scarier than any Vampire
