Vampires have fascinated and terrified us for generations. The notion of a charming old count who seduces women only to feast on their blood has captured many peoples’ imaginations. While blood-sucking vampires may just be the stuff of legend, that doesn’t mean Hollywood hasn’t been eager to tap into our fascination and fears by creating some of the biggest box office successes around the Dracula myth. The legend has been reworked and revamped over the decades, but they all still share the horror of blood sucking seducers. Nowadays, the vampire myth is bigger than ever, drawing in millions of cinema goers. We look at three of the most popular vampire films of all time, and why the blood-sucking Count Dracula still continues to fascinate us after hundreds of years.
The Twilight Saga
‘Twilight’ proved just how popular the vampire myth can be. By reimagining blood sucking vampires not as old decaying counts hold up in their castles, but rather as young, good lucking teenagers dealing with all the awkwardness and hardships that teenagers typically deal with, the ‘Twilight’ saga drew in a whole new generation of vampire buffs. While sparkling, pale-faced teenage vampires looking for love may be derided by some (and the series has spawned many spoofs), the success of these films at the box office proves that the vampire legend can easily be readapted to appeal to anybody’s tastes.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
This Francis Ford Coppola classic has all of the elements of a great vampire flick: curses, seduction, love, revenge, murder, and, of course, vials and vials of blood. Plus, the fact that it is led by an all-star cast, including Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves, doesn’t hurt. Perhaps the most faithful to the original Dracula myth, ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ follows the bloodthirsty Vlad Dracula from Transylvania to London and back again, as he embarks on a campaign against his religion and society (all instigated by the suicide of his beloved wife). Necks get bitten, leading ladies get seduced, and the undead walk amongst regular society folks. Plus, it’s nice to see Dracula manage to get a bit of redemption by the end of the movie.
Interview with the Vampire
This modern take on the vampire legend capitalizes on the strange romantic draw vampires seem to have for us. Taking place over the span of two centuries in America, ‘Interview with the Vampire’ is about a New Orleans plantation owner, Louis, who has become tired of life after the death of his wife and child. A vampire offers Louis eternal life in exchange for becoming a vampire, but when Louis finds that he will have to start killing people in order to maintain his immortality, things get complicated. Another film with an all-star cast, including Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Antonio Banderas, ‘Interview with the Vampire’ remains one of the most successful vampire movies to date and can be watched if you
find local TV in your area that provides these services.
Vampires are pretty seductive, both for the people whose necks they bite and for cinema going audiences all over the world. Whether it is modern teenagers trying to find love or jaded old counts seeking revenge, the vampire story has continued to enchant and terrify us to the present day.
Courtney Whitehead is a film fanatic and avid blogger. You can read her insightful posts mainly on entertainment websites.
Posts
