No, I don’t mean the media’s bloodthirsty, ratings hungry producers and talent (though this would be a great blog post; another day perhaps). I’m talking about vampires in film.
Vampires have been around for thousands of years. However, thanks to a tuberculosis epidemic at the end of the nineteenth century, their presence among us resurged. Inspired by the outbreak and a couple of real-life characters, Bram Stoker started the modern obsession with his character, Count Dracula. From there, vampires transformed into pop culture phenomenon.
Listed below are my top 5 vampire movies. Click on the images or links below to see the trailers and/or movie clips.
#5 – Dracula – Bela Lugosi introduced the suave and dapper—and very much Hollywood
polished—modern vampire in this classic 1931 film. His real Hungarian accent and dark, confident presence certainly helped create the image of an all-powerful, romantic vampire leading man. Scary but beautiful. (It’s easy to see the evolution to Twilight’s Edward Cullen).
#4 – The Little Vampire – Ok, I know. This is not a major movie
blockbuster, so why is it on the list? It’s a kids' version of the vampire tale and a great confidence builder for kids who don’t quite fit in anywhere. The lesson learned is that friends can be found in the least likely places (like an old, decrepit graveyard) and true friends help each other regardless of the risks they might face. It’s an excellent family movie where the bullies get what they deserve and the hero who saves the day is the underdog.
#3 – Interview with the Vampire – A favorite of mine because it peaked
my interest in vampires as a teen—Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Christian Slater, and Antonio Banderas helped too. Anne Rice’s novel of the same name brought to life a romanticized tale of life, relationships, and lots of death. The last scene of the movie is the reason why I always check the back seat of my car before I get in at night.
#2 – Nosferatu – This is a must see for anyone interested in the
undead. Inspired by the traditional view of vampires (dead creatures who don’t look human anymore), Max Schreck’s creepy interpretation captures the idea of the modern vampire. Filmed in 1922, this black and white German movie makes fantastic use of the monochromatic scheme as a representation of good and evil. (If you’re watching this and 1931’s “Dracula” for the first time, don’t judge them by modern standards. Most of the actors were accomplished stage performers and the switch from stage to screen was still being developed, as were special effects, make up and countless other things we expect to see these days.)
#1 – Twilight Saga – Seriously, what’s not to like?
It’s Romeo & Juliet set in the supernatural world. A young couple fights to stay together despite the odds and the fact they shouldn’t be together for various (and practical) reasons. Edward Cullen and his “vegetarian” vampire family are quintessential, 21st century vampires – denying their thirst for human blood because they don’t want to be monsters. They’re vampires with consciences and a capacity to love and find connections with those outside their forbidden world. Add in a group of traditional vampires who don’t share the Cullen’s alternate lifestyle and a pack of wolves hell bent on destroying all of them and it makes for a perfect, tension filled vampire romance. (Can't wait for New Moon!! [trailer, extended Volturi scene] NOTE: a 30 second ad plays before the trailer.)
Since a top 7 list just sounds ridiculous, I’m adding these as honorable mentions:
#2 – Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Gary Oldman. Need I say more?
#1 – Dracula: Dead & Loving It – The funniest freakin’ parody of Dracula I’ve ever seen.
Leslie Nielsen is hilarious in this Mel Brooks’ take on its serious Hollywood counterparts. However, the scene-stealer award goes to Peter MacNicol for his insane and outrageous performance as Renfield.
Who’s your favorite vampire? Leave a comment below.
My baby. My dreams. The product of personal, spiritual, and intellectual growth over the past 15 years."Eternity is not Enough" (aka EINE) is my dream come true. 
I always wanted to write a book and although it is currently unpublished, EINE represents a personal accomplishment I certainly never thought possible with a full time job, two kids and the myriad of other responsibilities chasing me through the day.Though this is embarassing to admit, I stopped reading fiction years ago primarily because I lacked the time. However, I was also envious of the writers whose witty prose was intellectually stimulating, the authors who were able to create a believable world of fantasy, and those whose published works should've been stored in the circular file instead of wasting shelf space. So, I've spent the past decade hiding behind non-fiction. I occasionally crawled out of the history and new age literature hole to read a few books which reminded me of the mysterious, paranormal, and suspenseful young adult novels and authors of my youth--Agatha Christie, Edgar Allan Poe, Carolyn Keene, R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, et al.Last September, a dear friend of mine insisted I read the "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer. Considering it was both popular and fictional, it had two strikes against it. Very reluctantly, I pried open the book's hardcover, sighing at the futile promise I made to my friend. How was I going to get through the torture about to take place? I suffered through the first chapter and then somewhere in the middle of chapter two I fell in love with Edward Cullen.The formula of Meyer's flawed protagonists, who happen to be star-crossed lovers set against the world of vampires and werewolves, exploded successfully. I devoured all four books of the series and her unfinished fifth manuscript in five days. I barely slept. I barely ate. I HAD to know what happened to my fictional love, Edward.And then, as I read the last line of "Midnight Sun," anger percolated in my veins. I craved more. I wanted to know more about Bella and Edward's worlds. The anger quickly turned into an all too familiar and overwhelming emotion.Jealousy. I wasn't envious of Meyer's success. I envied her ability to capture an idea and just write it down.I'd been dying to write a vampire novel since high school. I had started and stopped so many stories over the years that I just dismissed my writing ambition as yet another passion I'd want for a day and then abandon because it was overwhelming.But what if this time I actually wrote something? The thought floated in my mind for a couple of hours as I wondered where to start. Amidst the playful screams of my rowdy kids, an old, nagging nightmare popped into my consciousness. This fearsome childhood dream became the story's cornerstone.By the time my husband got home from work, I had gone from working mom and housewife to aspiring novelist. He listend to my plan patiently, nodding in all the right places, questioning the logistics of time and family commitments. By the end of my sales pitch, he was hooked.Three months later, EINE was complete. The proverbial blood, sweat, and tears poured from its pages. I did it!As I began my hunt for agents and publishers, I discovered that at about 227,000 words, my baby was about 130,000 words too long for a first-time novel. I trimmed about 57,000 words, but it's still over the industry's standards. Needless to say, this hurdle alone makes it nearly unpublishable.Where does this leave EINE? Paranormal plots have always had a strong following, and I do believe my novel is commercially viable. So I'm continuing my search for a publisher.As much as I want to publish the work (and I won't give up until I figure out a way), I'm just happy I set my mind to something and made it happen. Finally.Click here for more information about "Eternity is not Enough."
