Today’s vampire craze is fueled primarily by Twilight and sparking men. It’s a shame because the vampire genre is such a mysterious, sexual, and graphic subject that, when played right, can provide a moving and entertaining ride. And some directors have taken advantage of that by creating vampire movies that are original, driving, and memorable. So I’ve compiled for you a list of great vampire movies that I enjoyed. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to watch EVERY vampire movie out there, I already know I’m missing Nosferatu, DRACULA, Fright Night, and some selected others. I know, shame on me. But besides those, I can heavily recommend these. Besides Halloween’s a great season to watch crappy horror movies anyways.
I Am Legend
It’s heavily debated whether or not these guys are vampires or zombies. I like to think of the whole ‘can’t be in light’ thing to qualify them as vampires, given that most zombies can definitely travel in light [The Walking Dead, Shaun of the Dead, etc]. Anyways, Will Smith’s character is in a post apocalyptic world where majority of the population has been infected that has reduced them to meat eating humanoid vampires. The action is thrilling and the atmosphere set up in the beginning half of the movie is just beautiful and horrifying at the same time. It’s just about when a women gets involved when everything seems to go to hell.
Let Me In
I have not seen the Swedish original ‘Let the Right One In’, but if it’s anything like this American adaptation, then it’s probably worth the while. Chloe Grace Moretz shows promise as a young actress in her portrayal as an innocent looking vampire. There’s a lot of vampire mythology here, with ideas of vampires needing an invite to go inside, etc. There’s a lot of chemistry here between its two very young leads and the story is very original. [As original as it can be for being a remake]
Daybreakers
This movie is REALLY cool. The sheer idea of it is fairly original and it’s fairly original. We’re set in the near future where a virus has turned men into blood craving vampires. The best part is that this future is fairly civilized with its own government and politics. The big issue here is that humans are being farmed for blood and there is a blood shortage happening. Vampire that don’t drink blood, eventually lose their gentlemen-like figure and become more similar to the bat-hybrids we might picture them as. Ethan Hawke is a runaway vampire who has sheltered some free humans. When he becomes a target of the government, he discovers something amazing that’ll change the world as he knows it.
Interview With A Vampire
I don’t often know what to make of this movie. It was only recently did I find out that it was based on a book. Luckily when I was playing trivia one night, one of the questions was about a book with vampires that featured one named Lestat. After watching this movie, I’ve never forgotten the sex/blood crazed Tom Cruise as a flamboyent vampire named Lestat. So I was able to get that trivia question right that eventually won us the trivia night. As for the movie itself, I don’t recall any compelling drama, besides Brad Pitt drinking rat blood and a 12-year-old Kirsten Dunst wanting to have sex. Check it out if you’re bored.
Van Helsing
Now we get to the really bad movies. I personally like Hugh Jackman, and I kinda thought this movie was cool. Then again the last time I saw this was when I was 15, but still. The idea of combining Frankenstein, Werewolves, Vampires, and Dr. Jekyll seemed really cool at the time. It was probably for the same reason I thought League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was very cool. Truth be told, Kate Beckinsale is really pretty.
Underworld
Kate Beckinsale is REALLY pretty. And the action is pretty cool. Set in a very gothic time where vampires are in a modern war with werewolves, Kate Beckinsale kicks as a spandex clad vampiress who’s really good with guns. The storylines are cheesy and both of the movies are fairly bloody, but entertaining none the less. I never watched ‘Rise of the Lycans’ only because Beckinsale wasn’t in it. Rhona Mitra =/= Kate Beckinsale. End of Story.
Bonus: This is a vampire movie I could get behind.
Sorry for the bad quality. Youtube’s best ladies and gents.
I’ve recently finished reading Bram Stoker’s Dracula and have been, as of late, obsessed with The Vampire Diaries so I’ve actually been looking for good vampire movies to watch—you know, those movies where actual vampire folklore was the basis where they need to be invited in, etc., unlike Twilight where people sparkle and all that. (nothing against Twilight, though). I think I’ll check out these recommendations. I’m particularly interested in ‘Let Me In’ and ‘Daybreakers’. Thanks!
I thought the American remake of Let Me In was better than the original Swedish Let the Right One In. I saw the American first, then the Swedish one a few weeks later. After I watched the Swedish one, I had to immediately watch the American again to confirm that I remembered the other one correctly… nearly night and day portrayals of the same story.
If you read other reviews, lots of people think the original is better, and they lost a lot of the subtle horror in the Americanized version. On the contrary, I preferred the Americanized updates, perhaps because I am used to that in-your-face action, dramatic music score, etc… There were several notable differences.
If you had the chance, I would have suggested to watch the Swedish first, to get a chance to appreciate what they did, then watch the remake after. But I think most American viewers might not “get” the original if they watched it second.
I can say I’ve seen all these movies. Wow! First of all: YOU HAVEN’T SEEN DRACULA AND FRIGHT NIGHT???? About Nosferatu I’d better shut up, since I haven’t seen it myself. I’m missing the new version of Fright Night (which is pretty cool, I hear), but the original was great, in its time. If I saw it now, I’d probably laugh a little. But it was actually frightening. Ok now, down to business.
You should really check out “Let the right one in”. Let me in is copy-paste of it, or almost. It has some things that I appreciate more than in the Swedish one, but the original is more… I don’t know how to put it, but it’s creepier. You’re right about I am Legend; great movie. I almost cried when Sam died; she represented so much more than just the guy’s dog… you know what I think about Daybreakers; LOVE IT. I also like Interview with a Vampire very much. It’s not Cruise’s nor Pitt’s (nor Banderas’s, definitely) best work, but it’s entertaining. And I absolutely LOVE Van Helsing and Underworld. I love those fantastic stories, and they’re fun. Oh, and you should definitely check Rise of the Lycans out; Muchael Sheen’s performance is brilliant.
Thanks for the awesome recommendations. I’ll make sure to check those out immediately and let you know when I do!