Vampirism has been a long-explored phenomenon throughout the history of Hollywood. Whether the undead creatures come in the form of glistening gods on earth with a complicated relationship with morality and morality or grotesque embodiments of evil, vampires offer audiences a chance to contend with their own mortality, their values, as well as feelings such as ostracization and demonization.
Throughout the decades, many vampires have graced the silver and small screens, some to much fanfare, while others were met with abhorrence. These ten characters, however, have shaped the contemporary understanding of vampires in genres such as horror and romance, offering a wide array of archetypes for audiences to understand and deconstruct.
10 Jerry Dandrige Close
Fright Night follows a young teen named Charley Brewster, portrayed by William Ragsdale and Anton Yelchin in the remake, who lives a normal life. That is, a mysterious neighbor named Jerry makes his presence known to the surrounding residents. Charley initially thinks nothing of it, much to the chagrin of his best friend Ed. When Ed goes missing, however, Charley starts to regret his harsh rebuttal of Ed's theories, considering that perhaps his friend may not only be right, but also in grave danger.
Both the original and the remake earned generally positive reviews and performed well at the box office, the former breaking records for a horror film at the time of the release.
The Fright and Fantasy Behind the Fangs
Initially portrayed by Chris Sarandon, then Colin Farrell, Jerry Dandrige has sparked discussions new and old about vampirism and what his role in the franchise reflects about reality. Not only do Sarandon and Farrell excel at offering audiences tantalizing yet genuinely frightening villains, they also offer audiences an additional, homoerotic interpretation of the events of the film.
A long tradition in supernatural myths, the taboo surrounding both fictional vampires and real life queer folks and their demonization has led to fascinating stories that acknowledge the alienation and complex coping with said isolation. From his interactions with Ed and suggestive scenes with his personal attendant Billy, Jerry opened up further discussion about how a great horror character can also provide overlooked audiences with a sense of solace.
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Despite its controversial release and middling reviews, Queen of The Damned has managed to remain a notable story from the pre-Immortal Universe iterations of Anne Rice's novels. Chronicling the rise of Lestat de Lioncourt's (Stuart Townsend) fame as a rockstar, the film takes place in New Orleans and sees the nefarious yet charismatic villain meet another daunting figure. Played by the late '90s icon Aaliyah, Akasha emerged as the gilded mother of all vampires, leaving Lestat fascinated, to say the least.
A Symbol of Strength, Explored
In the coming years, Queen of The Damned has become an online fascination. Much like most Aaliyah memorabilia, the internet preserved and revered the multi-hyphenate's performance through high-resolution GIFs and quotable moments like her liaisons with Lestat. Additionally, like most fantasy franchises, the number of black and brown vampires are few and far in between. What makes Akasha so memorable is her powerful disposition, cleverness, and command over the vampires by way of violence or intimacy. Aaliayh plays a convincing queen and, in spite of the film's reception, her portrayal of Akasha continues to be fondly remembered.
8 Eve Close
Only Lovers Left Alive sees a duo, comprising of Adam (Tom Hiddleston) and Eve (Tilda Swinton), in a captivating romance-horror that makes light and makes intriguing judgments about the pair, romance, and the purpose of life itself. Beginning in the Victorian era, the film sees the two relying on third-party providers for blood and their respective mental health journeys. Released in 2013, the film would earn stellar reviews for its refreshing take on the vampire story.
A Captivating Cultivator of Culture Dissected
While Swinton and Hiddleston are simultaneously magnificent in this film, the former manages to standout as the head of the hierarchy. Siring both Adam and another vampire named Ava (Mia Wasikowska), Eve is positioned as a maternal figure. However, as the film explores, Eve as a character expands the expectations of maternity with her multi-faceted approach to helping Adam heal, her passion for learning about the world around her, and her final resolution to the thread of dread that has been following them from the story's inception.
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A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night made waves for its inventive look into vampirism. A Persian-language horror, the film follows the residents of an Iranian town with a shadowy reputation. Arash (Arash Marandi), the son of a father living with addiction, attempts to improve their circumstances. But when a mysterious woman (Sheila Vand) donning a chador arrives at the same time as the men in the city go missing, Arash realizes that this occurrence is anything but a coincidence.
A Thoughtful, Engaging Horror
Director Ana Lily Amirpour set out to create an ambitious, inquisitive story using vampires as the vehicle and that she does. With enough blood and fangs to satisfy the average horror fan, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is also a fascinating and all-encompassing look into vigilante justice against cycles of abuse.
The unnamed anti-heroine witnesses the violence and exploitation occurring in the city and goes after the perpetrators. But, just as much time is spent watching her enjoy innocuous hobbies such as music and skateboarding, as well as her relationship with Arash. Highlighting the extra layer of protection the vampire has against normalized misogynist violence, A Girl Walks Home Alone At NIght spells out the significance of its title while also acting as a rich exploration of two adolescents, and an illuminating critique of orientalist perceptions of Muslim femininity.
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Posts 6 Edward Cullen Close
Twilight, adapted from the famous Stephenie Meyer franchise, took the world by storm, becoming the highest-grossing vampire film of all time. Following a young teenager named Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), the series chronicles her initially innocent romance with newcomer Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). After learning about Edward's lineage, as well as the answers to the mysteriousness presiding over her new hometown of Forks, Washington, Bella's life fluctuates between grave danger and exciting passion.
An Era Defining Phenomenon
By the time of the first adaptation of the film, Robert Pattinson's portrayal of Edward catapulted him to another level of fame, reintroducing the archetype of the brooding yet honorable vampire to a new generation. Between his controversial yet compelling relationship with Bella to the use of his powers, Edward has been at the center of much fanfare for his appreciation of music and motorcycles as well as critique for his disturbing behavior during his relationship with Bella.
Nevertheless, Cullen still stands as an influential character, with Pattinson's portrayal influencing televised vampires to come while also serving as a formidable foundation for the actor's illustrious career.
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A vampire who truly defines the phrase "a thousand lives lived," Lestat de Lioncourt stands as one of literature's, and the media as a whole, bewitching vampires. Introduced in Anne Rice's famed novels, Lestat is described as vain, artistic, and defiant, completely changing Louis de Pointe du Lac's life the very moment they met. At a glance, his story is defined by relentless violence, spreading terror to those he comes into contact with, with a wide grin on his face. As the tale progresses, Lestat's complexities rise to the surface and leaves fans with a prickly yet interesting character to explore.
A Charismatic, Chaotic Figure
From the campy portrayal offered by Tom Cruise to the dark, direct-from-script, novel, Lestat remains a prolific vampire. Not only do both iterations explore Lestat's shifting morals, both stories also dive into his self-perception. From him pacifying the destruction he leaves in everyone's wake to him, at times, mistaking his charisma for his genuine connection, Lestat's story demonstrates a recognizable concoction of potential and pitfalls that fans have come to love, mirroring his canon rise to fame.
4 Blade Close
One of Marvel's earlier comic-to-fill successes, Blade follows the titular dhampir (Wesley Snipes) and vampire hunter as he hopes to avenge his murdered mother. Equipped with the abilities of a vampire, as well as his thirst for blood, Blade uses his power as a "daywalker" to his advantage, thwarting attempted attacks. By way of his face-off with Deacon Frost or his time-constrained alliance with a group of elite vampires to prevent a worldwide genocide, Blade has emerged as a beloved character, sitting with Black Panther as "the quintessential black superhero."
A Complex Look at Vampirism
Blade's vampire origins contribute to his complicated relationship with vampirism. Filled with trauma-informed resentment towards the species while harnessing combat and health advantages due to his vampire descendants, the Blade trinity makes a worthwhile effort by providing captivating action scenes with lore that has the potential to push boundaries on expectations of vampires. Due to a continued interest in the character, Blade has been recognized as one of Wesley Snipes' signature roles.
3 Lucy Westenra
Francis Ford Coppola's Lucy Westenra (Sadie Frost) is first introduced as a woman eager and open to discuss matters of the body and the heart. Throughout the film, her opinions are delightfully relatable but also clues audiences in about the expectations of women, marriage, and sexuality during the 19th century. When she is attacked and subsequently turned into a vampire by Dracula (Oldman), she quickly terrorizes the city before being cornered by Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins) and her three lovers.
A Worthwhile Critique of Victorian Ideals
Initially introduced as Mina Murray's (Winona Ryder) best friend, the two are both perceived as innocent and ideal Victorian women. However, that perception did not protect Lucy from being sexualized by the various men in her circle. Once she is turned, her Victorian angel image is shattered. While she posed a threat due to the attacks she carried out, her status as an undead, powerful woman that can not be restrained by physical or societal constraints, her new role as a predator is taken much more seriously than her human needs for desire and compatibility.
While much of Bram Stoker's Dracula revolves around the titular loner himself, Lucy makes her mark as a compelling vampire. Audiences will surely enjoy Frost's performance and subsequent discourse after they sink their fangs into the 1992 film.
2 Count Orlok Close
Count Orlok may not be the original count himself, but he manages to forge a legacy of his own. An unofficial adaptation of Dracula, the characters were slightly altered to avoid accusations of copyright infringement, leaving room for more experimentation with the previous premise. Appearing in the film Nosferatu, Count Orlok (Max Schreck) is a native of Transylvania whose powers are derived from demons themselves. In pursuit of a young woman named Ellen (Greta Schrǒder), Orlok brings terror and famine to the local population.
A Looming Threat Unveiled
While building upon the premise and characteristics of Dracula, Orlok may very well be one of the most recognizable, if not the most recognizable vampire in film history. With exaggerated features and a ravenous desire for Ellen, Orlok is similarly positioned as the great evil that threatens conventional societal standards that the majority of the characters opt into. By way of plague or violence, Orlok leaves devastation in their wake. Without relinquishing his heinousness, his presence and actions illuminate the many unsavory beliefs commonly held by people of 1830s Wisburg.
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Posts 1 Count Dracula Close
To say that Dracula is synonymous with vampirism is an understatement. Portrayed by a plethora of actors such as Bela Lugosi and Gary Oldman, the nefarious Count is introduced as a Transylvanian noble whose castle in the Carpathian Mountains serves as a place of refuge for English solicitor Jonathan Harker. As the story progresses, Dracula's intentions become clear and soon, he wreaks havoc on Harker's circle of friends, corrupting some and haunting others with his superhuman strength and meticulous plots.
A Wicked Yet Stimulating Examination of Alienation and Xenophobia
Alluded to during the examination of Orlok, many have read Dracula as an example of "The Other", an oppositional force that serves as a threat to Western values. Aside from him being well-written as a menacing villain with a legitimately fearful grip over those under his dominion, the schism between him and the Harkers also reads as the ill-informed idea of a "clash of cultures" between two warring empires. Dracula's seduction not only disrupts the Harker's union but also exposes the hypocrisy embedded in Victorian society.
From the deeply entrenched yet contradictory East-West binary established, to the rigid expectations of Western women, Dracula's creation, demonization, and personification as "the Other" served as a tool to project fears of danger and destruction, diverting attention away from past and present perils committed by Western imperial powers. Dracula manages to be a conventionally convincing villain while also sparking necessary discussion about alienation and the contradictory behavior of humans, resulting in his status as the most iconic vampire in film, and media overall.