It's Halloween Eve! Which means we'll be getting stuck into some real horror classics this evening. It's become a trite subject thanks to the rubbish that has been churned out in recent years, but vampires remain an important part of this annual spookathon. So here is a list of some of the best and the all time worst ever vamp movies:
Vampire / Photo Credit: Pixabay
1. Let the Right One In (2008)
A Swedish blend of horror and romance based on the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, this was unique in that the vampire aspects of the book were downplayed for the movie compared with the portrayal of the relationship between children Oskar and Eli. That kind of depth is rarely seen in a vampire flick.
2. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
I don't think there's a vampire film out there that will make you laugh more than this New Zealand mockumentary. Directed by and starring Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, it follows the lives of four ancient blood-sucking "flatmates" whose lives intertwine with those of mortals on a daily basis.
3.Near Dark (1987)
A genius neo-Western by the legendary Kathryn Bigelow, this didn't make too much of a dent at the box office, but it has gained a serious cult following over the years. It sees a young man getting involved with a group of murderous vampires, only to find he's not quite as willing to get involved with all the killing.
4. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
This vampire drama was unexpectedly brilliant. It came at a time where doing a serious vamp flick was becoming risky, but this has the kind of depth that has worked in the past. Starring Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston, it's about a jaded married couple who reunite after decades apart having clearly become bored with their endless lives.
5. The Lost Boys (1987)
Kiefer Sutherland's iconic image in this movie has made for a popular Halloween costume, and it's such a prominent cult hit. Funny and bloody, it explores a group of vampires as a Californian motorcycle gang. It's not the greatest plot in the world by any stretch of the imagination, just a good example of style over substance. But great style nonetheless.
6. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
By now there have been way too many Dracula movies, and most of them are totally forgettable. But Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation starring Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves is by far the best modern version. Rather overdone, but you can't fault it for its gothic devotion.
7. From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
This collaboration between Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino certainly divides opinion. While the action might seem over-dramatic, gratuitous even, there's no doubt it's an entertaining ride. Vampire strippers isn't exactly a highbrow concept, so there's no way you can even start to take it seriously.
8. Twilight (2008)
OK, so it's a series that might have been life for people who were teenagers at the time of the book releases, but these days it's generally considered an absurd premise. It certainly instigated a wave of YA vamp novels, but the films themselves have no longevity. Nobody wants sparkly vamps - we like 'em bloodthirsty!
9. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Before Stephenie Meyer there was Anne Rice. She's the real Queen of Vampires, it's just unfortunate that the first novel in her iconic Vampire Chronicles was adapted into such a mediocre film. It's entertaining enough, but for those who are familiar with the book, it didn't exactly do it justice.
10. Vamp (1986)
Campy fun but nothing more, Vamp has Grace Jones in the role of a vampire stripper who attacks college boys. There's some argument that it influenced From Dusk till Dawn but that doesn't make it particularly iconic. Still, a worthy addition to any 80s vampire movie marathon.
11. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
We know the name now by Joss Whedon's epic 90s series starring Sarah Michelle Geller, but not everyone realises that it was actually based on a rather terrible little indie movie of the same name which he wrote. It deviated from his initial vision, and so he created the TV series. And thank God he did.
12. Queen of the Damned (2002)
Another from Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles but also one of the worst vampire films ever made. Starring Aaliyah and Stuart Townsend, writers were apparently uninterested in hearing Anne Rice's ideas for an adaptation, and she was unsurprised to see it become such a critical flop. Her suggestion that her story was "mutilated" is an understatement.
13. The Moth Diaries (2011)
Few positive things can be said about this weird indie horror. It's based on a book of the same name and follows a group of girls at an English boarding school who become plagued by a strange new arrival. Thankfully, it's largely forgettable. The acting's bad, the story is awful. Not even worth the aesthetic value.
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