Vampire novels are, more often that not, beautiful, eloquent, and timeless. But sometimes, a good old vampire film is just what the soul needs. Two hours (give or take) of visual stimulation and entertainment. So, while I will be including a list of vampire novels that kick hypothetical butt on here soon, this list is all about the instant gratification.
This is a tough one, because most people look at this title and assume that films such as Dracula and Nosferatu should be on here. Lord knows that whenever a top 5/10/infinity list pops up on Youtube or Buzzfeed, the classics are almost always included. The general consensus is that “classic” is “good,” and, while I have mad love for Bela Lugosi, I cannot quite bring myself to say that the Hammer Dracula films were good, or anywhere close to comparable in horror to the novel itself. But, while my opinion on Dracula is unpopular to passive readers (and can be found here), this list is limited to contemporary films that are relatable to a contemporary audience and have not yet suffered the vicissitudes of becoming “dated.”
As I’m writing this, I’m hating the fact that I limited myself to five films, and I would love to see your take on the matter. What films would you have liked to be included here? I’d love to know what I missed, and if we’re mourning the absence of the same films.
#5
“Only Lovers Left Alive”
“When you separate an entwined particle, and move both parts away from the other, even at opposite ends of the universe, if you alter or affect one, the other will be identically altered or affected. Spooky.”
Starring Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston, “Only Lovers Left Alive” is a vampire film in the truest sense of the word. Almost like a vampire documentary rather. It follows the ages-long love affair, marriage, and partnership of Adam and Eve (…right?) at the moment that they reconnect through a single phone call, only for Eve to discover that Adam is despondent and suicidal.
“Only Lovers Left Alive” is not a fun horror or a source of generic vampire entertainment. It is slow to progress and philosophically dense, riddled with themes of the nature of evil, loss of humanity, and love at its deepest core. That sometimes it looks like two souls in different places, still thinking of one another after years apart. But while the film is something of an uphill climb, for anyone even remotely in love with the archetypal vampire in Romance, the summit is worth it.
#4
“Byzantium”
“Once upon a time, I was born. It is still a fact that the day you are born is the day you are most likely to be murdered. More human souls are killed by mothers’ hands, than by the hands of strangers. My mother tried to murder me, but love confounded her.”
Neil Jordan strikes vampire film gold yet again with this 2012 release which guts the viewer with emotional punches and yet more of the wistfulness that all good vampire films should really possess.
“Byzantium” is the story of mother and daughter, Clara and Eleanor, on the run from the vampiric Brethren, an insular group of men, seeking knowledge and power of the high-born variety. So, when common prostitute Clara “squanders” the gift of vampirism, they declare an all-out hunt on her and her daughter.
The film is beautifully vivid, sometimes gory, but, mostly, a testament to vampires done right. It displays the strength and will of a person that has centuries to live, if she has something to live for.
#3
“What We Do In The Shadows”
“Vampires have had a pretty bad rep. We’re not these mopey old creatures who live in castles. And while some… most of us are- a lot are… but… there are also those of us who like to flat together in really small countries like New Zealand.”
“What We Do In The Shadows” is vampire comedy done to utter perfection. Starring Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, it uses the mockumentary format to document the lives of four vampires who decide to flat together in New Zealand. It focuses on their “nightly” struggles as roommates (notably dirty dishes that never get cleaned and putting down towels to not get blood all over the nice couches) while simultaneously giving some background on each character, their lives as humans and how they became vampires.
If you can imagine Dracula, Count Orlock, Louis De Pointe Du Lac, and Deacon Frost sharing a house together as friends, you can imagine the type of shenanigans that take place in “What We Do In The Shadows.” It’s a combination of 90’s sitcom, “The Office,” and “Interview with the Vampire.” It’s not shy to spread the blood and gore, nor does it avoid the awkwardness of vampires and sex.
Apparently, 400 years does not make a man less prone to special alone time.
#2
“Night Watch/Day Watch”
“Why was is that the Light acted through lies, and the Darkness acted though the truth? Why was is that our truth proved powerless, but lies were effective? And why was the Darkness able to manage perfectly well with truth in order to do Evil?”
Yes, this is technically two movies in one. Yes, I am breaking the rules. Sorry, not sorry. I can’t possibly choose between “Night Watch” and “Day Watch” because their stories are so finely intertwined, it would be an impossible choice.
Adapted from the Russian novels by Sergei Lukyanenko, the “Night Watch/Day Watch” films are visual masterpieces, where director Timur Bekmambetov took a series of relatively good urban fantasy novels and turned them into timeless works of art. Though not strictly vampire movies on their own, vampires do exist in the universe and play a pivotal role in the development of the story itself, as well as in the emotional upheaval experienced by the reader.
The films are hard, fast, and gritty to the core. Much like other films on this list, they don’t pull punches on gore, but they don’t lean on it in the same way that strict horror adaptations like “30 Days of Night” have done in the past. And gore is balanced out here by a unique magician structure and atmosphere which could only be thought up by a Russian mind. In fact, it’s overall mood is so in tune with the nationality of its creators that it is a refreshing take on the genre, while still being relatable as hell.
#1
“Let Me In”
“Just so you know, I can’t be your friend.”
I don’t consider myself to be the Queen of Unpopular Opinions, and God knows I don’t like being controversial, but I would be selling this gem short if I did not state categorically that in this instance, I simply prefer the US adaptation. While the 2008 Swedish adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel was truer to the text, the 2010 English-Language film was superior in its ability to hone complex emotions in the minds of the characterised youth.
“Let Me In” is unique in its genre, in that its protagonists are children, but the themes are far beyond the mental capacity of the young. It deals with the nature of evil (as many vampire films are want to do), as well as love, loneliness, and the outsider complex.
Owen is a boy on the precipice of manhood who deals with a suffocating home life and a dreaded school bully. When the strange new girl, Abby, moves into Owen’s neighbourhood, the complexity of his life becomes overshadowed by the intrigue of his new “friend.”
While being a gory, terrifying example of vampires in film, “Let Me In” somehow manages to also be one of the most beautiful tales of friendship and love between seeming children in a world where adults are almost always absent or cruel.
That’s our list. Let us know what you think. If you have any arguments or great, demanding desires to see something else on here, we’d love to discuss it with you.
