10.) Dracula (Gary Oldman) from Dracula (1992)

To be perfectly clear I am taking about the above photo’s look with Dracula, not the other look. Gary Oldman is insanely sexy in this role, he oozes it and as a hot blooded woman he came close to making me explode!

09.) Miriam Blaylock (Catherine Deneuve) from The Hunger (1983)

I don’t care who you are, you cannot deny how incredibly sexy Catherine Deneuve was in this film (heck even now in her 60′s she’s amazing). There is something about her and her character that draws you in, and well you can’t help but want some of that.

08.) Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) from True Blood (2008-)

I am pretty sure he is the reason why so many of us tune into True Blood, his character is amazing and portrayed to perfection by Alex. He has this appeal about him, and there is no getting enough of him. Plus he gets his clothes off quite often, so nothing to complain about over here.

07.) Satanico Pandemonium (Salma Hayek) from From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Do I need to explain this entry? Salma Hayek in her underwear performing a sexy dance with a snake. Her few moments of screen time are perhaps what people remember the most from this kick-ass film. She proves once again what a sexy woman she is, and well then she proves that these vampires are just nasty!

06.) Damon and Stefan Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder & Paul Wesley) from The Vampire Diaries (2009-)

I love this show and I am not ashamed to admit that. The constantly changing dynamic between the central Salvatore brothers is addicting, with great performances by Ian and Paul. Both are able to play the good guy and the bad guy and remain drool worthy while doing so. Damon especially is one of my all time favourite TV characters!

05.) Dracua’s Bride (Monica Bellucci) from Dracula (1992)

Monica Bellucci as a vampire, of course this makes the list. One of her earlier English language roles was in Dracula and who better to play one of his brides than this sexy vixen? She was stunning then and is stunning now, you will become addicted to her once you see her in this film.

04.) Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) from Interview With The Vampire (1994)

Brad Pitt as a vampire with long hair, umm yes please!! Who didn’t completely fall for him in this film, he was oh so pretty back then (still is) and he gave such a wonderful performance with an incredible amount of heart. Yes every time I watch this I do still find him a very sexy character.

03.) Jessica Hamby (Deborah Ann Woll) from True Blood (2008-)

Her character started off as an annoying brat but the character development has been phenomenal and she has easily become my favourite part of the show. She is one stunning woman and she shows it, whether she be taking her clothes off or ripping something to pieces. This actress is amazing, as is the character, I always want more.

02.) Jerry Dandrige (Chris Sarandon & Colin Farrell) from Fright Night (1985) & (2011)

Both men played this role well, and actually quite differently, which therefore makes their sex appeal different. Chris Sarandon oozed sex in the original film, the moments we first see him, it is an instant attraction. The best and most sexiest scene is the club dancing scene and by gosh what I wouldn’t do to be all up against him during that. Colin Farrell’s Jerry is quite different, but the fact that it is Colin Farrell in an villainous role instantly makes him sexy and it drew me in.

01.) Selene (Kate Beckinsale) from The Underworld Series (2003-2012)

I am sure this comes as no surprise but when you put a beauty like Kate Beckinsale in those outfits what do you expect? Not only is Selene a character that looks smokin’, she’s actually a pretty strong one as well. Her appeal ranges from her looks to just how bad-ass and awesome she is. It is a role perfectly tailored to Beckinsale, especially with those costumes. REOW!

10.) Chucky (Child’s Play series)

This might need like an odd choice, but as a kid Chucky used to freak me out. A doll is so unsuspecting, and with Brad Dourif’s voice, what a bad ass!

9.) The Thing (John Carpenter’s The Thing)

An alien that can mimic, it could be anyone and everyone, truly terrifying!

8.) The Tall Man (Phantasm series)

There is something about the look of this character that is absolutely chilling, and it remains quite effective throughout the series. A true terror, and an amazing creation by Don Coscarelli.

7.) Jason Voorhees (Friday The 13th series)

The man that scared everyone away from camp, the killer that wont stop. His legacy lives on and one, and he is a true icon of terror and fear.

6.) Pinhead/Cenobites (Hellraiser series)

I tell ya, Pinhead still creeps me out. Not sure what it is but if Pinhead is around I have trouble watching, truly the boogeyman of my worst nightmares. Clive Barker is a horror genius.

5.) Dracula (There have been countless incarnations)

Dracula is a timeless character, there have been many different versions. Perhaps my personally favourite is by Bela Lugosi, there was just something both frightening and calming about the man and the way he portrayed the character.

4.) Damien (The Omen series)

The son of satan, is there anything more perfect?

3.) Candyman (Candyman series)

Perhaps one of the more strange and unique boogeymen, Candyman is from a legend and one that I thought might be real when I first saw the film. It left a lasting impact on me, and it took a lot of guts (no pun) before I felt comfortable to watch the film again.

2.) Michael Myers (Halloween series)

The silent killer, the shape, the one who stalked the babysitters. Certainly one of the most influential horror icons, and one of the most frightening,

1.) Freddy Krueger (Elm St series)

My personal favorite, the man who can kill you in your sleep, he attacks when you are most vulnerable. He was a child killer and his burnt face and knifes for fingers make him oh so creepy. The best horror boogeyman in my books, a truly frightening invention.

I have made it a tradition to immerse myself in all things horror, my own way of celebrating. During my adventures this year and this month with horror, I have come across a nice selection of vampire films. So for this weeks Top 10 I thought I would give you a list of some vampire films that you really need to sink your teeth into.

You wont find mainstream here …

Honorable mentions: Shadow Of The Vampire (2000), Vamp (1986), The Hunger (1983), The Monster Squad (1987), Let The Right One In (2008) and Vampire’s Kiss (1989).

10.) Thirst (2009)

Chan-wook Park crafted his own vampire tale, a very strange voyage into finding love and losing identity. A Catholic Priest contracts vampirism after a failed medical experiment, he loses his purity and becomes everything he is against. His lust for a woman leads him on a wild ride, which soon turns bloody. A must see; a refreshing look at the myth in the wake of tween rubbish like Twilight.

9.) John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998)

Coming out around the time of Blade, this film failed to really find an audience upon its initial release, but soon picked up a cult following. A group of vampire hunters must go after the head vampire who is causing chaos. Vampires here are portrayed as ugly monsters, no soul and certainly no falling in love. A gorefest and a wise cracking James Woods, whats not to love?

8.) The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)

Roman Polanski does vampire comedy! A fantastic hidden gem of a film that cleverly mixes comedy with the horror, you’ve got a professor, an apprentice, a damsel in distress and vampires. Perhaps one of the more fantastic elements here is to see Polanski himself act as well as direct and featuring his then love Sharon Tate a few years before her untimely murder.

7.) Blood Spattered Bride (1972)

The Blood Spattered Bride is a haunting Spanish art horror film from the early 70′s, and is one of Quentin Tarantino’s favourites. It is not difficult to understand why as this is a fantastic film, filled with stunning imagery, nightmares and eroticism. The film balances many elements and metaphors, however once the nightmares start to become reality the truth is finally unveiled.

6.) Horror Of Dracula (1958)

Hammer Horror’s first Dracula film, starring the legends of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Lee, of course portrayed Dracula and Cushing as Van Helsing. It differed strongly from the book as well as Universal’s original film, but it was still a haunting tale. Featuring such vibrant colors, characters and sets, the film is a highly entertaining watch.

5.) Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht (1979)

Werner Herzog’s remake of the original that starred Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula. The film cleverly retraces the steps of the original while adding fantastic dialogue and beautiful colors. The performances are all outstanding, with the other standouts being Bruno Ganz as Jonathan Harker and Isabelle Adjani as Lucy Harker. This is the way films should be remade and adapted, it does not skip a beat and at times it surpasses certain elements of the original while being a unique entity of its own.

4.) Dracula (1931)

It seems in this day and age the original films from way back when get forgotten about, but not here. Universal’s original Dracula with Bela Lugosi is a masterpiece. The performances are some of the best you will find in Cinema, with Lugosi commanding the scene and he truly embodied the role. Dwight Frye is phenomenal as Reinfield, with Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing also top notch. If you have missed this one, you owe it to yourself to find it.

3.) Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

Made a good 9 or so years before Universal’s, this German film was the unofficial tale of Dracula. The makers did not have the rights, so they just renamed a few things. It was cause for controversy at the time, but soon became highly regarded. Max Schreck gives one of cinema’s most chilling performances, and was truly frightening. A brilliant film, and a real treasure from the silent era.

2.) Near Dark (1987)

I still regard this as my favourite vampire film, it is dark, humorous, haunting and violent. It sports a cast of vampire characters that are so memorable, I would place them on the list of most menacing. The performances are all fantastic, with the central love story being convincing and honest. Kathryn Bigelow’s vampire/western went under the radar upon its release, much like JC’s Vampires as it was over shadowed by another film. It has become a favourite and one I personally re-visit a few times a year.

1.) Martin (1976)

This film is one I only discovered recently and it now sits with Near Dark as a personal favourite. This early Romero film (one he cites as his best) is an unconventional vampire film. The main character Martin is a mystery, we see him drug women, and drink their blood. He cuts their veins with a razor and believes he is an 70 year old vampire. To us it just seems as though he is a serial killer, but as the film progresses we begin to question whether or not he is what he says, and he becomes a sympathetic antihero. A masterful piece of filmmaking, and one you must seek out.

Here’s the plot: “Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s (Sandler) lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free from meddling from the human world. But here’s a little known fact about Dracula: he is not only the Prince of Darkness; he is also a dad. Over-protective of his teenage daughter, Mavis, Dracula fabricates tales of elaborate dangers to dissuade her adventurous spirit. As a haven for Mavis, he opens the Hotel Transylvania, where his daughter and some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more – can kick back in safety and peace. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.”

Sony has set a September 21st, 2012 release date.

Source: Coming Soon

Are you tired of the Transylvania’s greatest export yet?

Oh, and no order since they all suck.

Bordello of Blood

Tales from the Crypt gave us an awesome film in Demon Knight, full of gore, scares, and fun and all three of those were terribly missing here. It’s not funny, not gory, not good. At. All.

Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971)

As a film, Ed Wood directed better. In that sense, it’s cheeky fun, starring Lon Chaney Jr. and Forry Ackerman, but it sucks.

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter

The title says it all: Jesus’ modern-day struggle to protect the lesbians (!) of Ottawa, Canada (!!), from vampires with the help of Mexican wrestler El Santo (!!!). What…the…f…k….!

Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)

Sorry Wes Craven, I like you but you cast Eddie Murphy as a jive looking vamp. Ughhh….

Vampires vs. Zombies (2004)

Okay, it’s wrong to pick on DTV horror films sometimes,  but sometimes they deserve it. Like this one: most of the action takes place in a car. One critic called it worse than Troll 2. ‘Nuff said. Landfills hate this flick.

Van Helsing (2004)

What worked for Sommers in 1999′s The Mummy, failed in The Mummy Returns and defiantly failed in this so-bad-it’s-bad wanna-be Hammer film that tried to honor the Universal horror films in all CG. Pass if you like your vision remaining 20/20.

Blood: The Last Vampire (2009)

No, not the CG anime film, because that’s pretty good. That 45-minute film is an Oscar winner compared to this mess that tried to make a live-action anime film. That didn’t work too well, as it was barely released in theaters and when our beloved Killer Film webmaster Donny Broussard tried to review it, the studio stole his review from ever being posted (he said it sucked, BTW)!

The Kiss of the Vampire (1963)

This was an attempt to make a non-Christopher Lee Dracula film by Hammer and it was a hogwash attempt, especially in the TV cut which added characters by filming new scenes into a completed film.

Dracula 3000 (2004)

Captain van Helsing (Casper Van Dien) battles Dracula in space…with Coolio.

Dracula AD 1972

Not all of Hammer Studios’ Dracula films were good (and this marks the second to appear on this list), as apparent with this cheesy, funky ‘modern’ update to the mythos. By now, the series had really run its course, and it showed.

See vampire do suck (ahem). What are yours? Leave a comment below!

“Without any myth or magic, we find royalty and vampires lurking in Pattinson’s life—making his story just as supernatural as the one he’s playing on screen,” said a genealogist named Anastasia Tyler.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens everywhere on June 30th.

Source: E!

Recently, Universal and Sony/Tri-Star have tried to either remake these as straight up period pieces or added some flavor to them by updating elements to various results. This past February, a remake of 1941′s The Wolf Man was released after a revolving door announcement of a release date, reshoots, and FX troubles, all to middling results. This comes at a time, when in 2009 the horror genre itself was at a high. So, are our old pals – Dracula, The Mummy, Frankenstein, and The Wolf Man just Rusty Old Monsters?

Certainly with The Wolfman (now available on Blu-ray and DVD) and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), similar styled films, the numbers don’t lie. The Wolfman, after the reshoots and constantly delays, had a budget of reportedly $150 million. It stumbled out of the gate on its opening weekend with $31.4 million, opening in second place after a chick flick (Valentine’s Day). Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein had a budget of $44 million and in total domestically, just grossed a weak $22 million (although the film was a  rousing success internationally with $90 million).

So what was it? Both featured decent directors (Joe Johnston and Kenneth Branagh), solid actors (Bencio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins for The Wolfman and Robert De Niro, Ian Holm, and Helen Bonham Carter for Frankenstein), and featured great Victorian set designs. Could it be the Victorian setting? Are we too modern that period pieces fail to excite?

1999′s The Mummy was a period film, but featured modern sensibilities as a summer action film, over an atmospheric genre film like the classic Karloff film was, and it was a huge hit for Universal. On a $80 million budget, domestically it did $155 million and internationally, $260 million! That film spawned sequels, the others have not. So could this the answer? Making a period film in the style of an action film for the summer? Maybe. Look at Van Helsing, a supposedly loving homage to the Universal Monsters was panned by critics, but on its big budget of $160 million, doubled its budget when it was all said and done with $300 million!

What if we take these old characters and put them into a modern setting? Hmm. Wolf, a modern take at the werewolf legend in 1994, directed by Michael Nichols and starring Jack Nicholson, did pretty good actually with $131 million worldwide on a seemingly tinier budget at $60 million, plus it made another $30 million in rentals.

Despite all of that, the one film that bucked this trend, was a classic adaptation of Dracula, in Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula, that featured no CGI, no wild action scenes, and proved to be a hit, making it one of the most commercially successful versions of the story. But that was in 1992. The trend was slow and gradually lead us to the question if are these monsters old and rusty. Do modern audiences still care about these Old World creatures of the night?

What do the critics think?

Bram Stoker’s Dracula: [Ricard Corliss]: Coppola brings the old spook story alive … Everyone knows that Dracula has a heart; Coppola knows that it is more than an organ to drive a stake into. To the director, the count is a restless spirit who has been condemned for too many years to interment in cruddy movies. This luscious film restores the creature’s nobility and gives him peace.

Wolf: [Hal Hinson]: The movie isn’t wholly great; it starts to unravel just after the midway point.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: [Janet Masin]: Instead, this is a bland, no-fault Frankenstein for the 90′s, short on villainy but loaded with the tragically misunderstood.

The Mummy: [Steve Holden]: This version of The Mummy has no pretenses to be anything other than a gaudy comic video game splashed onto the screen. Think Raiders of the Lost Ark with cartoon characters.

Van Helsing: [Steve Crum]: If you were raised on action-packed computer games, this movie is from Sega heaven.

The Wolfman: [Jon Peters]: For every moment that The Wolfman works, it also fails.

Despite the top names involved with the films, the FX, the story is where it is all at, and maybe just maybe, these characters are just too old for a modern teenage audience to care. In a new horror movie world of Paranormal Activity, Saw, remakes, gritty and more violent films from Asia and France, these films have the new scares for kids. It’s interesting to see the wild indifference when The Wolfman was released. It dropped considerably in its second week, much like most horror films do, but it really stumbled out of the gate on week one. Maybe in the age of cell phones, Twitter, Facebook, and way more violent films, the old guys are well, just old.

Thoughts? Opinions? Comment below!

Long time Argento fans remember his ill-advised take on another classic monster, in the maligned Phantom of the Opera (1998). And yes, the poster in this post is some early official art for the film. Can Argento pull this off? Are you horror fans excited?

Source: First Showing

Directing the picture will be Anthony Mandler, who’s previous works include several music videos. The next film to come out in distribution under Summit Entertainment is the Robert Pattinson starring drama Remember Me along with the anticipated release for all Twilight lovers everywhere this summer of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

But here’s the thing. I detest being scared. I’ve seen my share of scary movies, but nothing compared to the other cats here on the site. Historically, I’ve determined that the 1943 Cat People is the reason I hate scary movies. Thanks, Dad. So the full title of this article should be “Michael’s Halloween Watch List… For Weenies.” There are a few classics that everyone needs to watch this month, and I’ve come up with my own list, much like everyone that reviews movies… ever… to watch this haunted season.

Classics

First off, a classic. The original Phantom of the Opera. The Lon Cheney one. Absolutely great classic movie. Not scary at all by today’s standards, but the story of haunting a beautiful opera house is a staple not to be missed. Make sure to catch the non-Switchblade Symphony version of this movie, as their soundtrack ruins… RUINS… the film.

Next up, Dracula. Yea, another classic. Martin Landau said it best in his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.

Take my word for it. You want to score with a young lady, you take her to see Dracula.

That says it all. Dracula is another one of those can’t-be-missed Halloween films that’s lost a lot of horror factor by today’s standards.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is one of my favorite Halloween movies. The story of a somnambulist doing his master’s bidding takes a wicked turn at the end. Again, this is a silent film, and the original is German from 1920, but nevertheless, very much worth seeing.

The Shining. Need I say more? Jack Nicholson’s performance is nerve-racking, and stellar.

I’m a sucker for camp. Both Plan 9 From Outer Space and the next movie are great terrible movies. Plan 9′s great use of nothing and stellar script have recently been subject to remake rumors, but no one can legitimize Edward D. Wood Junior’s vision. All of Ed Wood’s movies are gems, but Plan 9 is the epitome of his work.

Indie Movies That Are Good. Once.

Another terrible film, Rockabilly Vampire is about a self-defeating Greaser vampire and a girl that thinks Elvis is still alive. This Troma film is a good example of all Troma movies, which include the Toxic Avenger and a few movies from the guys that made South Park.

Six-String Samurai is a rad post-apocalyptic take on the United States. the Buddy Holly-esque protagonist and his wickedly-annoying sidekick trek across the country to get to Vegas to take the King’s throne. However, there’s a Slash-looking Death causing problems along the way. The soundtrack and great storyline make this a decent Halloween movie.

Foreign

Battle Royale is a bloodbath in paradise. The stagnant characters add to the socialist feel to the movie, and the sheer amount of violence in this movie makes curious as to how I can watch it. But blood only makes Halloween that much more special.

Sukiyaki Western Django is another foreign film that doesn’t really have anything to do with Halloween, but the amount of violence and bizarre human behavior make it appropriate for the list. The Film has a little spot from Tarantino in it, which only adds to the brutality of this movie.

Love and a .45 has nothing scary in it. Like I said, I’m not that into being scared. It does however, feature a great soundtrack and has an impressive story and a neat Bonnie and Clyde vibe to it. The scary part is Renee Zellweger in it and it’s still good. It’s suprisingly violent and a little twisted, so check it out, but there’s no real rush.

Honorable Mentions

These are good, and must-watch movies, but everyone SHOULD know already.

Alien – One of the few movies I can watch in the middle of the night with the lights out and movie booming.

Event Horizon – Creepy. Just. Straight.  Creepy.

Fargo – Woodchippers at their finest.

Saw – Just the first one. The rest tried too hard.

Se7en – What’s in the box? A box of awesome, that’s what!

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - “I don’t like the looks of this!” indeed.

The classic Universal monster movies: Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Wolf Man.

My earliest Halloween memories are of coming home from trick r’ treating and watching these on Channel 20 with my Dad and little brothers while we sorted through the candy. They played every year. They imprinted on our little brains. Why in the hell were there armadillos in Castle Dracula? I do not know but, boy,  it freaked me out on a very primal level. Misty graveyards and swamps, weird old gypsy women, ruined castles and torch-bearing mobs and lightning…to this day I can’t get enough of that kind of thing. And these were the movies that first got me interested in filmmaking, too. I’d go to the library and check out these cheap kids’ books like ‘Monster Makeup!’: Did you know they used cheesecloth to make Frankenstein’s head flat?! Did you know they glued ox hairs onto Lon Chaney Jr.’s face one by one to make him the Wolf Man?! You can imagine how amazing this kind of thing was to a five year old.

Bonus Bride of Frankenstein Drinking Game: take a shot every time someone exclaims “Dr. Pretorious!” and proceed directly to the ER.

Vamp (1986) – This cheesy ’80s flick features Grace Jones as a freaky vampire stripper.  

Vampyros Lesbos (1970) – A trippy psychedelic lesbian vampire classic that features a killer score.  

Embrace of the Vampire (1994) – Not a great vampire flick, but it features an awesome lesbian scene with Alyssa Milano who is nude quite often in the flick.  

Tales from the Crypt Presents Bordello of Blood (1996) – A kick ass funny vampire romp with tons of hot ladies!

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) - Gary Oldman is the man.

Underworld (2003) - Kate Beckinsale in tight black leather!

Blade (1998) – Because action+vampires=major ass whooping!

Dracula (1931) – Read Jon’s take.

Now that I’ve already listed a bunch of flicks that didn’t make my top ten, here is the list of bloodsucker flicks that did.  

10. From Dusk Till Dawn (1998)

Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino are a match made in heaven.  This is one of the most kick ass vampire movies ever made!  Holy water condoms, cock guns, and Salma Hayek dancing her sexy ass off.  It doesn’t get much better than this folks.  

9. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

This movie made Paul Reubens (Pee-wee) cool again.  I’ll admit it’s pretty goofy, but it sure is fun.  Kristy Swanson is smoking hot as Bufffy, and it’s always a pleasure to see Rutger Hauer rock the screen.  

8. Vampyres (1975)

Marianne Morris and Anulka Dziubinska are stupid hot! Naked girls and blood baby!  That’s what this flick is about.  Two hot lesbian vampires roam the forest, lure their prey back to their castle, have sex, and bleed them dry.  This movie kicks much lesbian vampire ass!

7. The Hunger (1983)

This is a sexy movie.  Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie are perfect as rich aristocratic vampires living a life of undead excess.  Beautifully shot and scored, this is the classic ’80s vampire film.  

6. The Night Flier (1998)

I’m a huge Stephen King fan, but most of the time his movies don’t live up to the books  This one does, and then some.  A journalist investigates a series of murders involving a someone flying around in a Cessna, stopping at small airports, and killing everyone on staff.  The strange flier happens to be a vampire that likes tearing his victims apart.  Awesome! 

5. The Lost Boys (1987)

The two Corey’s battle the undead while rocking out to a classic ’80s soundtrack.  This flick made vampires cool.  Even though they’re the bad-guys in the flick the vamps are way cooler than the good-guys.  

4. Dracula (1979)

I know I’m gonna get heat for this one, but I really dug Frank Langella as Dracula.  While it was pretty much the same old story, it was just different enough make it stick in my memory.  It has always been one of my favorites.  Definitely worth checking out.

3. Salem’s Lot (1979)

This flick scared the hell out of me when I was a kid, and it still holds up.  Another Stephen King flick that works, and it features a vampire that is obviously influenced by Nosferatu.  A seriously killer movie that was actually a mini-series when it was first released.  

2. Near Dark (1987)

Penned by horror master Eric Red this is one of the most original vampire movies ever made.  I’ve seen this flick at least twenty times and it never gets old.  If your into vampire movies and this one isn’t on your top ten list, then you should be ashamed of your self.

1. Fright Night (1985)

This is one of my all time favorite vampire movies.  Similar to Hitchcock’s Rear Window, Fright Night is the story of a nosy neighbor that finds out the guy next door is a vampire.  Not just any vampire either, a super-cool vampire, with style, and a way with the ladies.  The effects on are awesome, and the soundtrack is amazing.  Hell yeah!

How did you hear of this Twilight phenomenon?

Jon: I heard of Twilight through co-workers talking about the books. Sadly, I don’t keep up the fiction the way I used to, unless it’s from Chuck Palahniuk, so I was clueless. But hearing friends talk about it with such passion, really got me curious. I had a gut feeling that these books were aimed at the female populace, even then I was curious. By the time the film was announced, Comic Con went crazy! I still had no idea about the fan base. Then the midnight showings were selling out as well as regular day screenings, I thought I better check into this.

Donny:  I heard about it from my sister-in-law, and from the web buzz.  Around the time it hit Comic Con I was starting to get curious, but then Ann (sister-in-law) told me how much she loved the books, I decided to check out the books and see what all the hype was about.  So I read the book, and I dug it for what it was.  It’s a book that’s aimed at teenagers, and it totally succeeds for that target market. 

Jon: I got burned out of that type of fiction, but maybe I’ll pick it up one day…probably not.

Are you a vampire fan?

Donny:  Does a bear shit in the woods?  I love vampires!  I remember watching the old Universal Dracula with my Dad.  That was the beginning of my love affair with the undead. 

Jon: Yep, although recently it hasn’t been all that interesting of a genre. But I’m thinking Let the Right One In could change that.

Quick thought’s on Twilight’s trailer?

Jon: Despite all of the things I’ve mentioned prior, I thought the trailer looked painfully generic. I couldn’t see the excitement everyone else had.

Donny:  I thought the trailer was pretty cool.  It looked like the filmmakers were going to stay pretty faithful to the book.   I know I’m going to get heat for this, but I was kind of excited about seeing it.

Jon: Yes, you were excited for it. I really wasn’t, but a good, trustworthy critic is an open-minded one, so I looked into it and saw it obviously.

What did you think of the film?

Donny:  I think the film did a good job of interpreting the book, but at times was a little choppy in the way that it was edited together.  Overall I didn’t think that the movie was all that bad.  I enjoyed the dynamic relationship that Bella and Edward shared, and I thought that the family of vampires was also quiet entertaining.  Also, Nikki Reed is smoking hot as Rosalie; her ass is perfect (Donny forgets that teen girls are reading this-Jon).  But I didn’t enjoy the way the villain was handled in the movie, even if it was close to the way it was handled in the book. 

As a traditional vampire movie, Twilight falls short, but as a teenage love story it hits its mark.  I enjoyed the book for what it was, and the movie was alright for what it was as well.  I didn’t hate the movie, but I don’t have a yearning to see it multiple times.  It’s a good teenage love story about a girl and her boyfriend’s hair, and a decent adaptation of the source material.

Jon: You’re too soft, Donny. It’s not that good of a movie. I’m not relating this to the books, so spare me the hate mail, but as a film, it’s a bit boring, especially in the middle. Hardwicke frames everything like a TV movie, making matters worse, the effects looked cheap, especially the running Edward does. I’m all for a reinvention of these creatures, but it’s Anne Rice-lite, an emo version of Buffy. I don’t see the hype. I’m sure the books are good, but as a film, I felt while the two leads had great chemistry, the film lacked any real punch of the romance. It felt more like puppy dog crush than something that would span more sequels.

I really couldn’t get invested in the characters. Kristen Stewart is endlessly cute, I like her girl-next-door personality, so I was following her, but I can’t buy she’s hanging with some of the cool kids. She needed to be a loner, that’s the attraction to Edward, so is he. I hope they invest more in the sequels. I can’t bother sitting through this one again. It just isn’t that good of a film. I’m sure some girls are going to eat this up, and I know I’m not the target demographic, but it isn’t written good enough to be universal more newbie’s to join in.

Catherine Hardwicke has given us a bland vampire film, which is most unfortunately mostly to the fans I think. I talked with some die-hards and those willing to put the book love they have to the side and judge the film as a film, agreed. Feel free to tell me why I’m wrong.

Grade?

Jon: **

Donny: **1/2

Rating: 2.3 out of 5 stars

10 – Rabid (1976, d: David Cronenberg): Despite being an early film of David Cronenberg and featuring porn star Marilyn Chambers, the film is an uneasy exploration of body biology and horror. Typical stuff for Cronenberg, but an eerie film that uses plastic surgery as a catalyst for vampirism evil. Chambers stars a woman needing help after a bad motorcycle accident, only to discover after her surgery, that a phallic-like appendage comes out of her armpit and craves blood. It’s precursor to the 28 Days Later films in certain respects and the evolution of Cronenberg’s career.

9 – Fearless Vampire Killers (1967, d: Roman Polanski): This film has gained a lot of popularity in recent years through rediscovery. Polanski hated the USA release as they wanted to market it further as a farce by adding the extended title Or Pardon Me, but Your Teeth are In My Neck as the film celebrates the gothic horror of Hammer Studios with comedy. Look for the beautiful Sharon Tate before her tragic death by Charles Manson.

8 – Vampyr (1932, d: Carl Theodor Dreyer): The art horror film, as Dreyer focuses more on mood and atmosphere than cheap thrills. It’s a unique, haunting film, one worthy of repeated viewings just to get the imagery and themes down. Criterion Collection has just released a definitive set of the film and looking at it in modern eyes, it’s still a sight to behold. The dream-like setting will stay with you long into the night.

7 – Last Man on Earth (1964, d: Sidney Salkow): Based on the influential novel by Richard Matheson, I am Legend, this film is a precursor to George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. Vincent Price stars and delivers his typical awesomeness, but the film is equally eerie. Sure, it was made for the drive-ins but it’s still a good film, better than its 1970s remake, Omega Man. The vampires here are more zombie-like but are creepier than the other remake 2007′s I am Legend. It’s been remade a lot, just to show you how important of a genre piece it is. 

6 – The Hunger (1983, d: Tony Scott): Early in the ‘80s when it was first released everyone hated it. Now, time has been kind to this unique and very stylish vampire tale about aging and its effects. It plays with the typical myths of vampires and features some stunning cinematography and the uber-cool Bauhaus song “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”.  David Bowie turns in a good performance and Tony Scott shows he can frame scenes without his Red Bull-influenced editing he does now. It’s a classy film, not for mainstream consumption, but a worthwhile vampire film which is another example of a film trying to do something different with the myth.

5 – Fright Night (1985, d: Tom Holland): The film is endless fun. Great practical effects, a solid performance by Roddy McDowell and some fun twists on the weird neighbor next door scenario. McDowell plays a TV horror host and one of his fans mistakes him for the real thing. He hopes to have him help with his vampire neighbor next door, but vampires don’t exist or do they? It’s like Salem’s Lot but with some pop culture references and fun humor.

4 – Cronos (1993, d: Guillermo Del Toro): An ancient device causes vampirism in this early Del Toro film prior to him making it big with Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth. It’s visual great as expected by Del Toro, but also is vastly unique film about age and lust. Highly recommended.

3 – Martin (1977, d: George A. Romero): Romero gives us the best zombie films and here he gives us a totally unique vampire film, one I hope they never remake-it’s already too perfect. Martin suffers from a need for blood and gets it not by sucking on a neck, but by inserting a syringe and taking blood that way. His uncle is convinced he’s Nosferatu incarnate. The film mixed color and black and white footage to establish his uncle’s disillusions from the real world aspects of Martin’s life. It’s one of my favorite Romero films and one of my favorite non-Dracula vampire films. It’s playfully mixes gothic, Universal horror with a modern twist.

2 – Dracula (1931, d: Todd Browning): You could lump in Horror of Dracula (1958) and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) here also, but we cannot overlook the influence of the novel and the film. It’s an important work and each film; especially the early ones have given such a boost into the arm of horror to which we thank. In 1931, talking horror pictures seemed like a doomed proposition. Browning, a silent film director, cast an unknown Bela Lugosi in the Universal adaptation and so begun legend and horror in film. This was the first talking horror film and while it feels stilted by today standards, what they accomplished here stands the test of time. Ask anyone to do an impersonation of Dracula and I bet 99% do a half-assed Bela Lugosi. The other films further cemented this undead creature and all of the mythos that we see constantly and some director’s actively try to avoid. All lovers of vampire stories, TV, film, the subcultures, thank this film here as well as the novel.

1 – Nosferatu (1922, d: F.W. Murnau): This is essentially an unauthorized adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel, but I cannot include it in the discussion of Dracula. While it features just some name changes from the novel and follows the story closely, Murnau has crafted a superb piece of art with many layers of horror and theme. People who love discussing Freudian subtext can revel in this film. The birth of horror in cinema to me begins here. Nosferatu is a perfect example of creepiness and terror, a coming of plague, death, and to Murnau, Nazism. The film draws you into its world like an insect in a spider’s web, you cannot escape. Max Schreck’s performance as caused controversy of who this actor is (made famously in Shadow of the Vampire) and to be true, he’s gruesome. Rat-like, silent, beady-eyed and bald, his vampire is one not of romantic qualities but one of pure hell. Not only a fantastic work of silent cinema, but a personal favorite film of mine ever made.

What are yours? Comment below!