Vampires have been around in the movies for more than a century following Bram Stoker’s Dracula all the way back in 1897. They are particularly popular in the Western culture where vampires appear in numerous films. Here’s a look at our five favourites:
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
The long-running TV series that was a huge hit between 1997-2003 was originally a movie in the early 90s, also written by the TV show’s creator, Joss Whedon. Buffy Summers is played by Kristy Swanson in the movie as opposed to Sarah Michelle Gellar who rose to fame as a result. Buffy is a valley girl who comes into her own when she discovers she’s the next in a long line of vampire killers…
- Blood for Dracula (1974)
Set in the 1920s this Italian-French vampire movie was directed by Paul Morrissey and produced by Andy Warhol which stars Udo Kier as the famed Transylvanian count. Dracula travels to Italy in search of virgin blood to regain his strength. The movie ends with Dracula being dismembered by an axe of the father of two virgins.
- Blade (1998)
The first Marvel Entertainment movie, Wesley Snipes played the leading role in Blade as a superhero who is half-vampire and possesses superhuman abilities. Snipes’ character uses his powers to fight against a race of vampires whose aim is to end humanity and rule the world. Directed by Stephen Norrington, loosely based on the comic book written by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan.
- The Lost Boys (1987)
Joel Schumacher’s horror-comedy in the late 80s saw blood suckers go a little punk rock as two brothers discover their new town is controlled by a gang of vampires after noticing the boardwalk is plastered with flyers of missing people in their small beach town in California. Stars Kiefer Sutherland.
- Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, best known for the Godfather, this adaptation of the seminal vampire is a lush, faithful and star-studded version of the classic horror movie. Gary Oldman plays the lead role whilst Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins and Keanu Reeves also star.
