The annals of movie history have been soaked with blood over the years for moviegoers thirsty for another vampire flick. Vampire movies have long since evolved from the days of the black-and-white cape-clad Bela Lugosi. History tried to paint vampires in a scary light from the aforementioned Lugosi flick to the 1920s classic Nosferatu.
But all these movies pay homage to vampire classic books of lore. Though Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's gothic tale of the vampiress Carmilla predates Stoker's bloody tale, Dracula still remains the most popular, and most stories take their inspiration from it.
6 Only Lovers Left Alive
At its heart, Only Lovers Left Alive is a romance story dripping with tragedy and drama. Estranged vampire couple Adam and Eve reconnect as Adam grapples with depression and his failing music career. Adam and Eve ooze with chemistry, expertly played by Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton respectively, something fans of the romance aspect in the original Dracula story are sure to enjoy. Drama arises when Eve's abrasive and spoiled sister Ava arrives for a surprise visit, testing Adam's patience and leading to the death of his only friend.
Only Lovers Left Alive lacks the fantasy elements of Dracula, set in the real and grimy world of modern-day Detroit, but its more grounded setting and story beats immerse viewers into its achingly cold plot. With minimal world-building regarding their take on the vampire mythos, the real intrigue of this movie lies in the tangling relationships and the complex characters.
5 Dracula: Dead And Loving It
While not the most faithful adaptation of Stoker's classic novel, Dracula: Dead and Loving It offers a refreshingly humorous take on the vampire tale, making it stand out as an original amid the straight-edge movies. Though it follows the familiar plot of the original novel, with Dracula finalizing the purchase of a property in London, Johnathan Harker's role is instead filled by Renfield, who finds himself under the hypnotic spell of the vampire and embarks with him on a voyage to England.
This movie would have sadly flown under the radar of many fans, but those who now know of its existence should definitely give this movie a chance. There is plenty of hilarity and fun to be found in this zany take on Dracula, offering up a whole new way to experience the story of the caped Count and his exploits.
4 The Lost Boys
The Lost Boys introduced a new style of vampires to movie screens: the leather jacket-clad troublemakers that birthed vampires such as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and have become a cornerstone of inspiration for every Brujah player in Vampire: the Masquerade.
In this classic 80s flick, the main character Michael moves with his younger sibling and recently divorced mother to a city that unbeknownst to them, houses a group of vampires. Michael becomes embroiled in the gang through the leader's girlfriend Star and ends up drinking vampire blood and undergoing the transition to one of the restless dead. Dark and gritty with a dash of the 80s aesthetic that has come back into fashion in the past years, The Lost Boys is essential viewing for any vampire fan who wants to taste a new breed of the genre.
3 Night Teeth
For those interested in taking a deep dive into what vampire politics would look like in the real and modern world, Night Teeth satiates that curiosity. In this Netflix original movie, vampires and humans coexist in tenuous peace, vampires only taking blood from willing victims, and humans laying down any arms they might rally against them. However, the fragile peace threatens to shatter when one of the powerful vampire lords tires of toeing the line and sets out to break the truce.
The unique world of Night Teeth sets it apart from the rest, showing how humans and vampires could coexist together, and how the actions of vampires affect humans and the world around them at large. The Movie resonates with a human touch to the vampire mythos, and even a touch of romance as the main character Benny, a human, grows close to Blaire, one of the vampires he chauffeurs.
2 Nosferatu
The classic black-and-white movie predates audio, yet still manages to terrify audiences in its monochromatic, silent glory. As an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker's hit novel, certain details have to be changed to avoid the threat of copyright, including changing the infamous Count's name from Dracula to Orlak. The plot largely remains very similar, with the Count hiring assistance for his plans to buy a house in another town, close to the home of his assistant. But before long, Thomas uncovers the truth about his host from his ghoulish appearance to his hungry mannerisms surrounding blood.
Nosferatu is truly a marvel of classic cinema, and fans of the vampire genre would be doing a disservice if they did not watch it. Several variants of the movie have emerged over the years that have added color or music, including a version that utilizes the gothic and haunting songs of Type O Negative, which complement the gothic aesthetic of the movie perfectly.
1 Interview With The Vampire
Interview with the Vampire is essential viewing for any fans of the vampire genre with its amazing cast of talent, following the brilliant story and world as penned by the author of the original gothic novels, Anne Rice. The movie opens with Louis recounting his tale with the infamous vampire Lestat in the modern day to a journalist before the movie shifts to New Orleans in the late 18th century. Louis meets the vampire Lestat, who senses he has lost his zest for life and chooses to relieve him of the burden, saddling him with a different burden entirely.
With the inclusion of a child vampire, Interview with the Vampire explores various vampires, such as Lestat who revels in debauchery, Louis who is desperately trying to grip tight on his humanity with his blood-slicked fingers, and Madeleine who tried to protect Claudia from the sun's fiery embrace. Gothic, with moments of tragedy and bloody violence, Interview with the Vampire is sure to sate the hunger of any Dracula fan.