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Here is a list that is constantly debated. Of all the fictional characters to ever grace the silver screen, Dracula is one of most popular. Likewise, there have been dozens, probably hundreds of films starring vampires of all kinds. Some that can come out during the day, some that cannot. Some are allergic to garlic, while others order double garlic on their pizzas. Crosses and holy water will instantly destroy vampires in some stories, while others have the vampire just laugh and knock these items out of the hero’s hand.
Yes, the vampire myth has been told nearly as many different ways as there are films portraying these undead beings. Where the vampire myth started is also debated amongst scholars (yes, there are vampire scholars). The name “Dracula” almost certainly came from Vlad Dracu or Dracul (1431-1476), aka “Vlad the Impaler.” Vlad was born in Transylvania, now a part of Romania. He was notorious for impaling his victims on sharp wooden posts. “Dracula” became the name of the famous vampire as it means, “little demon/dragon,” or “son of the Devil.” Here is some great information on Vlad from WikiAnswers (though the accuracy has not personally been verified).
The “undead” myth of vampires was most likely born many years ago when bodies were dug up for many different reasons (robbery, fear of the “undead,” etc.) and the appearance of the corpses had drastically changed. Due to decomposition many times the body would be discovered in a different position (when muscle decayed rapidly the body often shifted), hair would appear to be longer, and fluids or blood would be coming out of the mouth. All these things led to the belief that these bodies were actually the “undead.” Many times they were then burned, or the heart removed and burned as a way to “kill” the “undead.”
However, as with many myths, the tales take shape slowly over hundreds of years and trying to pinpoint exactly when and what sparked a myth is nearly impossible. But, the vampire myth lives on strong to this day and has been the subject of many great movies. Pooling from many lists and other sources, here is the Top 10 Best Vampire Movies:
Click the movie title for complete information on the film, including videos of the trailers (will stay in the same window).
1) Nosferatu (1922)
2) Dracula (1931)
3) Horror of Dracula (1958)
4) Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
5) Fright Night (1985)
6) Interview with the Vampire (1994)
7) From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
8) Blade/Blade II (1998/2002)
9) The Lost Boys (1987)
10) 30 Days of Night (2007)
Honorable Mentions: Near Dark (1987), Martin (1977), Cronos (1993), Shadow of the Vampire (2000), and Salem’s Lot (1979)
Top 10 lists should always respect and pay homage to the films that were groundbreaking. Nosferatu is hands down the vampire film that started it all and set the bar for all others to come. Made during the infancy of film it was said to be the scariest movie ever made. Compared to today, that would certainly be a stretch, but in 1922 it gave the audience things they could hardly imagine. Some say Bela Lugosi’s performance in Dracula (1931) is the best portrayal of the character to ever hit the silver screen. He was the first to really bring the “sexy side” of vampires to light. Horror of Dracula was also pretty groundbreaking combining the romantic side of the vampire allure with the gory side of their animal thirst for blood. For the period in which it was made, it had a large amount of special effects and gore. There are many others from many different decades that could easily be on the list, but in order to span all of movie history and throw in a couple from the modern era, many of these were sadly left out (hey, there are only 10 spots).
And to answer your question, No, Twilight does not deserve a spot on the “Best Vampire Movies” list. Perhaps it would make the “Best Teenage, High School, Romeo and Juliet type, Shiny Skinned Vampire” list. Check back for that Top 10 later.
But, here’s your chance to let the world know which ones you thought were left off the list. The comments section is yours.
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See what all the talk was about on Fark.com: Biggest Box Office Bombs list.
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Here is some information about films coming out in 2010.
Check out some reviews:X-men Origins: Wolverine, Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Star Trek, Land of the Lost, The Hangover, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Year One, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Public Enemies.
Comments
Holy crap. "30 Days of Night?!" Seriously? That was a terrible movie as well as being a complete bastardization of the graphic novel source material. "Cronos" is far and away a superior film.
Solid list...the best one I've seen so far.
The few that didn't make the list that I would have mentioned here are all listed in the Honorable Mentions.
Sure, I might have swapped one or two, but they're all there.
Well Done!
It doesn't matter to me ! TWILIGHT IS MY FAVORITE VAMPIRE MOVIE AND it's the same for millions of us out there NO LIST CAN DO THE TWILIGHT SERIES JUSTICE !
Twilight has become the most sold vampire movie out there AND THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME. And for me only two movies really deserve to be up there and Lost Boys being one of favorites. TWILIGHT DOESN'T NEED A LIST TO be loved.
30 Days of Night you gots to be kidding me worst Vampire movie ever... as a Twilight fan yes it shouldn't made this list it was directed poorly could have been a great movie and David Slade didn't do a good job on 30 Days of Night thats way i worried about him directing ECLIPSE
yeah... 30 Days of Night? That movie was horrible. I would probably put Underworld in there in it's place.
REALLY?! Underworld better than 30 Days?! Not even close...Kate Beckinsale in tight leather does NOT constitiute a good vampire movie.
True, I would have swapped 30 Days for any of the 5 Honorable Mentions, but it was a good story for vampires, one that hadn't really been done. Unique factor alone gives it a nod.
Plus, it's nice to have a very recent one up there somewhere. Without 30 Days the most recent would be Blade/Blade II ('98, '02).
So, in an effort to "span all of movie history" it was a decent choice.
It is true though that the vampire genre has gone seriously down hill the last couple decades.
Stop hatin' on 30 Days, there are a TON out there worse than that.
WHAT THE HECK TWILIGHT IS ONE OF THE BEST VAMPIRE MOVIES OUT THERE JUST CAUSE IT IS NOT SCARY DOES NOT MEAN IT IS NOT AWSOME YOU ARE A DICK FOR SAYING THAT
Twilight fans crack me up!
Not only is Twilight not one of the best vampire movies...it's not even a GOOD movie.
They need to make movies with the Anita Blake Series... but Underworld has my vote.
I think this guy is afraid of a little romance tainting his vampire movies! Hey dude, real men watch chick flicks if they want to score points with the girls. Take notes my little grasshopper!
Izzy,
Ironic of you to say that...look at this guys other lists...he has a Top 10 Movies to Mend a Broken Heart, and Top 10 Mother's Day Movies (2 lists). All of these lists are full of romantic comedies and "chick flicks."
why is there no twilight!!!!this list is bullshit bcuz twilight should b #1
The Night Stalker (1972) with Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland and Barry Atwater is better than any movie on this list.
Well said, The Night Stalker is one of (if not the) BEST vampiere movie ever made. It is so scray and so real.
don't care what their say but twilight is # one to me and i really like 30 days of night but creppy vamps
What about "Let the Right One in"? Where is it? Everybody is ranting about "Twatlight", but no one mentions this unholy Grail from Sweden?
Twilight blows and swallows. Thank god its not up there. My personal favorite is all three Blades. So sorry twi-tards. Twilight is a horrible movie. Plus it kills what vampires really are. Since when do they sparkle lmao My suggestion to twi-tards. Put the book down, go out and find yourselfs a real man. Dont put your standards to twilight either because we all know Meyers is one crazy b*^ch and has no idea what she is talking about. Even King thinks she writes s^*t and i have to agree with him.
I think we could raise the average I.Q. of the planet by about 30 points if we just shot every Twilight fan directly in the back of the head.
And nobody mentioned Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
hai!i like dany ver...y much..............................
i like dany very much my vote is 1ly 4 him
What the crap? Dracula was sooooooooo not scary. Twilight was directed badly, i'll admit, but new moon's trailer looks a lot better than the twilight trailers did.
why are people complaining that twilight isnt in this list? It would have to have actual vampires in the film before it could make a top vampire film list. There was nothing vampiaric about twilight. HOPEFULLY new moon will actually show undead beings that are worth while so that i can finally be able to stop picturing gettin the cast and fans of twilight into one place and blowing them all up :D
Let's look. Out of all the REAL vampire movies ever made, Louis from Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire is probably the most humane "softy" with a distaste for killing and violence. And STILL could eat the twilight bunch, and they would be more like vampires after he s**t them out than they are now.
After consideration of fans saying Twilight is a metaphor... I have arrived at the conclusion that they are right. It is a metaphor for pedophilia. Very old man falls in love with a young emo teen.
Now, that being said, sure it makes for a quaint little love story for 12 yr old girls, I guess? But WHY would you take something COMPLETELY unrelated or necessary to the story, such as vampires, and ruin that entire genre.
Twilight is as offensive to vampire genre fans as poor impersonations based on stereotypes are to the ethnic groups they are intended to emulate.
I say twilight iz awsm and underworld isnt that bad
Hey Tom...I LOVE '30 days'...I'm seeing Daybreakers tomorrow...can't wait. I like almost all of the films in your list and Twilight does indeed SUCK!! And not in a good way.
ttyl
terra
Here's my top 10 list (+5 good Vampire movies)!
1. Nosferatu (1922)
2. Dracula (1931)
3. Let The Right One In (2008)
4. Shadow Of The Vampire (2000)
5. Salem's Lot (1979)
6. Interview With The Vampire (1994)
7. I Am Legend (2007)
8. The Night Stalker (1972)
9. Vampires (1998)
10. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
--------------------------------
11. 30 Days of Night (2007)
12. Twilight (2008)
13. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
14. Salem's Lot (2004)
15. Horror of Dracula (1958)
P.S. When I said that "The Night Stalker" is better then ANY movie on that list, I meant it's better then MANY. So, pardon me, it was lapsus scribere!
For cerebral vampire fare that still mamages a sense of gritty realism, I must recommend Let The Right One In and Near Dark.
i read all ann rices books and the whole twilight saga i have to say i enjoyed them both i think the only way it can be disputed is because they are vampires from different eras it is modern day to the old world by the way the books of each are way better then the movies
Good list. You should check out my list to compare.
Salem's Lot (original), Daybreakers, and Bloodstone: Subspecies! Awesome vampire movies!!
Twilight puts shame on vampires. So therefore he did not put Twilight on the list. Ik some of u like it but the movie made no sense in having a "Vampire" (If Edward is even one) Sparkle or be "vegetarian". 30 Days of Night was a good movie, and the old vampire movies were good too. It's just Twilight did NOT capture the vampire instinct and what not. I mean what vampire sparkles? Really? They put a good perspective of werewolves but not a good one out there for vampires. For twilight fans, I suggest reading and watching Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire. Daybreakers was also a good movie. <3 vampires that dont sparkle.
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