Vampire Movies

Vampire movies are a staple of horror films. In fact, movies about vampires have been around almost as long as movies themselves. Dracula is the most filmed character in the movies, with over 170 different Dracula movies having been released in the last century or so.

It's impossible to see every vampire movie ever made, or even to list them all. Instead, I'm going to make a list of my favorite Dracula and vampire films, and you can use this list as a starting point for further exploration of the genre. I'm especially fond of some of the more recent Asian vampire movies I've seen.

Vampire Movies - A List of Recommendations, in No Particular Order

1. Nosferatu - This is more worth seeing from a historical perspective than anything else. It's one of the earliest films about vampires, and it's still kinda creepy in places. But since it's a 1922 film, it's going to seem dated to most modern audiences.
2. Dracula - The 1931 movie based on Bram Stoker's novel is as well-known a depiction as any, but it hasn't aged well. It's great to see, just for the historical perspective, and it's not too long. Just don't expect it to scare you. It spawned several sequels from Universal.
   
3. Dracula - In the USA, this was retitled Horror of Dracula in order to avoid confusion with the Universal franchise.This 1958 Hammer production is going to be a little more exciting than the 1931 version, but not much. The production values are beautiful though, and Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing provide solid performances. Like the Universal film, the Hammer film spawned several sequels too. (I especially enjoyed the 1970's sequel, Dracula AD 1972 .)
4. The Last Man on Earth - This is the first film adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel, I Am Legend , and I think it's the best one. It stars Vincent Price as the only surviving human in a world full of vampires. Omega Man , starring Charlton Heston, is another film version of the same novel, as is the Will Smith vehicle, I Am Legend. In spite of the name change, The Last Man on Earth is the most faithful adaptation, and it has some genuinely scary scenes. Not bad for a 1964 picture.
5. Blood for Dracula - If you're looking for a really original version of the Dracula story, then this is the one you want. Dracula is portrayed as an ailing cripple who needs the blood of a virgin in order to regain his health. Very strange, and funny, if you watch it with the right attitude. It's not scary.
   
6. Blacula and Scream, Blacula, Scream - These are both surprisingly good vampire movies. The titles make the movies sound like they would be comedic spoofs on the genre, but that's not the case at all. The subject matter is treated seriously, and Blacula is actually a pretty good vampire. The sequel features Pam Grier, too.
   
7. Love at First Bite - I saw a rumor recently that they're going to make a sequel called Love at Second Bite . This is really the only Dracula comedy I recommend seeing. Dracula: Dead and Loving It is just terrible.
8. Fright Night - This one seems like it would be a comedy, because Roddy McDowell's character is silly. But this is actually one of the best and scariest vampire movies of the 1980's. Chris Sarandon is great as the vampire.
9. Near Dark - Probably my favorite vampire film. This should be considered a must-see. I look on Amazon today, and it was available for only $10.99 on Bluray, so I ordered it immediately. (My guess is that this was a sale price.)
10. The Monster Squad - A loving tribute to the Universal monster movies from decades before. Dracula is one of the main characters, but Frankenstein and the Wolfman are also present. It's really well made.
11. Interview with the Vampire - Tom Cruise's performance was far better than I expected, and the movie was suitably creepy. Brad Pitt provides a lackluster performance though, and the movie is already starting to show its age.
    
12. Vampires - This is one of my favorite John Carpenter movies, even though it's not generally considered one of his better films by most. I thought James Wood did an excellent job as the head vampire hunter, and I enjoyed the involvement of the Catholic church in the efforts to stave off the bloodsuckers.
13. From Dusk Til Dawn - Another of my favorite vampire movies. Great performances from George Clooney and Harvey Keitel, and the movie takes itself JUST seriously enough to be better than a spoof.
14. 30 Days of Night - An effective remake of the graphic novels from Steve Niles, who is an excellent writer. Makes me wonder, Why didn't I think of that?
15. Let the Right One In - A Swedish vampire movie that is unlike any other vampire movie you'll ever see. I haven't seen the American remake Let Me In yet, but the original is so good it hurts.
    
16. Thirst - A terrific Korean vampire movie that will surprise you with its intricate plot. From Park Chan-Wook, who has directed a lot of other great films like Oldboy and Lady Vengeance.
17. Marebito - A really strange Japanese horror film from 2005.

I've included vampire movie clips and vampire movie trailers for many of these movies below. You'll have to scroll past those to get to the comments section.

Did I leave out your favorite vampire movie? Did I include a terrible vampire movie that I should have left out? Leave a comment if I did, and share your opinion.