Bitten by the Vampire

If you’ve had nightmares of sinking teeth into your flesh, then you’ll also know the source that breeds it into your subconscious. Movies on vampires have been one of the most successful of the horror genres. Depiction of vampires in movies has affected the way they are perceived in popular culture. A vampire was always associated with the silence, the dark, bats, and blood. Movies have given stoke to imagination on these dark souls.

The most well-known vampire fiction was Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’, which has seen more than 200 adaptations so far. Coming close to this are versions of Sheridan Le Fanu’s ‘Carmilla’. Later, ‘The Blood Countess’ had a female playing the vampire with aplomb. Dracula has been one of the most successfully utilized fictional characters in movie history. Count Dracula, played by Bela Lugosi in 1931, saw a very classical treatment given to the character. By 50’s the Dracula was set for a rebirth for the next generation.

Christopher Lee became the face of the Vampire in the 50’s and 60’s. Hollywood heartthrob Tom Cruise took over the baton in the 90’s with ‘The Interview with the Vampire’. It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen the vampire bare his fangs. Just as we think that the Dracula fascination is slowly ebbing, come the promos of the October 2008 release ‘Blood: The Last Vampire’. It features upcoming actress Masiela Lusha as the lady vampire, pursued by a vampire assassin played by Korean star Gianna Jun.

A parallel concept of the vampire slayer has also become a riveting fictional subject. The most significant creation was Academy Award winner Roman Polanski’s ‘The Fearless Vampire Killers’. Some of the very well known television versions are ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and its spin-off ‘Angel’. The Dracula and his nemesis seem to have a grip on the audience since their characters were conjured. The thrilling creature with the black cape and long fangs probably mesmerizes people.