My Picks for the Top Five Vampire Movies

Unlike Dom Coccaro, I don't really like horror movies, but I do like vampire movies. Of course, I also like goth music and wear black for the sake of wearing black. So it's not entirely surprising that my list of the top five vampire movies is not the same as Dom's list of the Top 5 Vampire Movies. In no particular order, I give you my choices for the top five vampire movies.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
As a former history student and a fan of vampire literature, there are some parts of Francis Ford Coppola's interpretation of Dracula with which I don't agree. Overall, however, this movie is a wonderful retelling of the story of Dracula. It features top notch performances from Gary Oldman as Dracula and Sir Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing, along with a good supporting cast. Complain all you want about Keanu Reeves lack of acting ability; in this movie he does well enough to get by, or at least be carried along by his co-stars.

Nosferatu (1922)
This is the one film on which Dom and I can agree about belonging in the top five vampire movies. F. W. Murnau's silent film was based loosely on the novel Draculaby Bram Stoker, though changes were made to the names of the characters and a bit of the plot, under threat of being sued by Stoker's estate. So the plot remains essentially that of Dracula, with some minor twists. The reason that this film stands out, aside from being really the first of the genre, is the inherent creepiness of actor Max Schreck, who plays the vampire, Count Orlok. Though it is a silent film, those who don't care for silent films can always find the version with music by Type O Negative set as the score. Although some of the song placement may make you laugh (why did they include "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend"?), overall, this version of the film is good.

Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
Shadow of the Vampire relies heavily on the film Nosferatu for its basic premise: what if actor Max Schreck was hired for his role as Count Orlok because he was actually a vampire? It is an interesting twist on the story of the making of Nosferatu, and the story is well supported by an amazing cast. Willem Dafoe, portraying Max Schreck, is one of the top character actors around, and his portrayal of the actor as a vampire is flawless. John Malkovich (Murnau) and Udo Kier (Albin Grau) also give standout lead performances, and the supporting cast, including Cary Elwes and Eddie Izzard fill their roles with skill. Though portions of the movie may be a bit slow for some viewers, this movie is well worth sitting through

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
Vampire movies based on books always seem to have some problems. Interview with the Vampire is no exception to this rule, but in my opinion, many of the problems can be overlooked in favor of the stunning scenery and visuals of this movie. With portions of the movie actually shot in the French Quarter of New Orleans, it is no wonder that the scenery is so wonderful. There are, of course, problems with nearly all of the actors' and actresses' portrayals of the main characters (Tom Cruise as Lestat, Brad Pitt as Louis, and Kirsten Dunst as Claudia), but each of these main actors and actresses do have standout moments in their acting. Supporting roles by Stephen Rea and Thandie Newton help to propel this movie beyond just another vampire movie into the realm of one of my favorites. The sequel, Queen of the Damned, is really only worthwhile for the eye candy of Stuart Townsend as Lestat (after Tom Cruise refused to reprise his role), but the first in this pairing is a good vampire movie.

Near Dark (1987)
Near Dark is somewhat less of a mainstream movie than Dracula and Interview with the Vampire, but it ranks among my choices for the top five vampire movies. Although there are portions of the plot with which I have problems (Ignore the blood transfusion part. Seriously.), the overall movie is a great look at the gritty lifestyle of a "family" of vampires on the move. It seems far more realistic that in the modern world, vampires would be nomadic, moving from place to place to avoid detection by humans. Lance Henricksen (Jesse Hooker) gives an excellent performance as the father figure of this group, and Bill Paxton's portrayal of Severen, one of the somewhat rambunctious "children," is also masterful. The standout performance of this movie is probably that of Joshua Miller, who plays the child vampire Homer. His performance combines the perceived innocence of a child with the pain of a vampire trapped in a child's body for eternity.

Honorable Mention: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
I'm sneaking a sixth onto my list because while Buffy the Vampire Slayer technically counts as a vampire movie, it's really more about a vampire hunter. But to leave this movie off of my list, when it's one of my favorites, would be a travesty. I never really got into the Buffy TV show, but the movie is hilariously funny. This isn't surprising, seeing as it was written by Joss Whedon, who also wrote for Buffy, Angel, and Firefly, the latter of which is probably one of my favorite TV series of all time. The lackey vampire, portrayed by Pee Wee Herman, has one of the funniest vampiric death scenes that I have ever seen.