The Phenomenon of Vampires in Movies and TV

Perez Hilton wrote on his website not long ago that vampire movies should just run their course and that the obsession with "vamps" should just die. However he also commented favorably on the new Alicia Silverstone movie "Vamps" with Justin Kirk, which is at the present time shooting in Detroit, Michigan.

Let me just say that the whole vampire phenomenon has been around for a long time and I really don't see where it is going anywhere soon with the Twilight movie enthusiasts waiting with bated breath for the next release.

I, myself have always been drawn to the horror genre especially those that have more than just blood and gore. Including thriller crime movies such as Silence of the Lambs and the Bone Collector. I also enjoy the whole vampire movie craze, since years ago one of my favorite movie picks would have been, Interview with a Vampire. I was completely taken with the storyline, as well as it was really hard to take your eyes off of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.

Many people have long touted that vampire movies and vampire series have been over run with sexual content, especially the new ones like True Blood, which airs on HBO. Thereby becoming increasing alluring to the young impressionable crowd.

I, however see movies like Twilight and HBO series True Blood as completely harmless and just entertaining. After all, I have been around since the movie "Night of the Living Dead," which I unfortunately saw at a "Drive In". By the way a "Drive In" is a movie theater that you drive into and watch the movies from your car. I have to admit just saying "Drive In" makes me feel old, but I'm from Kentucky and around here there are still a few "Drive Ins" around although they are few and far between.

Vampire movies and romanticize with vampires has long been around. I have to admit I've enjoyed over the years watching vampire movies such as Dracula 2000, Bram Stoker's Dracula and in recent years movies such as Underworld and Blade all of which make vampires alluring in a weird sort of way.

I can, however understand the theory of vampire movies and vampire series sparking true life crossovers, since back in late 1996 Western Kentucky where I'm from was rocked by a frightening group of teens that came from this area and were involved in a so called vampire cult. The cult leader Rod Ferrell and his small band of hoodlums eventually traveled down to Florida and committed a grizzly murder. The two people they killed in Florida were the parents of one of the teenager girls. It was later learned that the teenagers were said to have supposedly drank each other's blood and believed that Rod Ferrell was supposedly a vampire or at least wanted to be one.

Fortunately, I wasn't living in this area when the vampire cult came to be, but even after all these years the connection it has to this pristine beautiful country landscape is haunting.

I don't think that any movies or television series has anything to do with the crazy people in this world, just look at the Manson murders of years ago. It is hard to believe that the Beatles had any responsibility or hand in the making of Charles Manson and I'm sure most people would agree with me. It is just as difficult to believe that any vampire movie past or future would have any responsibility for making people believe they can become real life vampires.

It is purely just entertainment, end of story. References for this article include:

www.decentfilms.com/articles/twilight.html
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/21/earlyshow/leisure/boxoffice/main4625399.shtml
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php