Vampire Movie Favorites

No doubt, the Twilight series has changed everyone's opinion about Vampires, but interest in these blood-sucking creatures has spanned the centuries. Vampire-inspired films date back to the silent movie era and run the gamut from classic horror films to comedy. So, whether you are a team Edward or team Jacob Twilight fan, check the video stores for some of these other vampire-fan favorites.

Love Bites

Love Bites is a 1993 comedy about a vampire (Adam Ant) who has a prolonged snooze in his coffin, and awakens to a world in a different century, where he becomes involved in climbing the human corporate ladder using his blood-sucking talents. He falls for a woman (Kimberly Foster) and attempts to become human again.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles

This much talked-about 1994 movie stars Brad Pitt, Christian Slater, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas and Kirsten Dunst, and was based on the book by Anne Rice, "Interview with the Vampire". The story unfolds through an interview of the Vampire named Louis (Pitt), who tells the story of his life before and after his change. This movie is very different from other Vampire movies as it delves into deep-life issues to contemplate. Interview with the Vampire received mixed reviews from movie-goers because of its homosexuality and eroticism, but as a Vampire movie fan, you'll want to at least say you've seen it.

Once Bitten

Jim Carrey got his first main role in this very entertaining 1985 vampire-themed comedy as the naive high school student, Mark Kendall. Kendall had heard "no" so many times by his high school sweetheart, that when he and his buddies head to a singles bar, he falls easy prey to a seductive, centuries-old vampiress, played by Lauren Hutton. While originally earning a rotten score on the "Rotten Tomatoes" rating scale, Carrey's rise to fame propelled Once Bitten toward a cult-following status.

Dracula (The Classic)

Everyone has to see this classic! The1931 horror film, Dracula, stars Béla Lugosi as Count Dracula, and was produced by Universal Studios based on the stage play and 1897 novel by the same name. Newspapers reported that, during the 1931 premiere of the film at the Roxy Theatre in New York, several members of the audiences fainted in shock at the horror on screen, which drove the crowds in, out of pure curiosity. If you enjoy Count Dracula in this original classic, consider a horror-film weekend by following up with Dracula's Daughter, Son of Dracula, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula and Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein, all featuring our favorite blood-sucking Count. And guess what? According to Flixster.com's True Blood Trivia, Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) never said 'I want to suck your blood' in any of these classic films.

Dracula 2000

Dracula 2000 builds off the original classic film's storyline and stars Christopher Plummer and Gerard Butler (as the Count). BeyondHollywood.com wrote, "Dracula 2000 is not the worst vampire movie I've seen, but it's definitely not the best either." Despite tepid reviews, a cult-following in the movie has emerged.

Love at First Bite

George Hamilton plays Count Dracula in this 1979 vampire romantic comedy spoof. In Love at First Bite, The Count moves to New York after he is forced out of his castle in Transylvania by the Romanian government due to back taxes. He chooses New York in search of a fashion model (played by Susan St. James) who he believes is the reincarnation of his former lover. Other notable actors in the film include Richard Benjamin and Arte Johnson (Laugh-in). Due to the recent success of Twilight, according to Wikpedia's "Love at First Bite" article, Hamilton has considered pursuing a sequel to this movie with a possible title of Love at Second Bite.

Blade

Wesley Snipes stars as Blade in three films: Blade (1998), Blade II (2002) and Blade:Trinity (2004), all based on the 1973 Marvel Comics Character. Blade is a vampire hunter who was born half human, half vampire because of a vampire bite his mother received during her pregnancy with him. In the Blade series, his character possesses the superhuman strength of a vampire, but can also function during the daylight just like other humans. Blade wages a war to eradicate the vampire monsters who caused his mother's death. The original movie earned ASCAP's Top Box Office Film award, and Snipes was awarded the Blockbuster Entertainment award of Favorite Horror Actor.

Yes, even before the Twilight series, the subject of vampires fascinated movie-goers. So, whether you're a seasoned vampire movie fan or a recent Twilight maniac, when you're in the mood for a film that really sucks (in a good way), check out one of these flicks! And then let me know which one curdles your blood the best!

Resources:

IMDb
Wikipedia