Vampires in Popular Culture - My Top Vampire Films

Ever since Dracula was filmed for the big screen back in 1931 there has been an off and on presence of vampires in popular culture. These undead creatures have been depicted as everything from violent misanthropes to romantic lovers. They have appeared in everything from children's shows, comedy shows, dramas and even on cereal boxes.

The popularity of vampire films come and go and there are plenty of hits and misses. Instead of concentrating on the vampire movie misses I'm going to give my pics for the must see vampire movies.

Before I get to the list I just wanted to point out that I'm not going to bother listing Dracula or any of the adaptations of that story including Nosferatu. I will tackle those in a separate article.

Near Dark

Near Dark is a cult favorite vampire movie. Don't be fooled by the Twilight-esque cover art for the new DVD and Blu-Ray, this movie is nothing like that at all even though there are some elements of romance in there. In this film, a farm boy becomes a member of the undead because of a girl he meets. These vampires roam the highways in stolen cars and stay in cheap motels, collecting victims along the way. If you are going to buy it, skip the new edition and look for the old two disc special edition.

Martin

Martin is one of the best, if not the best, George A. Romero non-zombie movies. One of the more original vampire movies that has been released, Martin mocks a lot of the folklore associated with vampires. Is Martin really a vampire, though? He doesn't have fangs and only claims to be. Looks like you'll have to judge for yourself.

Fright Night

Fright Night is a superb horror comedy from the mid-80's. Another movie that has achieved cult status Fright Night is about 2 men who movie next door to a boy named Charlie Brewster. Charlie doesn't doubt that they are vampires but no one will believe him.

The Lost Boys

The Lost Boys is best described as a coming of age tale where a mother and her two boys move out to a small community in California populated with bikers, and vampires and a lot of strange goings on in general. By combining a top notch cast, a killer soundtrack and an unforgetable script it remains a modern day classic.

From Dusk Till Dawn

If you've made it this far you've probably noticed that I prefer vampire movies that are a bit more unique. From Dusk Till Dawn is no different. A couple of criminals take a family in a Winnebago hostage and head to Mexico. Little do they know the bar they seek shelter in is infested with vampires.

Cronos

Prior to directing the first sequel to Blade, Guillermo del Toro directed this film that uses a vampire as a parasite and vampirism as a metaphor. A description won't do this movie justice so it's best to just check it out for yourself.

Vampire films will come and go from the mainstream but they will never totally disappear. Check these out and keep up with the latest trends. Some will disappoint but others will blow you away.