I guess The Lost Boys doesn't count?

(Reply) (Thread) (Expand)

Hey, it's your vote! We did think of it, and I'm suspecting it will be mentioned again, but I'm not so sure of it myself.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Well, I'd certainly put "Interview..." up there. I think you missed the recent John Malkovich move - forget what it's called, but I know it's not listed.

(Reply) (Thread)

That would be Shadow of the Vampire (E. Elias Merhige). It certainly had some great stuff in it, but we thought it had problems hanging together.

Nonetheless, a vote. Maybe we should avoid commenting on the comments, but we're just trying to encourage people to come out fighting...

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

nadja has my pick for favourite vampire flick.

i also like 'shadow of the vampire' even though i don't think it worked. even in failure, however, i thought it was a better film than most.

vampires by john carpenter is... well, pretty bad, but i sorta had fun while watching it. i also enjoy things with james woods in them no matter their evil.

(Reply) (Thread)

'fraid I too must vote for "Lost Boys" - certainly not an arty film but lots of fun with the updating of the vampire lore to modern day
(well the eighties)and the bad vampire jokes

My second choice would go to "Blade II" or "Near Dark"

Didn't like "Interview" at all but I suspect that was my aversion to Tom Cruise - but did think "QOTD" was fun in a campy way.
Best vampire spoof I've seen recently would go to "Dr Terrible's House of Horrible - Lesbian vampires of lust" which was a take on the old erotic vampire movies.

(Reply) (Thread)

I seem to have missed out on the whole Tom Cruise hatred thing, possibly because I didn't really see anything he was in between Legend and Interview. In fact, looking at his resume, I've only seen him in pretty good movies (Rain Man, Eyes Wide Shut and Minority Report are the other ones). Should probably watch The Last Samurai one day.

And where do you find things like Dr Terrible's House of Horrible, out of curiosity?

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)

One of my favourites not mentioned so far is "Dracula's Daughter" (1936), a film that did the lesbian vampire riff long before Jean Rollin or Hammer's "The Vampire Lovers" (which I would also include as a favourite) -- and did it with class.

If we can include telemovies / mini-series, I'd have to include "Ultraviolet".

From the initial list, I'd definitely go with: Cronos; Interview with the Vampire; Martin; Near Dark; Nosferatu (Murnau version). Others maybe. Some I haven't seen ("The Addiction" and "Nadja"). I quite liked "Queen of the Damned", but not enough to put on a "Best of" list. "Innocent Blood', yes.

One of the best vampire movies I've seen for a long time is a movie-length episode from the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes series (UK, 1980s), "The Last Vampire". In the end it's not a supernatural vampire, of course, but then neither is "Martin" or "Vampire's Kiss".

I also feel like including a Christopher Lee Hammer vampire movie. But which one? I'm less enamored of the first than most people. "Dracula, Prince of Darkness" is a good bet, but I'll be more controversial and go for one of the least favourite of the fans and critics, "Taste the Blood of Dracula", mainly for its interesting sexual politics.

Rob Hood

(Reply) (Thread) (Expand)

Well, our second ten does include a couple of oddities that we wouldn't necessarily claim are among the best ever, but they did appeal. We thought Queen of the Damned worked great as a vampire/rock star movie (if not as a follow-up to Interview).

The Last Vampire seems a very popular title, but we must watch more Jeremy Brett as Holmes.

Meanwhile, we've had a private vote for Bram Stoker's Dracula (FFC).

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I can't believe you left out The Lost Boys (frantic fangy fun) but included Queen of the Damned (awful).

It's also interesting to me that you didn't include any anime, such as Blood: The Last Vampire or Vampire Hunter D and Bloodlust. I think they fit a loose definition of film. I'm not arguing that they should be included, merely that it's interesting that you didn't.

I'm pretty sure I've never seen a vampire movie that I loved, though I haven't seen a lot of movies on your list. I liked Dracula 2000's take on where the curse came from, but it was otherwise blah. I enjoyed Interview..., though I felt Cruise was awful in it and I was vaguely disappointed. I guess if I had to vote, I'd go with the original Nosferatu, not because I adored it, but because it feels right to vote for it.

~R

(Reply) (Thread) (Expand)

There isn't a conspiracy about anime vampire movies, we just haven't seen any! Anime as a whole just doesn't appeal very much to us, and what we've seen has tended to be the main mainstream stuff (Akira, Princess Mononoke and such).

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)

Alright, now I'm mad! ;)
'Shadow of the Vampire' is far better than 'Queen of the Damned'! 'Near Dark' is an absolute original, as is 'Innocent Blood'. 'Nadja' is flawed but enjoyable. John Carpenter's 'Vampires' fails as either a vampire movie or an action movie, while at least 'Blade' and 'Blade II' succeed as action movies, even without the frisson of fear - or at least eroticism - a vampire movie should have. Grrr Arrrgh!

I feel much better now.

(Reply) (Thread)

ibid

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)

Mostly agree with your list of best vampire movies (all of them have their moments, anyway), but would add three more:

Shadow of the Vampire (E. E. Merhige); not flawless, but what vampire movie is? And the cast is absolutely wonderful.

Count Dracula (Philip Savile, with Louis Jourdan as Dracula). The most faithful adaptation of Stoker's novel yet.

Dracula (George Melford). Spanish language version, filmed on the same sets as Browning's but much more interesting.

If I had to pick a best, it'd be 'Near Dark', despite the ending.

And just for the Hell of it:

The Lost Boys (Joel Schumacher)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Joss Whedon)
Vamp (Richard Wenk)

From Dusk to Dawn (Robert Rodriguez). Two halves of very different movies, but both pretty good.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (Francis Ford Coppola) - ok, it goes over the top more often than World War I, but it's more faithful to Stoker's novel than most, and the cast (apart from Keanu Reeves) is surprisingly good, including the best Renfield since Dwight Frye.

Lifeforce (Tobe Hooper). Hilariously bad miscasting. So terrible I've only seen it twice. The second half, anyway. I'm not sure how often I watched Mathilda May's nude scenes.

- Stephen Dedman

(Reply) (Thread) (Expand)

Thanks for the pointers, as we haven't seen any of those top three. I'm surprised no-one has actually mentioned Browning's version itself but, yes, apart from the iconic performances of Dracula and Renfield, it's not actually all that good...

My only other comment is that I thought neither half of From Dusk till Dawn worked all that well, alas. I think I enjoyed #3 more (if only because I wasn't expecting all that much -- we haven't seen #2 which is apparently dire).

It does seema tricky medium, all these movies notwithstanding. I something think it's a bit sad that the very first one is still in contention for best ever.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I was going to say Brit Vampire drama/horror series Ultaviolet, but that was a series. Damn.

(Reply) (Thread)

Are we allowed to nominate series - I'd go for Ultraviolet too as it managed to keep a serious theme and was very well done (though some people I know thought the ending was a let down, but I didn't).

(Reply) (Thread)

Yeah, yay for Ultraviolet (and yay that the US version died).

We could always talk about vamps on TV. That one's hard to beat, although I still reckon Forever Knight has more than its fair share of moments. Hmmm, never saw Dark Shadows. The two vamp episodes of X-Files are both good in their own strange, strange ways, I seem to recall. What else?

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)

from MOrt

Blood lust the ozzie vamp gangster: melbourne art collage film
shadow of the vampire
Vampire$
House that dripped blood (amicus compelation)
Cyborg knights (cybernetic vampire warlords)

must catchup got to give some comments on Private Investigators Guide

(Reply) (Thread)

Ah, Bloodlust. It had ambitions, but I'm not quite sure they were realised.

Meanwhile, we've missed the last two of those titles.

As for the P.I.'s guide, any and all comments are welcome!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Although I've never been completely happy with a vampire movie, there have been moments that have caught the yuckysexdeath vibe. For me, Fright Night has an excellent one: a naughty vampire seduces the lead female and drinks her blooood, and a trickle of it runs down her back. I think.
Interview with a Vampire had a similar moment on the stage, when the wampires kill the woman and everyone thinks it's a performance. Yuckysexy.
The Hunger definitely had it, in spades.
Bram Sucker's Dracula kinda had it with Sadie Frost's character, but, since I can't remember it all that well, is a failure as far as I'm concerned.
I've never been particularly interested in the vampire movies that substitute arse-kicking for neck-licking, so I'd like to put in anti-votes for Blade 1 (yawn), Blade 2 (I'm so bored. Really, really bored.) and Vampire$.
On the other hand, Ultraviolet was great and didn't have the kinda of yuckysexdeath moments I'm thinking of.

(Reply) (Thread)

Good description!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

A vote for "Vamp", the 1986 teen flick with Grace Jones as Katrina (her introduction and her final moment are both wonderful). My adolescent pals and I rented it as a joke, and ended up being genuinely scared by quite a lot of it. I can still recall the newly created vampire saying with real distress "You're my best friend, but right now all I see is food." (But then, I also remember a stripper in a hardhat being described as "builder of huge erections", which went straight over my head. Those were more innocent days.)

(Reply) (Thread)

I'm a BIG fan of Anne Rice and so, of course loved "interview" as does my friend although she is overly obsessed about it!the only thing that let "Interview" down in my opinion was the idea to cast Antonio Banderas as Armand, because he looks nothing like Armand's description of a 17 year old with a cherubin face and long curly auburn hair! oh, and i didn't like Tom Cruise...sorry, he's just not my favourite actor! QOTD was a good vampire film but was let down by its inability to stick to the book in even the most remote way.

Blood:The Last Vampire is also good, v.gory as all vampire films should be if they aren't the arty way inclined.but very short....

Dracula (Francis Ford Coppola) is a brilliant version of Bram Stoker's novel but was unfortunately let down by Keanu "canoe" Reeves poor acting talent!

(Reply) (Thread)

I only got notice of this message a month after the event. Something is going a bit screwy with LJ, I think.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)

What about Bram Stoker's Dracula by Coppola, I think thats a great film! I also love Nosferatu and Interview with the Vampire still have to watch QOTD though hope its not dissapointing!

(Reply) (Thread)

Well, many have found it so, but we liked it. More as a rock and roll vampire movie than an Anne Rice adaptation, admittedly.

Bram Stoker's Dracula is better liked, but I found it a bit too stagey. Give me Apocalypse Now or The Godfather instead!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I have to vote for "Vampire's Kiss" with Nicolas Cage - we watched that film so many times in university.
Man, what were we on??

"I'll take the plastic."

(Reply) (Thread)

The Lost Boys has GOT to be on the list somewhere...I'm actually watching it right now and that is the reason I'm on this site! LOL...Fantastic movie...

(Reply) (Thread)

We really must see it again. It's been ages, though we were a teeny bit underwhelmed the last time around, even though it has some fantastic elements.

Would it help my credibility to be found quoting the soundtrack this morning.

Meanwhile, I'm fascinated by people who post lj comments in the middle of movies. Not that you are anything but welcome, it just strikes me as odd :-)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I'm going to add Blood & Donuts (1995-Holly Dale). Canadian film that's unfortunately out of print on VHS and not on DVD. David Cronenberg even has a role in it.

(Reply) (Thread) (Expand)

Haven't seen that one (though how could David Cronenberg be wrong? :-)

Not to indulge in gross generalisations or anything, but some pretty cool things come out of Canada, it seems to me.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

What are the top 4 grossing vampire films from the 20th century?

(Reply) (Thread)

Is this a trick question? :-)

I would imagine Interview with the Vampire and Bram Stoker's Dracula would be up there somewhere, but I have no real idea.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Prob my favourite vampire movie is 'Interview With A Vampire' i also love 'Queen of the Damned' and 'Vampires'. Aslo for the more mature viewers there's 'From Dusk Till Dawn' which is an older movie with lots of blood and gore and quite a bit of nudity, or near nudity at least as the main vampire bit of it (takes bout 50 min to get to this bit) is set in a strip club. Not suitable for the younger audiences but for those older viewers is well worth watching. I'm also trying to get 'From Dusk Till Dawn 2 & 3'.

(Reply) (Thread)

A ha, finally someone else who likes Queen of the Damned! :-)

I'll have to admit From Dusk till Dawn didn't work for us -- it seemed like someone trying to combine a vampire flick with a Tarantino drama, and failing at both. However, I saw one of the sequels (#3 I think), and thought that wasn't too bad.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)

One of the best I have enjoyed watching myself was the Tales From The Crypt Movies, I know they we're not really basically based on ancient artifacts of the true vampire. But still they we're entertaining. And who doesn't personally love the Crypt Keeper everytime you look at him you can't help but to laugh with his crazy lil' laugh he has. Bordello of Blood was quite interesting infact when they went to the funeral home and into the casket that caught on fire that took them into the bordello, now that's true entertainment at its best. Nosferatu is King though it's one of the most ancient vampyric movies in existance. I feel bad because there's another really really good one but I just can not think of the name of it, simply due to the fact I haven't seen it since I was a kid.

(Reply) (Thread)

umm most of mine are mentioned

Nosferatu
ANY Hammer movie with Christopher Lee as Dracula (I have a serious Lee fetish)
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Shadow of The Vampire
Last Man On Earth
Near Dark
Interview With A Vampire
Blade
From Dusk Till Dawn

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)

not a single person has mentioned the comming of age alysa malano flick IMBRACE OF THE VAMPIRE. NOT ALOT OF FX but excellent movie nontheless.

(Reply) (Thread)

I've been meaning to check that out at some point. Thanks.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I can't believe no one said Andy Warhol's Blood for Dracula. This wovie even came out in 3-D I wish I had gotten to see it in theaters but i wasn't born yet. But I guess horror moves that have X ratings don't get viewed often.

(Reply) (Thread)

"queen of the damned",the lost boys and "interview with the vampire are all brill <3

(Reply) (Thread)

Aha. I knew someone out there had to like Queen of the Damned!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

If we HAVE to go by movies, my personal favorite's are

Vampire Hunter D
Queen of the Damned(didn't stick to the book, but a very entertaining movie)
There was one other vampire movie, which sadly, I don't remember the name of..maybe someone will know it.. The story was, I only remember parts, but these two vampire women would go out and seduce guys to bring back to a huge mansion...I don't remember where I watched it or anything..I suck. But! In addition to it being practically a porno, it had an intriguing story line, good characters and a depth that made it(obviously) a movie I'd remember seeing.

BUT if we can do TV as well?

ANGEL ALL THE WAY
It was dark, and yet still had that tinge of happiness, underlying. The show itself was good, including all of the other things. The makeup was good, it was always a new episode, and Angelus...was...good lord. I wake up in the morning and wish I was like him. Every thing he said was laced with evil, and bitterness. His eyes were aglow constantly with a look of anger, and maniacal rage. He never spoke without a sarcastic tone to his voice, whether the other characters noticed it or not. And, according to the Buffyverse(have to make that distinction), he was the most vicious and ruthless vampire of all time.

COOL.

(Reply) (Thread)

I certainly can't complain about Angel — at least, unless the book I did for it gets cancelled...

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)