10. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
"And this
one is a giraffe ..."A brilliant attempt at a very flawed production, Francis Ford Coppola's vampire opus alternates between awful and inspired. The casting is brilliant, save for Keanu Reeves, and the visuals are still unrivaled in vampire films. But the awkward demon rape and attempt to make the audience feel sorry for Dracula are completely ludicrous. Despite its flaws, the imagery will haunt you for years.
Anthony Hopkins desperately searches the fine print on his contract.
Willem Dafoe learns he has four hours of make-up ahead of him.John Malkovich plays Murnau, the director of Nosferatu, arguably the greatest vampire film ever made (gee, I wonder how this list is going to end?). When he encounters production failures and investor trouble, Murnau travels to Transylvania and enlists the help of an actual vampire to finish his film. This satirical commentary on the film industry isn't perfect, but the wry humor and commanding performance from Willem Dafoe (in a role he was reborn to play) make this a must watch.
I'm sorry about last night. Would you like a Mimosa?
Vampire Hunters. Career Slayers.What happens when you take 80s icons Corey Feldman and Corey Haim and cast them in the same vampire movie?
Cinema. Gold.
From a simpler, gentler time before we figured out Jason Patrick couldn't act, Lost Boys is less frightening than frighteningly fun, but the core premise of creating an undead Brat Pack is inspired.
Keifer Sutherland acts out in another Hollywood bar.
We need more jam.Often relegated to that obscure cinema shelf labeled "that one time James Cameron's wife made a vampire movie with Bill Paxton", Near Dark is a brutal, clever foray into the vampire genre.
This is hard rock vampire, a brutal gang of leather-clad vamps roam the American West, devouring every human they find. The infamous "bar scene" alone gets this film into the annals of great vampire cinema ... that and for reuniting the cast of Aliens.
I hate these guys, they order one round of blood and stay all night.
"WTF? I fell asleep on the E.R. set and just woke up ..."George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino star as brutal thieves/murderers/rapists who kidnap a priest and his children. When the hold up for the night in a strip bar that just happens to be a vampire den, they all sit down and host a knitting party.
Not quite. Though if Robert Rodriguez decided to direct that film, it would still be exciting. This flick achieves effortlessly the camp and charm this filmmaking duo attempted (with less success) in 2007's Grindhouse.
I'm badass, I promise.
Are we 18? God, I was so drunk.This quiet, brooding Swedish film balances realism and magic with such skill you forget you're actually watching a vampire film disguised as a childhood drama. The plot reads like a Tim Burton Hallmark Special: a young boy befriends a vampire who helps him discover his true strength and fight back against bullies. But the haunting performances from these child actors and the clever art-house cinematography lend the gravity to raise this film to a whole new level.
The final showdown in the pool stands as one of the best vampire moments ever committed to film.
200-years-old and I STILL suck with make-up.
Did you read this SCRIPT!?After a massive legal battle with Universal, Hammer Horror finalized the rites to the Dracula franchise, adding some technicolor camp to the iconic villain. It was a financial success that spawned eight sequels, only six of which starred Christopher Lee as Dracula, four that had any plot connection whatsoever, two that jumped ahead into the future, and one with a script so bad Lee refused to speak his lines, opting to hiss like a snake instead.
The films had such a cultural impact that most people view Lee as the classic cinema Dracula, despite Bela Legosi's original claim to the role.
Stop TICKLING me!
This girl tastes off.
Surprisingly, this is one of Tom Cruise's more normal roles, Lestat is the only vampire who could challenge Dracula's throne of sheer evil.
This unabashed gothic romance follows the homonecrotic relationship of Brad Pitt and Jesus Scientology as they are driven apart by an underage Kirsten Dunst. The dense cinematography makes every frame an homage to southern romance novels and Christian Slater clings tenaciously to his career as the hapless reporter who stumbles into their 200-year-old sordid affair.
Ah, that's better.
Now young Jedi, you will die.Back before horror movies were scary, Bela Lugosi donned a cape and widow's peak to play the sexiest man alive or dead. This iconic romp from Universal created the "sexy vampire" trend and paved the way for Stephen Sommers' Van Helsing. But don't hold that against it, it's still a classic vampire film.
Great sex slaves, but useless
in the walking department.
Act natural, aaaaaaact natural ...The world's most popular copyright infringement, this German silent film was directly based on Bram Stoker's Dracula but escaped royalty payments by simply changing the vampire's name. Whether judged by film critics or vampire-loving fanboys, Nosferatu still ranks as a great film. The story telling, Gothic imagery, and flickering old film stock create an atmosphere of sheer terror.
But Dracula gets to go out and play ...
June 02, 2009, 10:11:19 AM
