This brings us up to today. There are many different kinds of Vampire stories; some light, some dark and some fall somewhere in between. What might be helpful to remember is that just like fantasy or Sci-Fi the tales of the bloodsucking persuasion vary greatly. I lump them into several categories which I’m sure avid fans of different series will greatly object to both becasue I left something they love out and with the groupings themselves - but it works out.
Scary Vampires – These stories are of the creepy, make you jump, types of tales that invite you to leave the lights on after you watch them. Flicks like the old silent movie Nosferatu and some of the newer flicks like such as Salem’s Lot feature terrifying monsters that prey on blood of the helpless and good. The vampires are hunted and destroyed if at all possible and only a small group of ill equipped believers can stop the slaughter.
This is the classic depiction of the vampire: they are and are meant to be a frightening, adrenaline-pumping ride through a world of fear and darkness. If you’re into horror movies this is your stop.
Funny Vampires – A bit more rare, movies such as Love At First Bite come to mind. They use the nightwalkers unique traits to get a laugh and tell a few jokes like The Munsters used to do with Grandpa Munster. He was a vampire but honestly little more than a funny old man in a cape. There’s nothing really wrong with this type of story but hardcore vamps will turn their noses up.
Action Vampires – The Blade or Underworld series’ springs to mind here. They are good solid stories with action and badass weapons that depict our friends of the fang as the heroes. They are strong and often treat their dark nature as a sort of gift they can use to protect others. The action is normally fast and comic/superhero like. Fun stuff to be sure, don’t let the vampness fool you, if you like comic style stuff, this is for you.
Passionate Vampires – A long time ago a girl I desperately wanted to pay attention to me was reading Anne Rice and dressed head to toe in black leather. I casually strode up to her and sat down. When she asked, with a coy smile, if I (dressed head to toe in black with a black trench-coat on) was into vamp stories too, I indicated – quite honestly at the time – in the negative. She just gawked at me and asked if I was dead below the waist.
She, of course, was into the passionate kind of vamp story. After a bit of reading I found I was too. If you like steamy romance novels or “steam” in general, you’ll like these stories as well. These tales can often be lusty, dark, hungry and passionate all at the same time. Prepare yourself for it – its not light reading.
Lifestyle Vampires – This is more of a group of people than it is a mainline set of tales. To put it mildly, lifestyle vampires would most likely read this post with a bit of disgust. They are the hardcore of the hardcore and are most secretive about their preferences when it comes to the tales of the bloodsucking persuasion and though you may hear otherwise, let me say that no matter what anyone tells you – there is no right, wrong or “more correct” kind of vamp story. You like what you like and there’s nothing “wrong” with any type of style you happen to enjoy.
Amorous Vampires – Ah yes, I saved this one for last. I’ll go ahead and admit to being a hopeless romantic right now. Yes, it’s true, I watch chick flicks, and say what you like – I enjoy them a great deal on the whole. So it came as no shock to my system that I enjoy vampire tales like the Twilight series which for those of you who don’t know, is an epic love story.
Believe me, if you simply turn your nose up at “Chick stories” you’re missing out. For instance, never could I have imagined vampire baseball before witnessing this movie and later reading the books. I would feel ashamed should it have been forever absent from my psyche for no better reason than I was too “manly” to watch a chick flick – ashamed indeed.
Read on to page 3 for the wrap up
21 Responses to Vampires: Beyond I Vant Tu Suck Your Blaud
Leave a Reply
GWCers on Flickr
Recent Blog Comments
on Not Enough SciFi On TV For You? Really? { Unfortunately, the best time for Sci-Fi fans was probably late '80's to early 2000's. Now, SyFy isn't as good anymore. There are not many Sci-fi... } – Feb 06, 6:18 PM
on Star Wars Uncut: Director's Cut { I didn't skip ahead, but when the scene came up, I filled in what they failed to include.
} – Jan 27, 5:06 PMon 20 Favorite Ships Called Enterprise { I recently visited an exhibition here in Melbourne, Australia and on show was a three foot replica of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 from the original... } – Jan 27, 1:38 AM
on Star Wars Uncut: Director's Cut { Oddball, it took all my willpower not to. } – Jan 26, 11:38 AM
on Star Wars Uncut: Director's Cut { Anyone else skip ahead to see if Han shoots first or if there is a "Look a Penny!" reference? } – Jan 26, 10:22 AM
Sean, my man, I like vampires just as much as the next man. And while I may not be a huge romantic, I have been known to watch “chickflicks”, especially if they’re funny.
But Twilight?!? Really?!? Out of all the romantic vampire books that’s the one you like?
That’s not romance, that’s a travesty. Even putting aside the terrible writing, the story’s terrible, the main character has no personality, and her relationship with the Edward is incredibly unhealthy.
Sorry, that must’ve been transfer from my girlfriend, who absolutely hates the books, but decided to read so she can be informed in her loathing.
Lol, yeah, out of all that Twilight is certainly the trigger puller when folks gather to talk about Vamp lore. Either you’re pro, con or haven’t seen/read it yet. I certainly respect the exclusion of this series as some people’s choice however in its defense I’ll say this:
1. Remember it’s written with heavy teenage angst in mind. It pulls the most on someone still trying to figure out how the whole ‘first love’ relationship thing works and it’s written in the first person from the perspective of a somewhat emotionally charged teenage girl.
2. Anytime you have a relationship with another being that considers you food it’s going to present issues which are going to come up from time to time. But I think that was the point of the series in general. It doesn’t matter who or what you are, love is love and it can be stronger than nature – especially in young hearts that don’t know any better. Think Romeo and Juliet… with fangs and a few wolves. (Not on the level of The Bard of course but the gist is still the same.)
Sean, are you talking about Twilight the movie, or the series? Or are they substantially the same?
The 4 book Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. There is one moive out now as well as one coimng out soon to the big screen.
Depending on who you the movie is fairly true to the novels. At least the first movie was after seeing the movie and reading the book. We’ll see about the second.
Don’t forget that within several of your categories vampires can often be a metaphor for forbidden or alternate sexuality/sensuality. There are some great lesbian vampire stories out there, and I think the sense of forbidden sexuality is what works well even for Twilight. I’d also love to see a little clarification on your distinction between passionate and amorous vampires. What’s the difference between the to categories and why make it? And might we expect a vampire movie watching or two in the future?
Thanks for the thoughtful and fun post, Sean! I’m a late-comer to vampire stories but I loved the Dracula story/movie and Blade, and am going through Anne Rice right now. It is quite intriguing mythology and I’m definitely not ashamed of being a fan~
Though, I have to say, Twilight really isn’t one of the better stories in the genre. I read all the books and saw the 1st movie, just to see what it’s about. I agree that since it’s written for a teen audience, it depicts more extreme emotions and behaviors and a more fragmented sense of self. Teenagers all struggle with identity, I get it. I wasn’t an exception, either. But it could’ve been constructed better.
Just to be cliche, I do think the Harry Potter books do a better job at exploring child/adolescent psychology without dumbing everything down. It shows more respect for the complex thoughts and feelings a child/teenager can experience. Twilight feels like an extremely self-indulgent fantasy by the author to put herself into a romance that she so wanted but was never able to get. It wasn’t completely bad, of course. But I personally would like to read something that is less self-centered and has a stronger heroine.
Alright, I’ll stop with the Twilight rant that you probably haven’t heard over and over. Instead, I’ll recommend a manga/anime series to you. It’s called Karin, or Chibi Vampire. If you haven’t come across it yet, check it out. The premise is creative and hilarious, and it is cute enough to satisfy your “I’m-manly-enough-to-like-chick-flicks” side
Again, a wonderful post! Keep up the good work~
@ V. Vxn – I’d also love to see a little clarification on your distinction between passionate and amorous vampires. What’s the difference between the to categories and why make it?
That’s an excellent question and the answer may indeed be my own way of looking at things. In my head, the difference is the one between an emotional love and lusty love. Both are valid and both types can be experienced in either category but the passionate category to me leans a little on the physical side of the street and the amorous is more about the relationship and how it works… if that makes any sense.
Both are fun but there is a little bit of a crow-bar separation in there for me.
@ Cressy – I’ll recommend a manga/anime series to you. It’s called Karin, or Chibi Vampire. If you haven’t come across it yet, check it out.
That is awesome, I’ll do that!
I highly recommend “Let the Right One In” to all hardcore vamp-lovers.
I’m also enjoying True Blood.
A BIG second on Let The Right One In. Best movie I saw in 2008.
I’ve been a huge vampire fan for years and own an extensive collection vampire books. I even met Anne Rice at a book signing years ago. My favorite of all is Chelsea Quinn Yarbo’s Sanit Germain. You must love historical fiction for him because he’s a couple thousand years old and all the books place him in different points in history.
I haven’t read Twilight, I’m thinking it’s too girlie and I’m a bit of a purist, so the daytime thing is an issue. I won’t say never tough. Am LOVING True Blood on HBO, an incredibly dark, crazy world created there.
I’m so excited to learn you love the vamps too Sean!
Vampires suck! (see what I did there? Hey-o!). Great post Sean! Very thotful and interesting. I may have to go pickup Twilight now.
Oh gods yeah, totally seconding “Let the Right One In” but ‘obtain’ the UK version. For whatever reason they butchered the translation on the US version (I’m not sure why they redid it to begin with.)
Sean hand your man card over to Chuck so he can hand deliver it to me next week. It’s been revoked.
=P
Seriously though Twilight?!
I’m not sure if I’m just the last one to find out about it, but vampires are huge now in romance land. I think that there’s always been a substantial following in this subgenre but it’s like Twilight focused a floodlight on all things that suck blood and ravish women.
I devoured Meyer’s entire series and I did love it but—like I said in the forum discussion of her books—there were some serious flaws. But it was a great, fun story and when I read the book in public I don’t try and hide the cover. Okay, that’s a lie, I do hide the cover—but I’m not completely embarassed if someone happens to see it.
Anyone else familiar with J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series? Now those books are pure mind-candy. Don’t read them. I have, and even though I’m consumed with shame, I can’t stop.
Buffy vs. Edward. ‘Nuff said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwM3GvaTRM
Nice post, Sean!
Having said that: “And then Buffy staked Edward. The end.”
http://tinyurl.com/cy6mhu
Just bought this for Comic Con! Weeeeeee!
I like my vampires as they were when people believed they were real- evil, inhuman monsters with the sex appeal of a swarm of leeches. Not to say there’s no merit in the vamp romance thing.
I’ve finally read bits and pieces from Twilight and Breaking Dawn (I skipped around a bit), and unfortunately, did not take a liking to them, at all. I’ve really tried to get into them, but I guess because I found the ‘epic’ relationship between the two main characters to be perhaps the opposite of what I consider epic, it was difficult to get into the world the writer was trying to portray. And perhaps because I’ve been spoiled by other vampire motif books/etc, I found it impossible to root for the protagonist of the series, and quite frankly I couldn’t stand reading it anymore and stopped a few chapters into Breaking Dawn.
I can see why the books are popular, but at the same time I wish they weren’t.
Sorry Sean, but if you didn’t like “Let the Right One In” is one thing, but you can’t just exclude that movie when you analyze different kind of vampyres. And if you haven’t seen it, then you just haven’t done your homework. Simple as that.
People love the vampire Eli in “Let the Right One In”, even if she kills innocent people, including children, is filthy and obviously smells like dogshit. Then concider how far from a real vampire character they had to go with Edward in Twilight, to make us feel for him. Now these aspects really elucidates the differences between good and poor movie making.
Lol, nope, I haven’t seen “Let the Right One In” and didn’t exclude it on purpose. As I said in the post, I’m sure I left some films or series out but it wasn’t a hell-bent exclusion type of thing.
As to the not doing my homework, watching Sci-Fi or Vamp movies should never be considered homework, they’re too much fun for that. Instead I will simply kick over the Netflix queue and fix the glitch in my viewing portfolio.
Rock on.
Well, you know what I mean with “homework”.
Beyond this little flaw your article was interesting and well written, so expand your portfolio and keep it up.