The Vampire Nosferatu appeared on the silver screen in 1922 and now Twilight: Eclipse is breaking records at the box office. Dracula the rat-like beast has become Edward the sparkling vegetarian.
What happened?
Once a fearsome animal, the vampire figure fought to shake its inner beast until the beast became a werewolf. Now vampires and werewolves roam the cinema screens on both sides of the moral compass.
Here are some notable creatures from the evolution of vampires in the movies:
Nosferatu (1922)
Once a fearsome animal, the vampire figure fought to shake its inner beast until the beast became a werewolf. Now vampires and werewolves roam the cinema screens on both sides of the moral compass.
Here are some notable creatures from the evolution of vampires in the movies:
Nosferatu (1922)
The monstrous creature in this German silent film lives in the depths of the mountains, is disgusting to behold and moves very slowly. The portrayal was so inhuman that some believe actor Max Schreck was a real vampire.
Dracula (1931)
Bela Lugosi became famous for his archetypal portrayal of Bram Stoker’s count. He speaks good English, but there’s no warmth in those hungry eyes.
Count Duckula (1988)
This animated character is the original vegetarian vampire and only reluctantly draws on his traditional powers.
Cronos (1993)
Guillermo del Toro’s evocative film portrays an old man who is bitten by a gold scarab and begins to crave blood – but Jesus Gris remains essentially human and his own desires torment him.
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Anne Rice’s series of novels introduced the idea that vampires have feelings too. In this acclaimed filmic version, Vampire Louis seems alone in a monstrous world and is plagued by his own desire for blood.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Director Robert Rodriguez created the dizzyingly sexy Vampire Satanico Pandemonium and her horde of hungry beasts - nothing but mindless caricatures chopped to pieces with glee.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
Vampires in this television series were never human to begin with – they are demons operating corpses. Though ugly when unmasked and called “blood rats”, some have retained souls and a human conscience.
Blade (1998)
Vampires remain a horde of bloodsuckers in this action film, but instead of being animals, demons or damned humans, they are afflicted by a virus transmitted through spit and spontaneously combust when exposed to the chemical EDTA.
Underworld (2003)
Vampire Selene is a sexy, sophisticated killer with the capacity to fall in love. Her immortal condition is also the result of a virus and she has no inner animal – she fights outer animals in the form of werewolves.
Let the Right One In (2008)
Vampire Eli is a wide-eyed child, surviving on blood and haunted by immortality. She needs protection and companionship as much as she provides it.
True Blood (2008)
Vampire Bill is essentially a nice guy with a dark edge. He can’t survive daylight and must drink synthetic blood to appease his conscience.
Twilight (2008)
Vampire Edward is a broody teenager who must resist the urge to drink blood and is able to love both humans and his undead family. Edward is able to survive sunlight, but must contend with his skin sparkling as a result.
