10 Best Movie Vampires
Halloween is upon us and it’s time for something scary. That means vampires! Granted, the folks behind Twilight have tried their best to make these folkloric creatures lame and pathetic, but in my mind, to no avail. Vampires have always had a certain psycho-sexual allure in both literature and in cinema, and no silly glittering nonsense is going to stop that. Here I will give you, not the best vampire movies, but the best vampires themselves. But, as is the usual habit here, please allow me to include a few blood-sucking runner-ups who just missed the final ten.
They are, in no particular order, Nicholas Cage in Vampire’s Kiss, George Hamilton in Love at First Bite, Klaus Kinski in Herzog’s Nosferatu remake and Willem Dafoe as Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire. There are also the vampires from Polanski’s Fearless Vampire Killers, Dreyer’s Vampyr and Guy Maddin’s Dracula: Pages From a Virgin’s Diary (black & white, ballet version of the novel, with a Japanese Dracula – how great is that?). And let’s not forget Vampire Hunter D and Jess Franco’s Vampyros Lesbos. Finally, I would also like to give a shout out to The Count from Sesame Street. He, along with Cookie Monster, were two of my best childhood friends. But enough of that. Without further ado, here are my choices for the 10 Best Movie Vampires.
Special Mention:
The Gang at the Titty Twister in From Dusk Till Dawn
I couldn’t pick out just one particular vampire here, so why not throw in the whole bunch. This Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino crime-horror hybrid is actually an extremely fun film to watch. Featuring George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis and Cheech Marin, this half small-time-gangster-film, half vampire-nightmare is one hell of a good time. The gang of bloodsuckers, including Rodriguez regular Danny Trejo, Salma Hayek and QT himself are one memorable bunch, helping elevate From Dusk Till Dawn to a modern B-movie classic indeed.
10. Chris Sarandon/Colin Farrell in Fright Night
It doesn’t happen often, but once and a while the remake equals the original. This isn’t necessarily true in the case of Fright Night (1985 vs. 2011) but when it comes to the performances of Mr. Sarandon (the man who gave Susan her married name) and Mr. Farrell (the man who made a lot of husbands angry) as the vampire Jerry, both actors play the part with a giddy arrogance that suits the character perfectly.
9. William Marshall in Blacula & Scream, Blacula, Scream
Coming in the beginning hey day of the Blaxploitation movement and the forerunner of a slew of lesser imitations, William Marshall as an 18th Century African Prince who is turned into a vampire may not exactly be the crowning event in vampire cinema, but the films sure are fun. Quentin Tarantino himself called those some of his favorite horror movies which may automatically make the Blacula films officially low brow. And after it was all over, actor William Marshall would go on to become the King of Cartoons on Pee Wee’s Playhouse.
8. Kiefer Sutherland in The Lost Boys
One of the more iconic film of the 1980′s, The Lost Boys made vampires cool again. Not only were these guys a gang of headbanging bloodsuckers who took shit from no one, they could kick the Twilight vampires butts from here to Santa Clara and back. Leading this pack of fanged misfits is Kiefer Sutherland as David. Okay, perhaps he isn’t technically the leader but he definitely is the coolest. Actually, the original script was a twisted take on the Peter Pan story (hence the title) and had the eventual Sutherland character as Peter and the mother, played by Dianne Wiest, as Wendy. This trendy vampire story was certainly fun, but Sutherland, just twenty at the time of filming, makes it all the much better.
7. Bill Paxton in Near Dark
Severen is a cocky, badass, mean-spirited asshole of a vampire. Bill Paxton’s portrayal of the vampire in Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow’s second feature film is not the type of portrayal that will win the hearts of the fair maidens. Severen is certainly not the suave ladykiller that many a vampire is shown as these days. Unlike the original monstrous lore of the bloodsucker, the modern day vampire is more often than not shown as a seductive creature that lures women into their lair. Instead, Severen is an angry, vengeful beast who preys on the innocent with glee and rapture, just like any good kickass vampire should dammit.
6. Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger
Definitely the sexiest vampire on this list (sorry Max Schreck), the legendary French beauty plays an ancient huntress vampire opposite a not too shabby David Bowie, who seduces a young doctor played by Susan Sarandon. Madame Deneuve, by the time of The Hunger‘s release, 1983, was more than just an icon of French Cinema but its unchallenged queen. Here she plays the ultimate, immortal bitch. But bitch or not (and she is a royal one indeed!), the love scene between Deneuve and Sarandon should be enough to put this sexy vampire flick, and this sexy vampire chick, into the top ten of anyone’s list.
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32 Comments
I was going to be very upset with you if you didn’t include someone from Near Dark, and I’m really happy that you picked the one I would have. I love that movie probably more than I should.
No Blade? I mean he’s not completely a vampire, but still…
I couldn’t keep Severen out. Plus Near dark is one of my favourite vampire films overall (as well as one of my faves of the 1980′s period).
As for Blade – I am not that big of a fan (of the movies or the comics).
I can’t really argue too strongly with this list, as it covers all the major spots. I will say that Klaus Kinski is pretty great in Herzog’s Nosferatu. Willem Defoe’s Max Schreck is also a nice choice from Shadow of a Vampire. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I also think Tom Cruise was good in Interview with a Vampire. Still, it wouldn’t be easy to drop too many from your list. Nice job.
Just I just read that you liked Tom Cruise in Interview With the Vampire? I bet that was a hard thing to admit. Seriously though, I much preferred Brad Pitt or Bandaras or Stephen Rea or Kirsten Dunst. I think Cruise looks too much like Tiny Tim in the movie.
I do remember Cruise being pretty good as Lestat, though it’s been a while. Of course, I think my expectations were really low since he seemed to be miscast when i heard about it.
I was hoping to find Claudia on this list myself
Booooo you should have made a TV exception for Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
I have watched exactly one episode of Buffy, so that was never even thought of as an option. Sorry.
Wow then you are in for a treat.
Glad to see you had Selma on the list (she’s a favorite of mine). But, I’d want to also add to the sexy vamp category Anne Parillaud as Marie in John Landis underrated ‘Innocent Blood’. Still, it’s all subjective. However, my all-time favorite remains Christopher Lee and his turns with Dracula. He made the good ones great, the less than good ones tolerable because he was in them. Undeniably, a few had the aura needed for the role — no one should ever disregard Bela Lugosi in this — like Oldman, Carlos Villarías (from the 1931 Spanish version of the film), heck even Louis Jourdan from the TV movie version as that character had quality. Yet, Lee had a physicality (and size, he not a small man), along with that undeniable presence, the others couldn’t match, IMO. Fun post — I’m sure it’s going to generate a good deal of reaction, Kevyn. Thanks.
Thanx. Yes, I did like Anne Parillaud in Innocent Blood. I actually forgot all about that one.
I remember you used that exact same Salma photo on your Houdini post, Michael
It’s a good one, isn’t it
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I was going to say Klaus Kinski as Nosferatu but then again, I had no problems with this list at all. The mention of Catherine Deneuve in “The Hunger” makes it fucking cool and has me singing “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”.
I was actually listening to Bauhaus (and Bela Lugosi’s Dead) while writing up the list.
Props for including Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, he really was phenomenal in that one.
I know the guys won’t ever include him in any vampire list, but one of my fave vampires has got to be Gerard Butler in the abysmal Dracula 2000. Lousy movie but he made one heck of a sexy, seductive prince of darkness.
Hey! Let’s not be too critical of ‘Dracula 2000′… it’s a guilty pleasure of mine. It’s far, far from great, but it does have that it’s so bad it’s entertaining quality… at least for some of us
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Well it’s a guilty pleasure of mine, too, Michael… for obvious reasons
My fave part is when he walked into the Virgin Megastore with his long cape, er coat, and all the women turned and looked, I mean drooled over him, he..he.. The girl who played Lucy was memorable too, and don’t forget Christopher Plummer!
I vastly prefer both Nosferatu (1922) and Horror of Dracula (1958) to Dracula (1931), but I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority on that.
No love for Underworld? Kate Beckinsale looks mighty fine in skin-tight leather…yeah, that’s all I really got for that.
The main thing I learned from this list: Catherine Deneuve has played a vampire?! I did not know this. I MUST SEE THIS MOVIE.
Count me as another for dear Kate in the Underworld series. And yes, do see ‘The Hunger’ for Deneuve, and Susan Sarandon
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Overall, I like Nosferatu and Horror of Dracula more than the ’31 Browning version, but as far as the individual bloodsucker goes, Lugosi is still my favourite vampire.
And yes, Beckinsale does look damn good in those films.
AS for The Hunger and Deneauve, it is a good one. Hope you like it when you watch it – which should be soon.
What about Eli (Lena Leandersson) in Let the Right One In?
You need to click through to the top 5.
Um, she is on the list – at number three.
Kirsten Dunst in Interview with the Vampire is pretty chilling as well
NO EDWARD CULLEN?! OMG HOW DARE YOU?!
Haha jokes, he’s not even a ‘vampire’.
I personally love Eli from Let the Right One In. She also makes a surprisingly good last minute Halloween costume idea. Great list!
That is a good list of blood suckers. I would love to motorboat your special mention pic, even if she would rip me asunder.
HAHA Great to see The Lost Boys mentioned!! Although I may have put them higher…but I am biased!
Well done!! Always good to see some love for William Marshall…I love Blacula!
Another one I’d nominate, even though perhaps not a real vampire is Federico Lupi in Del Toro’s Cronos….he gets VERY scary after his transfrmation!
More comments over here: http://filmwatch.com/news/876281/10-best-movie-vampires/com
Terrific top ten. Great choice to include Bill Paxton from Near Dark – he would be one of my favourites from the modern day vamps. How about Jim Carrey from teen-sex-vampire-horror-comedy Once Bitten!
Great list! Pretty much bang on for me. I’m not a fan of the Blade films myself although I’d have probably stuck Wesley Snipes in there because he looks cool.
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