Lina Leandersson as Eli in Let the Right One In
Vampire lore has been thoroughly explored in cinema, and numerous tropes and rules governing the supernatural creatures have become a part of pop culture. Many of the best vampire movies are part of the horror genre, but the legends are so fascinating that vampires now appear in all sorts of films.
Whether you're into romance or high-intensity action movies, you can usually find at least one movie in your favorite genre that includes a creature of the night. It's not unusual for movie directors to add their own spin to vampire stories, but some are so significant that they influence established lore. With this in mind, here are 10 movies that changed the vampire movie genre forever. 10 Blade In many ways, Blade set the template for R-rated superhero films, proving the combination could work for a general audience. It stars Wesley Snipes as Blade, whose traumatic birth gives him many vampire-like strengths and allows him to survive in sunlight. The 'Daywalker' plot is compelling and thoroughly explored in the three Blade movies. However, Blade makes the list for its unique, stylish combination of flashy, blood-soaked combat and legendary one-liners only Snipes could deliver. It also firmly placed vampire movies in action-horror territory thanks to its impressive fight choreography. Several vampire movies have explored the idea that vampires control the lives of regular people behind the scenes. Blade introduced the theory to a modern audience, showing that vampires control everything from entertainment venues to the police. 9 The Lost Boys The Lost Boys is a classic vampire movie that combines horror and dark comedy. It holds up remarkably well today, thanks to its charismatic cast and reliance on practical effects, which remain scary today. The movie makes the list because cool, young, and edgy vampires were far less common in the 80s. Kiefer Sutherland plays David in The Lost Boys, the stylish leader of a group of youthful, rebellious vampires. They make life as supernatural creatures look fun, and they clearly enjoy partying at the fair and targeting unsuspecting victims in Santa Carla. At the time, The Lost Boys felt like a fresh take on the genre, far removed from aging castles and Dracula-styled antagonists. 8 Queen Of The Damned Even the most decadent vampires stay in the shadows, preferring to keep a low profile despite their unearthly powers. Queen of the Damned introduces us to Lestat , who uses his vampiric allure on the main stage and becomes famous. Lestat de Lioncourt is an ancient vampire who awakens and decides he wants to be a rock star. He becomes a global sensation, and while his human fans believe his persona is an act, others begin to notice that his lyrics are oddly specific. He even calls out other vampires, daring them to"come out, come out, wherever you are." The story takes a wild turn when Lestat inadvertently awakens an ancient evil as his influence grows. Queen of the Damned is based on a book by Anne Rice and is part of the Vampire Chronicles series. The movie angered many fans as it's such a loose interpretation of the novel, but it's hard not to appreciate the 2000s vibe and style. Queen of the Damned didn't reinvent the wheel, per se, but it accelerated a tonal shift that was already underway. 7 Twilight The Twilight Saga is a polarizing series of movies, but there's no denying its extraordinary impact on the vampire genre. Twilight is an epic story of forbidden love, in which Bella Swan falls for Edward Cullen . The catch is that Cullen is actually a vampire who has lived for over 100 years. Bella and Edward's relationship is frowned upon for many reasons, not least the risk of exposing the vampire world to humans. The love story is further complicated when werewolves enter the story, and a problematic love triangle with Jacob Black ensues. Even if you're not a fan of Twilight, the movies did take vampire movies in a fresh direction. Horror takes a backseat to the romance story, and the Cullen family's lack of bloodlust is also a unique trait of the films. 6 Interview With The Vampire Interview with the Vampire is another cult classic in the genre. The interview in the title takes place in the present day, as a vampire, Louise , discusses his long life. Several movies explore the boundaries and limitations of being a vampire, and many romanticize it. We all know the perks of being a creature of the night, but Louise does not look back on them fondly in Interview with the Vampire. Louise describes how Lestat turned him and describes his guilt over killing humans. In many ways, his interview is more like a confession, even though Louise was an unwilling participant in many of the scenarios. The movie offers a surprisingly bleak take on life as a vampire, where brief moments of happiness are quickly overshadowed by tragedy. 5 What We Do In The Shadows What We Do In The Shadows doesn't build upon vampire lore or impact the genre in a long-lasting way. However, it highlights the struggles a vampire may face in the modern world, encouraging the audience to approach myths and legends in a more practical way. The movie is filmed in a mockumentary style, following a family of vampires in a contemporary setting. As the topic is so ripe for expansion, there's also an accompanying TV show of the same name. What We Do in the Shadows poses questions about established rules and frames them with a comedy style. For example, one scene shows vampires trying to enter a club, even though they can't go inside without first being invited. The cast plays a believably dysfunctional family, and the movie provides a fantastic perspective on tropes vampire fans know and love. 4 Buffy The Vampire Slayer The Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show has left an enduring mark on vampires in popular culture, even though the upcoming Buffy reboot was abruptly canceled. However, many of the show's fans don't know that a movie of the same name exists and predates the TV show by almost five years. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie stars Kristy Swanson as the famous vampire slayer. It has a notably lighter tone than the series, but still follows a teenage girl destined to fight supernatural threats. Buffy's dynamic with her friends is believable, and the film introduces light teen drama to the genre. Fans of the show will immediately recognize similarities, as Joss Whedon wrote the film. The movie is the precursor to the cult classic series, hence its inclusion on the list. Some humorous scenes don't land as well as they should, but it's an entertaining take on vampires nonetheless. 3 Fright Night Fright Night adheres to plenty of existing genre tropes, like vampires having no reflection and fearing crosses. This classic makes the list because it takes those stereotypes away from the typical Gothic castle setting and brings them much closer to home. The movie follows Charlie Brewster , a teenager who believes his new neighbor, Jerry Dandridge , is a vampire. Brewster's friends go to great lengths to disprove his wild accusations, until the evidence is undeniable. Fright Night brings vampire lore into suburbia, making the story far more relatable. The 1985 film is a classic, but the 2011 adaptation starring Colin Farrell is a superb, darker take on the story. 2 Let The Right One In Let the Right One In is an exceptional vampire movie that flips the script on countless genre tropes while remaining faithful to the source material. It doesn't glamorize being a creature of the night and explores many dark, adult themes. The movie is Swedish, directed by Tomas Alfredson. It stars Kare Hedebrant as Oskar, a bullied child with awful parents who spends much of his time alone. He meets Eli , who appears to be around the same age. However, she's a vampire, much older than him, and the pair forge a relationship. Let the Right One In is a powerful movie. It's grim, but it does something with the genre that few other films would dare to emulate. It's not an easy watch, but it leaves an impression, and there's a reason many viewers claim it is one of the best vampire movies. 1 Nosferatu Nosferatu is an all-time classic, and its contributions to the vampire and horror genres cannot be overstated. It's a silent movie with several iconic scenes that have become legendary in cinema. The biggest contribution that Nosferatu makes to the genre is arguably the main character's appearance. Nosferatu isn't a charismatic count or a well-dressed figure. He's a hideous, terrifying creature with exaggerated features like pointed teeth. Nosferatu also makes great use of shadows, a technique emulated in countless horror movies. For example, Nosferatu's shadow on the staircase, showing his long, spindly fingers and hunched posture, is more disturbing than simply seeing the character in normal light. Some viewers may find Nosferatu dated, but it's an exceptional movie, and the landscape of vampire movies would likely be quite different without it.
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