The new millennium has brought a significant shift in the portrayal of vampires in film, from savage monsters to complex characters with rich backstories and emotions. This article explores the evolution of vampire movies in the 21st century, highlighting notable films such as Underworld, 30 Days of Night, and Byzantium.
The new millennium brought a shift in attitude across many aspects of culture. One of the prime examples of this can be found in film; horror movies specifically - and, on an even more granular level, in vampire movies.
Vampire flicks of the past mostly focused on the savage nature of immortal monsters and their insatiable lust for human blood. Vampy pictures of the 2000s and beyond have explored many other aspects of vampire life, such as love, art and music, and even self-betterment. Ergo, the last 26 years have produced some of the best vampire movies in cinema history.
With visually stunning remakes of classics, like the Gothic masterpiece Nosferatu, and pensive takes on coming-of-age tales, such as Let the Right One In, the vampire films of the 21st century are as devilishly diverse as they are eternally enthralling. Underworld is the perfect example of a film that critics panned, but fans consumed with reckless abandon and guilty-pleasure glee. This movie feels like it was adapted from a graphic novel, but it was birthed from a completely original idea.
It's not Shakespeare, although the filmmakers do credit Romeo and Juliet as a source of inspiration. Directed by Len Wiseman, this is one of the sleekest action-horror movies ever created, with an icy blue/ethereal emerald color palette, stunning fight choreography, and really cool beastly transformations. The tale is of two star-crossed lovers. Michael is a regular shmoe, and Selene is a vampire, a part of an elite squad of blood-imbibers who hunt Lycans.
Selene has always had an axe to grind with the Lycans because they kind of killed her whole family. So, Selene and Michael inadvertently link up, as she notices that the Lycans have been stalking him for some reason. In any event, one of the head Lycans, Lucian, ends up taking a chomp out of Michael, which turns him into a lycanthrope himself. Oops.
Now the blossoming romance between Michael and Selene becomes even more complicated, plus Michael's life in general. The whole story is super complex, with backstory to spare, but the main takeaway from this film is a highly visual, tantalizingly tasty vampire horror-action hybrid film, only rivaled by Blade. 30 Days of Night is not one of those kinds of films. The vamps here are the very definition of brutal. They are savage, bloodthirsty, and absolutely terrifying.
Director David Slade creates a chilling overall atmosphere here, where the protagonists are never, ever really safe. The concept is a really brilliant one, and almost shocking that no one came up with it before. In a remote part of Alaska, there is about a month-long period where the sun never rises, deemed polar night. This is when most inhabitants catch a flight to Orlando.
However, some remain, and a virulent pack of vamps descend on the town of Barrow, ready to dine on whatever interior human liquid they can get their fangs on. They are led by a nasty dude named Marlow, who first delegates a plan to cut off all forms of communication from the outside world.
Then, when everyone is basically helpless, they launch their assault. Eben Oleson and his ex, Stella Oleson, become the de facto leaders of the tiny crew of survivors, and must use their wits to try their best to hide from Marlow & Friends. Overall, the barbarity of the vamps is a thing to behold, as they kill with wanton abandonment. Slade drains the film of color, rendering it in nearly a black-and-white palette.
This adds to the hopelessness and scariness of the whole month-long endeavor. Aside from some groovy action-packed sequences and really visceral kills, this movie lands on this list because it has a really cool ending twist as well. This film is not for the squeamish, but then, why are you watching a vampire movie in the first place?
Byzantium is the key example of a film that carries a very strong message, that sneaks in under a spectacular spectacle of unbridled entertainment. Director Neil Jordan's Byzantium is a prime example of this type of flick, where the main takeaway is a highly thought-provoking and deeply moving film that explores the complexities of immortality, love, and loss
Please follow us on Google to support usVampire Movies 21St Century Underworld 30 Days Of Night Byzantium Neil Jordan David Slade Len Wiseman
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