Vampires have pronounced fangs to break human skin so the blood flows out — but they generally don’t have to be as sharp as they look in vampire movies: neck skin is among the softest and most penetrable on the body.
Speaking of vampire movies, if you’re looking to settle into something vampy this Halloween, here are our top 5 vampire movies.
#5 Nosferatu (1922)
This was the original vampire movie — a silent film based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel. It was also the first movie to introduce the montage scene: different events happening at the same time, intercut together to tell the whole story. From a horror standpoint, this classic doesn’t quite hold up to modern standards. But from a dental standpoint, the “less fangled/more mangled” way director F.W. Murnau had the vampire’s teeth designed was inspiring.
#4 — Once Bitten (1985)
Before Jim Carrey was Jim Carrey, he was a B-list actor in B-list films. Once Bitten certainly qualifies, but what makes this one different is the quality of the performances by its stars. Carrey is, of course, a master of physical comedy, and he’s supported by Lauren Hutton who plays the Vamp and Cleavon Little in his last major film role. The story’s a bit cliché and it definitely has that ’80’s cheese feel, but it’s virtually impossible not to like.
#3 — Underworld (2003)
Imagine a world where vampires and werewolves have been engaged in a secret centuries-long battle for supremacy in the shadows. Now imagine the main vampire assassin was Kate Beckinsale. That’s Underworld, and it’s a wild ride. Special nods to Canadian Scott Speedman for an excellent performance as a human caught in the middle of the war and Michael Sheen (who also played Tony Blair in The Queen) as werewolf leader. Fun fact: Sheen and Beckinsale were married at the time this movie was made.
#2 — Thirst (2009)
Korea has been described as the Italy of Asia, referring to the nation’s penchant for passion. Korean films tend to reflect this: visually visceral design and raw emotive acting. If you haven’t been exposed to Korean cinema, Thirst is a great place to start. This Cannes winner is the story of a priest who gets turned into a vampire and is forced to reconcile his time-held beliefs with his new desires.
Our favourite of all the vampire movies: #1 — 30 Days of Night (2007)
If you’re the kind of person who likes being scared to the point of having to sleep with the lights on, this is your vampire movie. It’s terrifying. And it’s a mind-trip too. The only star you’ll probably recognize in the cast is Melissa George, but it won’t matter because veteran horror producer Sam Raimi (Army of Darkness) made sure the star of the show was the psychological warfare the film wages on its audience.
Notable mentions:
Blade: Wesley Snipes is a vampire superhero protecting humans from the bad bloodsuckers.
From Dusk ’Til Dawn: Quentin Tarantino directs George Clooney into a brothel run by vampires.
Interview With a Vampire: Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. That’s about all you need to know.
