What with Tim Burton's Dark Shadows out today it got me thinking, where have all the old school vampires gone? Twilight defiantly hasn't helped the blood thirsty image of vampires. Whatever they say in the films and books about how "dangerous" they are, really they're toothless. And a bit too pretty. As far as I can think (and be bothered to research) Interview With The Vampire started this whole romantic vampires thing; Twilight just took it to the next level. Supernatural did a great send up of these toothless/ romantic vamps in the episode Live Fast or Twihard, even Sam and Dean couldn't escape Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner for long.
A couple of months back I got to watch The Monster Squad at The Prince Charles Theatre, London (a Goonies-esq 80s kids flick... With a 15 certificate) and in it was Dracula. A proper old school Dracula with a cape and one of those medals you used to win at swimming galas.
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| The Monster Squad monsters and Dracula with his medal. |
What happened to those vampires? Maybe it was just Dracula who looked like that... Johnny Depp's vampire doesn't look too vicious in Dark Shadows either.
At least in True Blood they are up front at how deadly they are. They abide by the law but they can kill if they need too. But again, they are ultra modern and rather too good looking.
Twilight rediscovered vampires to a tween audience but maybe they should go watch Buffy if they like teen angst and the supernatural. While not the best episode, Buffy Vs Dracula always sticks in my mind. Dracula is a proper old school vampire; he even turns into a bat! Buffy can't kill him but they come to a happy medium- they just agree to stay out each others way.
Buffy did teen angst vs vampires over 10 years ago- the original angst-ridden vamp? How about Angel?? Some kids need to get a clue.
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| Buffy vs Dracula |
There have been loads of vampire films the last few years: Daybreakers (cool, urban vampires), Fright Night (handymen vampires) and a few more out this year (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and TV shows; The Vampire Diaries, Blood Ties, Moonlight to name but a few. Vampires are still big business. I would just like to see a bit more classical bloodsuckers with big swooshy capes, slicked back hair and can turn into a bat.
Love 'em or loath 'em vampires aren't going anywhere but I'm hoping they start going back to the roots a bit more. We've also got Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2, and at least they have the Volturi, they're quite traditional. Shame they are all shiny in the sun though, that really lets them down.
