The horror genre is one of the most prevalent movie and television genres in history, and one of the most iconic monsters in that genre is the vampire. Most often associated with characters like Count Dracula or Nosferatu, the idea of vampirism has been a source of spine-tingling discomfort for centuries.
While many of the most iconic vampire stories take place in the distant past, an influx of films and television series depicting supernatural monsters has occurred in recent decades. Stories focused on vampires and how they would act in contemporary society have become huge hits, with films like the Twilight series, and there is a definite demand with audiences for these kinds of stories to be told.
10 30 Days of Night Is A Bloody Thriller Packed With Intense Showdowns
The Graphic Novel Adaptation Pits A Small Alaskan Town Against A Horde of Evil Vampires
Director David Slade brought audiences an intense, blood-soaked battle between human survivors and a pack of terrifying vampires with 2007’s 30 Days of Night, a film that has unfortunately been somewhat forgotten over the years. Packed with incredibly inventive action set pieces, a genuine sense of dread, and wonderful performances from Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and Danny Huston, 30 Days of Night is an unappreciated classic adapted from an excellent comic book.
Less interested in the minutia of morality and psychology surrounding vampires and why they do what they do to survive, the film gives viewers non-stop thrills and chills, and it does so without compromising the emotional stakes at the heart of the story. Set in a town where the sun is absent from the sky for weeks on end, 30 Days of Night perfectly utilizes its core concepts for maximum effectiveness, and it deserves to be rewatched and re-appraised.
9 Near Dark Is A Back-Country Classic
The Iconic 80s Horror Flick Featured A Standout Performance By Bill Paxton
Acclaimed director Kathryn Bigelow’s 1987 Near Dark is one of the most refreshing takes on the vampire story in the last fifty years. A band of dangerous vampires roams the countryside, where they come into contact with a young man who reluctantly joins up with them. A modern-day western with a vampiric twist, Near Dark is a bloody good time from start to finish.
Featuring fantastic supporting turns from iconic performers like Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Jenette Goldstein, Near Dark‘s dark, murky vibes and compelling character dynamics make it a sure-fire hit with anyone looking for a horror picture filled to the brim with cowboy motifs, character actors chewing scenery, and enough gore to satisfy any of the biggest horror buffs.
8 Let The Right One In Is A Tragic Study of Loneliness and Connection
The Swedish Vampire Drama Connected A Young Boy With A Seemingly Ordinary Young Girl
Director Tomas Alfredson, the man who would go on to direct the acclaimed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy only a few years later, first gained recognition with his 2008 vampire drama, Let The Right One In. The film follows a young boy as he strikes up a friendship with his mysterious young neighbor — a girl named Eli.
As the film continues, however, it becomes clearer and clearer that Eli is no ordinary little girl, and in fact, she’s not a little girl at all — she’s a vampire who has lived a long life in a young girl’s body. Let The Right One In perfectly mixes horror, drama, and even feelings of coming-of-age to genuinely touch audiences in ways they’d never expect from a film of this genre. The film even received an English-language remake from director Matt Reeves called Let Me In.
7 Fright Night Is A Delightfully Silly Horror Comedy
The Genre-Defining Horror Comedy Features Incredible Effects and Action
Directed by Child’s Play helmer Tom Holland, 1985’s Fright Night is one of the very best horror comedies ever made. It perfectly mixes genuine scares with hilarious gags, and it never feels as if it is forcing a set-up or a punchline. Character drama, interpersonal turmoil, and familial disputes are just the tip of the iceberg with this classic 80s flick, and its ability to walk a perfect tightrope between silly and scary is nothing short of miraculous.
Fright Night has since gone on to become somewhat of a cult classic, even receiving a remake in 201ring Colin Farrell. Unfortunately, Fright Night hasn’t gotten nearly as much recognition as some of the other horror comedies of its era, and even though it influenced so many films in the genre, it is often disregarded by modern audiences. It’s a silly, spooky, sticky delight, and it deserves much more love than it receives.
6 The Addiction Is A Low-Fi Masterpiece
Abel Ferrara's Melancholic Masterwork Is Too Often Forgotten
1995’s The Addiction is one of the finest pieces of contemporary vampire storytelling ever made, and though it isn’t nearly as accessible as many other vampire films, it is one of the most thought-provoking, emotionally dense films on the topic. Using vampires as a metaphor both for the AIDS epidemic of the time, and for addiction of all kinds, the film shines a light on human turmoil and the importance of connection.
Exquisitely photographed in stark black and white, The Addiction remains one of the most thematically rich, densely-designed meditations on human nature and the urges that individuals battle daily. Featuring a terrific supporting appearance by Christopher Walken, the film should so easily be talked about whenever the topic of vampire films is brought up, but it is so often tragically omitted.
5 A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night Is A Vibe-Filled Delight
The Iranian Vampire Picture About A Quiet Young Girl Is A Refreshing Take on The Genre
Director Ana Lily Amirpour gave audiences a bold new take on the vampire genre with her 2014 masterwork, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night — a film so lovingly dedicated to its tone and mood that it omits almost everything else. Set in a non-distinct town called Bad City, the film plays out like a dream.
Romantic, melancholic, and horrifying, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is packed with unforgettable scenes, compelling characters, and terrific vampire action. Taking influence from classic westerns in its visual language and pace, the film feels timeless in a wonderful and engaging way — making it feel like it could be taking place any time, any place.
4 Thirst Is A Terrifying Tale of Faith and Sin
The Korean Horror Classic Is As Tragic As It Is Frightening
Park Chan-wook, the acclaimed director of films like Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Decision To Leave, directed the often underrated 2009 film Thirst — a tale of a respected priest who inadvertently falls down the path of becoming a vampire. Once again, vampires are used more as metaphors than as literal monsters in Thirst — this time taking on the role of lust in the face of faith.
Pitting a priest against his own bodily urges is quite a bold stance to take with a film, but Park Chan-wook is no stranger to controversial filmmaking choices. The film is utterly bewitching, and it remains one of the director’s finest achievements to date. As sad romantic and surprising as it is terrifying, Thirst is a modern-day classic.
3 What We Do In The Shadows Is The Definitive Vampire Comedy
The Modern Classic Was So Popular It Inspired A Television Adaptation
Directors Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement teamed up to bring audiences a fresh new look at vampires in the modern day. 2014’s What We Do in the Shadows is one of the breeziest, most enjoyable vampire films that an audience could ever imagine, and its effortless style, mockumentary framing device, and goofy characters have held up in the decade since its release.
Even inspiring a hit television series of the same name, What We Do in the Shadows succeeds so much because it truly understands what makes vampires so interesting and compelling. It utilizes the idea of characters being completely devoid of any kind of time limit on anything they do. They’ve been around forever, and so they don’t need to bother hurrying. They’re lazy, uninformed, out-of-touch fools, and the film is all the better for it.
2 The Hunger Is The Most Underrated Vampire Film of All Time
Tony Scott's Directorial Debut Featured David Bowie As A Dying Vampire Thrall
One of the most visually striking vampire movies ever released, Tony Scott’s 1983 film The Hunger is dripping with style, melancholy, and, of course, plenty of blood. Superstar musician David Bowie gives a genuinely soulful performance as a vampire who suddenly finds himself rapidly aging, and the rest of the cast is equally compelling.
Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon round out the central cast, and their performances give The Hunger a real sense of erotic romanticism. Flooded with moody lighting, terrific music, and a pulse-pounding finale, The Hunger is so rarely mentioned in conversations about vampire films, and that should be immediately rectified.
1 Only Lovers Left Alive Takes Full Advantage of A Contemporary Setting
The Low-Key Vampire Hangout Flick Perfectly Utilizes The Modern World
Jim Jarmusch’s 2013 vampire film, Only Lovers Left Alive, is one of the boldest takes on the genre in decades. Rather than resorting to cheap thrills or moral hand-wringing, the film explores the relationship that immortal beings like vampires would have to time and life in general.
Filled with a tangible sense of yearning, Only Lovers Left Alive sees Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as two long-lived vampires who seek to simply explore everything the world of art culture and music has to offer. They envelop themselves in creation meditation and rumination, and the film feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. It’s a lovely subversion of the usually tragic vampire genre, and it remains the best film to ever put vampires in the modern day.
