Ten Vampire Movies for Halloween

A new list for you, ready for All Hallows' Eve! This time, I've focused solely on a collection of vampire movies that I've come to enjoy over the years. Some of which deeply satisfy the horror genre, others that are less scary and more story. 10. Cronos

A Mexican horror movie written and directed by one of my all time film faves Guillermo Del Toro, Cronos is the story of an old antiques dealer who discovers a device which is the key to immortality. A hollow base in a statue intrigues him, and upon breaking it open he finds a strange mechanical object of unknown origin. In an attempt to open the device he winds a small dial, to find what appears to be a set of legs unfurl. As this happens he's stabbed by the mysterious object, with something instantly injected into his bloodstream! But what? Somehow our protagonist begins to feel more youthful after the incident, fit as a fiddle and with no signs of any ailments he previously exhibited. He may have found the key to eternal life, but he isn't the only one who knows about it...

9. Near Dark

Aliens cast members Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton and Jenette Goldstein star alongside one another as vampires in this horror turned western movie. Adrian Pasdar stars as Caleb, a cowboy who's enjoyable evening in a bar becomes the worst night of his life as he learns his new lady friend is a vampire... but only after she's had a bite out of him of course. Unable to satiate his new thirst for human blood poor Caleb must leave home and tries to join the gang. Caleb is unsure about whether or not leaving his family was the right thing to do, and isn't with the most supportive group of vampires, especially Severen who has been out to get him from day dot! Will Caleb successfully transition into the group or will his family take precedence?

8. Interview With The Vampire

I did NOT just pick this movie because I think Brad Pitt is gorgeous with long locks... but it certainly helps the cause. This book to film adaption of the gothic horror Interview With The Vampire follows Louis, a human who was attacked, but not quite killed, by the charming Lestat. After Louis' wife and daughter tragically passed away he had began to drink and gamble, wasting what little he had left. Lestat was aware of his lack of lust for life, and offered for him a new life, a second chance. The movie opens with Louis sitting opposite a journalist, telling the sceptic of his tales and proving that he is, indeed, a vampire. Louis walks us through his life following the attack by Lestat, which was followed up with him being drained almost completely before being offered Lestat's blood in order to turn him into a fanged beast!

7. Underworld

Okay so this isn't strictly just a vampire movie, but it is mostly! Kate Beckinsale stars as Selene; a lycan killing vampire seeking revenge against those who slaughtered her family. Selene falls for a human who appears to be a target of her enemies, and once he's bitten she has the tough task of killing him. Or maybe defying her clan and protecting him instead. There are some great action scenes in this movie and Selene really rocks the pvc like nobody before her!

6. Bram Stoker's Dracula

With possible my favourite performance by Gary Oldman, Bram Stoker's Dracula sees what I would consider a romantic retelling of this classic story. A gothic horror with a beautifully bittersweet vision of Dracula, working through his anger surrounding his beloved Elisabeta's suicide and his eventual discovery of someone he believes to be her reincarnation. If you choose to watch this do not expect a scary horror movie. Whilst you won't get jump scares here, you will get a great vampire movie, about arguably the most important vampire of all folklore, tales, or history - whichever way you wish to view the topic! We have a fantastic cast list in this movie, with appearances from some of my personal faves Keanu Reeves, Cary Elwes, Anthony Hopkins and Winona Ryder. If not for the great story or cast, watch it for the visual - the costumes and sets are particularly appealing.

5. Let The Right One In

Another book adaption; this time something that I've had the pleasure of reading, Let The Right One In is a Swedish horror with a hint of romance which navigates Oskar's new friendship. Oskar is your typical high school victim, a very sweet boy who is sadly on the receiving end of some awful bullying. Unfortunately he has no friends, and spends his evenings imagining how he can exact his revenge on those who've attacked him. Oskar is excited by the prospect of a new neighbour, and becomes fascinated with Eli, the young female who has moved into the neighbouring apartment with a gentleman named Håkan. Initially Eli informs Oskar that it is not possible for them to form a friendship. After a short while though, the two begin to form a close bond. That is, until his new friend Eli reveals her involvement with a string of murders that have unnerved the local townsfolk...

4. The Lost Boys

When Lucy moves her sons Michael and Sam to a small coastal town in California following her recent divorce, they discover not all is as it seems. With mysterious murders and disturbances in the local area, and a sudden influx in bikers too, questions start to go unanswered. Sam; the youngest of the two, becomes friendly with two boys at the local comic shop, the frog brothers. They seem a little bit excitable though, making an outrageous claim about being vampire hunters. Of course they can't actually be serious, vampires? Pfft! Sam brushes off the ridiculous idea that vampries have been murdering people and feasting on their blood. Meanwhile, an excitable Michael has become highly interested in Star, a pretty young thing who has an affiliation with the new biker gang in town. Sam finds that his older brother is spending a whole lot less time at home, and seems to be sleeping during the day and slipping out to meet with his new friends at night. Is his brother just suffering the effects of staying out and partying all night, or could there be something darker afoot?

3. 30 Days of Night

A horror movie based upon a comic book series of the same name with a stellar cast, 30 Days of Night has to be one of the most original vampire stories I've come across. A small town in Alaska is fast approaching it's "30 Days of Night", an annual occurrence of a polar night which lasts a whole month. Of course, when and where could possibly be better than this for a set of vampires who're allergic to the sun to wreak havoc and eat their way through a town? The townsfolk have different plans though, and will do anything they can to defend the place they call home against these violent, murderous bloodsuckers!

2. Buffy The Vampire Slayer

I remember watching this as a kid and thinking Buffy was an absolute bad-ass. She was young, attractive, and super awesome at kicking butt. This 1992 flick stars Kristy Swanson as Buffy Summers, a cheerleader who is approached by what can only be described as a creepy old man, who informs her that she is the Chosen One, a slayer. Destined to kill vampires, and chosen in their adolescence to train to fight the ultimate evil, slayers are not something the world knows of, and it should be kept that way. Merrick; creepy old man, also referred to as a Watcher, has a duty to find the next slayer and train them to become the ultimate combatant. Conveniently that Merrick should find Buffy in Los Angeles, since there's been a few suspicious disappearances in the local area... and look at that! A nest of vampires has cropped up in the area. Will Buffy accept her destiny and loyally perform her duties, in order to save LA and possibly the world?

1. Blade

A classic in my eyes and another comic book adaptation, Blade is the story of a half vampire whose birth was also the cause of death for his mother. Blade grew up without a parental figure, and happened upon a helpful and willing sidekick, Whistler, who kindly offers to look out for him, and also offers his services towards a cause that most humans don't even know needs fighting. Whilst part vampire himself, Blade does not condone the actions of vampires, the endless need to murder people in order to satiate their own needs and feed on the blood of the innocent in order to survive. Both Whistler and Blade are vampire hunters, and they've been working on an antidote. Whilst working hard to protect the human race they must eliminate any vampires who pose a threat, and prevent them from taking over the world! Wesley Snipes is perfection in this movie and I don't think anyone else could have starred in this role, and made it their own in the way that he did. The action sequences are enjoyable, and the famous blood rave is one of my all time favourite movie scenes. The music, the cinematography... all of it!

If you're only gonna watch one of these movies, make it Blade! Whilst it carries the same premise as most vampire movies, it's a peg above the rest.