| I've been a horror movie fan since childhood and I have a particular fondness for vampire movies.However, I honestly can't recall the last time I saw a really good one.All too often in recent years, the Dark Shadows/Anne Rice influence kicks in and vampires are portrayed as impeccably dressed and groomed tortured souls who bitch and moan about their undeadedness (and if that wasn't already a word, it is now).Bram Stoker's Dracula (the movie, not the book) was one of the worst offenders (the very worst was Dracula Rising starring Christopher Atkins as the son of Dracula...I shit you not).Before I saw the film I read a number of interviews with director Francis Ford Coppola and screenwriter James V. Hart, and both said that their movie would be the first to stay true to Stoker's book.Bullshit.There's nothing in the book about Dracula being a love sick sap (or having his hair styled to resemble large albino buttocks).I'm surprised that they didn't cast Fabio instead of Gary Oldman.As someone who prefers their vampires on the nasty side, I am often wary of new vampire movies and tv shows.The new series Moonlight had me swearing never to watch it again after two episodes.The hero on this show is yet another vampire-as-hero who's always handy with a wisecrack and who has a strict policy about not drinking human blood.At least Angel would turn bad occasionally and become the villain in his own show.It may happen in Moonlight as well, which wouldn't surprise me as it's one of the most unoriginal shows I've ever seen.I'd read good things about 30 Days Of Night (thank you, Fancy Constance...folks, make sure you head over to Constance's page and read her blog entry about this movie) and finally got to see it today.I was looking forward to seeing a return to the sort of vampire movie I prefer...Nosferatu, Hammer horror, Count Yorga, John Carpenter's Vampires, etc...and I wasn't disappointed.These bloodsuckers are some of the most feral I have ever seen.It's so refreshing to see vampires who never wipe their mouths after they've eaten.One of 'em even rubs blood into his hair.Yep, these snarling guys and gals love their blood.There's no attempts to hide who or what they are...once the sun goes down their teeth and nails are almost immediately dripping with blood.So yes, I enjoyed it.If you don't mind a few thrills and chills with a sprinking of gore here and there, check it out. |
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