MovieChat Forums > Near Dark (1988) Discussion > What is the 'definitive' vampire movie?

What is the 'definitive' vampire movie?

posted 9 years ago by CptHowdy87
20 replies | jump to latest

The Lost Boys is the first vampire movies I ever saw and it's been my favorite since. I love everything about it but understand that many people who like vampire movies don't like it. It's far from being the 'definitive' vampire movie but then again, what is? Maybe Interview With The Vampire would be the closest? I'm not much of a fan of it but my friend is and swears that it's the best and most definitive vampire movie out there.

Other vampire movies I really like are; The Forsaken, Near Dark and John Carpenter's Vampires. None of which are great movies by any means but enjoyable and all offering something different.

I didn't care at all for Let Me In (doubt I'd care any more for the original) and that's the only vampire movie I can even think of from the last 10-15 years. I really wanted to like True Blood and the same friend who loves IWTV begged me to watch True Blood for ages. I finally got around to watching it. The first episode had some promise but overall I didn't care for any of the characters or the style at all. I persisted and watched 2 more episodes but there was too little in the way of vampires and far too much in the way of people getting head for my taste. I wanted vampires. Not soft-core porn. So the search continues.

What are people's favorite vampire movies?
What do people think comes the closest to being the definitive vampire movie?
What would be your ideal vampire movie?

Personally, I want to see something similar to Near Dark. I'm not terribly fussed about all the ancient vampire mythology, or movies set way in the past. I like the modern setting and the contrast of ancient vampires which Near Dark did really well for the most part. I especially love the desert setting from Near Dark, The Forsaken and JC's Vampires. The concept of vampire hunters is kind of cool and can work sometimes but I like it when the main characters aren't aware of their existence and have to come to terms with what they are and how to kill them/survive them.

[–] ForWhomtheBellTolls84 9 years ago

The original Fright Night and From Dusk to Dawn are pretty good as well

[–] Exar-Sama 9 years ago

Good post. My favorites are:

The Forsaken, Interview With the Vampire, Shadow of the Vampire, and Vampire's Kiss. Underworld when I want a dark 00s action film.

The only season of True Blood I liked was the third and that was because Russell and Franklin actually acted like vampires and were cool.

I'd say Lost Boys or Interview are closer to 'definitive' vampire film for me. I'm not a huge fan of Lost Boys myself, though I've seen it 2x and love the soundtrack. It's missing something for me though. Interview is more poetic/gothic. It's like two sides of the vampire lore spectrum, comparing those two, I guess.

An ideal vampire movie for me would be like Interview mixed with Forsaken, with vampires of contrasting ideologies and bloodlines interacting with each other and humans. Throw in hunters too. We'd see more conniving vampires, drifter types, etc. Vampire the Masquerade did this I guess, which didn't work too well as a television show.

[–] TheRedDeath30 9 years ago

LET ME IN is far from being the only vampire movie in last decade. Browse thus site and there are dozens every year still though most are indie.

The original LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is a masterpiece. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS was decent horror/comedy. BYZANTIUM was gorgeous looking but flawed.

Based on your interests I'd recommend STAKE LAND

[–] Lycian 8 years ago

The Hunger (1983) is the best vampire movie ever made.

Låt den rätte komma in (2008) is also good.

Other then those two, I didn't watch a good vampire movie.

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http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=15227539

[–] richie_breed 8 years ago

It's my favourite genre and my favourite film from it is Fright Night. It's the definitive film for me. It stays true to the legends but updates things nicely for an '80s audience.

I love Near Dark, Lost Boys, JC's Vampires and 30 Days of Night.

Of all the vamp films, 30DoN is the one where the vampires are the scariest.

[–] dvd7 8 years ago

30 Days of Night is the best vampire film, certainly in recent history and is worthy of being considered for all time. The vampires themselves are incredible.
They are scary, believable and swagger along on a fine line between supernatural and animalistic. They have a guttural, Eastern European sounding language that should he considered the definitive language of movie vampires.
I know this is the Near Dark page, and I love that film despite being flawed and tremendously less than it could have been. But when the question regarding the best vampire film comes up? 30DoN has to be at the top. Let Me In/Let the Right One In are also incredible masterpieces and I can't see how any vampire fan could dismiss them.

[–] PopperTheKungFu-Dragon 7 years ago

Glad to see I'm not the only one who loves 30 Days of Night. I haven't seen a lot of vampire movies, but that's definitely the best of the ones I've seen.

Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

[–] narva24 8 years ago

innocent blood was pretty good

[–] prplayer 8 years ago

Nosferatu (1922)
Dracula (1931) !!!
Interview With The Vampire

so many movies, so little time

[–] WeAintFoundShin 8 years ago

I won't say they're the best, but probably definitive are Nosferatu (1922) and Dracula (1931).

For me personally?

I love many, from Fright Night to The Lost Boys.

Bram Stoker's Dracula though very camp at times is just so baroque and majestic.

My heart may belong to it.

[–] jamesmccrimmond 8 years ago

George A Romero's Martin
Rod Hardy's Thirst
RISE blood hunter
Bled
Vampyres

And those posted by other posters on this thread.