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Top 10 Best Classic Vampire Movies of All Time

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We doubt that the new movie Morbius will go down in cinematic history as a classic, but we’re hopeful that it starts an upswing in more vampire movies at the theater. Yes, you could argue that Midnight Mass is already a classic, but was that actually a vampire in that movie?

What we know for sure is film history is full of quality bloodsuckers so we’re just going to stick to the classics in the following listicle.

Vampires. I love them. Creatures of the night. The living dead. They can be sexy. They can also be disgusting. Twilight tried to ruin them, but history is stronger than just one teeny-bopper film series, and this list will prove that. Continuing with my Top 10 themed lists, (you can read the previous one here), welcome to my list of The Top 10 Vampire Movies of All Time. Oh, and don’t worry; you will never, ever, eversee anything from Twilight make it onto any of my lists. Ever.

“Boo!”

10. Salem’s Lot (1979)

Kicking off this list, we have an awesome adaption of one of (if not the) best Stephen King adaptions. It was released as a TV mini-series before being put together for a full movie package. This was directed by Tobe Hooper, and, unfortunately, is nowhere near as gory or violent as previous offerings from him, but the creepy atmosphere and awesome make-up for the main vampire Barlow certainly makes up for it. Funny thing about that, actually; in the novel, Barlow is not depicted as the gruesome thing that we see in the movie and is actually very humanlike in appearance. Stephen King had no problem with this change and has gone on to give his approval of the movie.

9. Fright Night (1985) 

Two men move next door to young Charlie Brewster, a horror fanatic (much like you and me). This is a horror movie, and therefore of course there’s something evil about them. As it turns out, they’re vampires! Charlie enlists the help of his favorite TV show host, Peter Vincent to help stop the vampires next door. The movie put over 1,000,000 dollars into the makeup department, which was the first vampire film to do so. Fun fact: The name Peter Vincent is derived from Peter Cushing, and Vincent Price. Bet you didn’t know that!

Fright Night's Original Ending Was Much Different | Screen Rant

Fright Night – 1985

8. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) 

I’m really not into the whole “sexy vampire” thing, but holy shit, Selma Hayek. I like my vampires to be gritty and disgusting, but this one gives you both sides of the vampire spectrum. This movie is full of ass-kicking and great lines delivered by George Clooney. If those two aren’t enough, you also get Quentin Tarantino, Juliette Lewis, Cheech Marin, and Tom Savini playing a character named Sex Machine. If you’re in the mood for an action-packed movie full of terrifying vampires and gore, then watch this.

7. Shadow of the Vampire (2000) 

A fictionalized movie about the making of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 masterpiece Nosferatustarring Willem Dafoe as Max Schreck. In the film, F.W. Murnau aims to make the most realistic vampire film possible, and so, hires a real vampire to play himself on screen. Duh. Wouldn’t you? His portrayal of Schreck is astounding and lands him the role of The Green Goblin in the Spider-Man movie two years later.

6. Interview With the Vampire (1994)

A vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.  The narrative of Louis (Brad Pitt), a New Orleans plantation owner who gives up on life when his wife and daughter die, is told in Interview with the Vampire. He encounters Lestat (Tom Cruise) on a wild night and receives the gift and curse of immortality.

 

5. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) 

Bram Stoker's Dracula - Master's Laugh on Make a GIF

A very morbid and romantic film. This is one adaption of Dracula that really tries to stay faithful to the original. Gary Oldman does an outstanding job of portraying the count here. A great thing about this film is that they tried to use as many practical effects as possible, something that was becoming less and less common in film at this time period. Francis Ford Coppola, the director of the film, fired his entire special effects team when they insisted that they needed to use computers, and hired his son Roman instead. Take that, computer guys!

4. The Lost Boys (1987) 

One of the most fun vampire movies ever. Kiefer Sutherland is great in this flick. I’m sure you’ve seen it, and if you haven’t, change that now. The crazy saxophone player in the beginning scene makes it all the more imperative that you watch this or rewatch this as soon as humanly possible. The Frog Brothers, Edgar and Allen, were named as an homage to a very important and influential poet. Can you guess who? Hint: if you need a hint for this, you’re doing something wrong.

3. Horror of Dracula (1958) 

The first of many Dracula films produced by the British film company Hammer, this is considered by many to be the greatest. Christopher Lee stars as Dracula, who will forever be debated as the best Dracula by many horror fans, pitting him against Bela Lugosi. This film was actually renamed from simply Dracula, adding “Horror of” in the front so it wouldn’t confuse people with Bela Lugosi’s version. Oh, and speaking of that…

2. Dracula (1931)

An absolute classic. Bela Lugosi. That’s all I need to say. Classic horror nostalgia at its finest.

 

1.Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

To this day, there has not been a vampire, or any other creature for that matter, to frighten me as much as Max Shreck (the real Max Schreck, not Dafoe’s fictional Max Schreck) did in his role as Nosferatu. It’s getting close to being almost 100 years old, and it still retains its scare factor. The silent nature of this film, mixed with the striking, colorless visuals still gives me nightmares at my current age.  Now that is how you do a movie right. Younger children may also recognize him from his small and hilarious cameo in Spongebob. Not only is this my favorite vampire film, but it’s also my favorite film of all time (tied with Evil Dead 2, of course.) The film almost didn’t see the light of day due to it heavily, heavily borrowing from Bram Stoker’s original novel Dracula. Eventually, copies surfaced, and I am so beyond grateful that they did.

And so we end another list of my top 10’s. There are so many vampire movies that I love, and it was very hard to cut some of them out, but I had to. The vampire is such an iconic monster that owes much of its popularity to the original novel by Bram Stoker of Dracula, which is why almost every movie on this list is either an adaption, a remake, or something in between. So go ahead, yell at me, agree with me, or debate each other in the comments section. As long as we’re talking about vampires still, I’ll be happy. Fangs for reading!

P.s.

I’m sorry about that last sentence. I couldn’t help it.

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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