Morbius, released in April of 2022, might have left a particularly bad taste in the audience's collected mouths, but it wouldn't be the first modern vampire movie to completely forget what makes the genre so popular. In recent years, there have been far too many vampire movies that have tried too hard to modernize the classic formula. In a case of "it's not broke don't fix it," it's time that films surrounding the fiendish bloodsuckers went back to basics.
While many in the genre might seem cliche by certain modern standards, films like Dracula and Interview With The Vampire are classics for a reason. The tropes and elements of the traditional vampire myths are utilized so creatively in many variations of the formula that the genre is saturated with plenty of timeless tales of terror.
Nosferatu (1929)
One of the best things to do when starting any interest is to begin with the basics. Considered the first vampire film ever produced, Nosferatu brought Count Orlok to life in 1929, and it has influenced several descendants that came after, including the original Dracula.
Inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula, Count Orlok fits the description of many standard vampires that came after him. He sleeps in a coffin, is weak against sunlight, and is repelled by the cross. Although he looks more rat-like than bat-like, he serves as the cornerstone for various films and the genre that followed.
The Hunger (1983)
Miryam Blaylock and her partners all look and behave like a standard vampire should; sensual and shadowy with an unquenchable bloodlust. However, while their immortality is limitless, their youth is limited. The movie utilizes the romanticized version of vampires to draw out its horror, giving the quest for youth and beauty a sort of Faustian flavor.
Blade (1998)
Although Blade himself might be only half-vampire, the monstrous minions of darkness he fights in the original movie have more in common with classic vampires than they do any of their modern contemporaries. Some features might be slightly altered, but they are still the same species as Dracula or any other member of the traditional mythology.
They might be decked out in black leather, party in nightclubs, and live decadent lifestyles, but the Nightstalkers still abide by the same vampire rules. With the exception of weaknesses crosses and holy water, they have an aversion to garlic, can be subdued by sunlight and silver, and can be defeated by a stake through the heart. Simply put, they are the traditional vampires living in a different century.
Dracula (1931)
When it comes to vampire movies in general, nearly all of them over their existence to one of the greatest gothic monsters in cinema. Although he might seem cliché to some horror fans, it's important to that Dracula was the first to originate standard vampire protocol.
Known for his long black cape and thirst for blood, Bela Lugosi charmed his way to stage and screen with the role of the infamous count. He can turn into a bat, sleep in a coffin, and is eventually killed by a steak through the heart by a famous vampire hunter. With one single performance, the original Dracula defined a whole genre.
The Horror Of Dracula (1958)
Bela Lugosi invented the role of Dracula, but Christopher Lee perfected it. The Horror of Dracula, released by hammer, took what made the original great and upped the ante. Taking slightly more from Bram Stoker's novel, Lee's version of the count jumped through similar hoops as Lugosi's, but made Dracula a much more powerful and vicious vamp.
Lee's Dracula sleeps in a coffin, drinks blood, and has large fangs, but he also has a heightened predator drive and is arguably easier to defeat. After all, Van Helsing was able to end him with a makeshift cross and sunlight. Still, that didn't stop him from coming back for sequel after sequel.
The Lost Boys (1987)
Similar to The Lost Boys features traditional vampires in a different era, the '80s in this case. While not all vampires will be quick to don leather jackets, earrings, and punk rock styles, David, Star, and the rest of the biker gang are a different generation of vamps with a taste for adrenaline.
The bikers in this '80s horror classic definitely learned from the best, having the ability to walk up walls, fly, and hypnotize their victims. At the same time, however, they are also prone to the same weaknesses as vampires of the past, such as holy water and garlic. The mixture of classic monster tropes with the culture of the era is what establishes the film's iconic identity.
Fright Night (1985)
As demonstrated with The Lost Boys, some of the best vampire movies are those that rely on tropes from other vampire movies. What separates Jerry Dandridge from other vamps that match his description is the absolute seriousness Chris Sarandon gives the role, despite likely knowing all the clichés and tropes by heart.
Jerry is scary, not because he breaks away from tradition like some vampires, but because of how close he sticks to the script. he has all the standard-issue powers such as mind-control, super strength, bloodlust, and so on. However, everything is played up to a more intense presentation. He doesn't just sprout fangs and bite, he turns fully monster and becomes a savage and scary version of the classic horror movie entity.
Dark Shadows (2012)
It might not have gotten the best critical reviews, but Tim Burton understood the assignment when it came to crafting a classic vampire movie. As a lover of horror films himself, Burton knew all the tropes, all the imagery, and all the cliches that came with the traditional monster movie formula. Case in point, his adaptation of Barnabas Collins.
Johnny Depp plays a magnificent vampire in his portrayal of Barnabas Collins, as he does nearly every vampire trope imaginable. He sleeps in a coffin, avoids sunlight and silver, and walks the night in a dark cape and brooding disposition. By playing with so many tropes and cliches at once, he goes from a self-parody to a tribute to every single classic vampire character all rolled into one.
Interview With The Vampire (1994)
Interview With The Vampire is romanticized horror done right. While Lestat and Louis are handsome, charming, and debonair creatures of the night, they are still bloodsucking predators who meet all the qualifications for any good vampire character. From sleeping in coffins to being killed by sunlight and stakes, they manage to do it all without being too over the top.
That all being said, their over-the-top qualities are what make them memorable, as well as what balance out the horror and humanity of the characters. It's this blend of traditional tropes and emotional storytelling that makes it such a favorite amongst vampire fans.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Occasionally called "Coppola's Dracula," this 1992 adaptation of Stroker's novel breathed new life into the world's most famous vampire, and of course, it had to play by the traditional archetypes set forth by other versions like Lugosi's and Lee's portrayals. Along with one of the most accurate representations of the book, the film culled together nearly every piece of vampire imagery established by the character.
Following in the footsteps of the legion of vampire movies that no doubt inspired it, Bram Stoker's Dracula covers everything a viewer could expect from the genre. From gothic castles in the mountains to a nest of vampire brides awaiting the return of their master, it refines and perfects the traditional vampire narrative with a grandiose and elaborate cinematic treatment.
