13 Influential Modern Vampires on Screen
Love them or hate them, who had the most impact on
how we see Vampires in the modern world? As an author who writes about
Vampires, it’s pretty clear that there are some who made more of an impact than
others. I’m a huge fan of emotional, sensitive, loving, and flawed Vampires. This
is my list of modern era Vampires that most influenced my own writing.
13. Fright Night (1985 original)
Chris Sarandon as the sexy next door vampire, Jerry
Dandrige, is obviously the start of a good movie, but what I love about this
one so much is the way his interest in Amy (played by Amanda Bearse) is so much
more about affection and less about bloodlust. Plus, Roddy McDowall always
makes everything better.
12. Dark Shadows (2012)
This may seem like a surprise on my list, but I do
love a good Johnny Depp movie, and his portrayal of Barnabas Collins is
excellent. The story is very Tim Burton, in the way that it's romantic, tragic,
and funny all at the same time. As with my other choices, I love Vampires you can
care about, and I don't think anyone watches Dark Shadows without rooting for
Barnabas!
11. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)
Another movie with some comedic elements, this story
is a lot of fun and brings in a camaraderie among the unique and strange
members of the Cirque du Freak. The Vampire Crepsley (John C. Reilly) is a very
loveable Vampire, particularly when he's in the arms of his bearded lady (Salma
Hayek). His mentorship of Steve (Josh Hutcherson) becomes very much like a
father/son dynamic and is super endearing.
10. The Lost Boys (1987)
Sympathetic Vampires are my favorite, so I love the
way Michael (played by Jason Patric) ends up turning into a Vampire and his little
brother Sam (Corey Haim) tells him, "Just wait until I tell Mom!" Of
course, he gets sweet on Star (Jami Gertz) and has a complicated friendship
with David (Kiefer Sutherland) but I love the dynamic between the brothers and
how much we care about Michael and Sam.
9. Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments (2016)
8. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Such an epic masterpiece of a story, with an amazing
cast, but what sends it over the top is the great love story between Count
Dracula (Gary Oldman) and Mina (Winona Ryder). A love that crossed centuries, I
can never help but hope for a different ending where they get their happily
ever after.
7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
I don't know if this will ruin my credibility, but
I'm not a huge fan of Buffy as a slayer. Why? Because I love Vampires, and she
lives in a world where they are often just going to meet the end of her stake.
So, unsurprisingly, there are a couple of exceptions --- namely Angel and
Spike! Vampires who fall in love with the person who is trained to kill them,
what could be more sympathetic and adorable.
6. Dracula Untold (2014)
Oh this movie just turns my heart into a mess! The
Vampire in this story is Vlad (Luke Evans) and he makes the great sacrifice of
taking on the vampiric curse in order to save his people. The tragic ending
rips you to pieces, but he's an absolutely loveable, self-sacrificing Vampire.
5. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
One of my favorite Vampire movies ever, this one
brings in that emotional dynamic so strongly. While I agree with Lestat (Tom
Cruise) that Louis (Brad Pitt) is always 'whining,' I also love their bromance.
Or perhaps I should steal the phrase from Hannibal and call them 'murder
husbands,' but there's also the very complicated love they have for their
daughter. I also enjoy how Armand (Antonio Banderas) has an instant attraction
and affection for Louis, and is almost able to tempt him away from Lestat. So
much love, so much hate, it's a beautiful story.
4. Twilight (2008)
Love it or hate it, Twilight has made its mark upon
the Vampire world. While I am a little bit of a fan, I think my favorite
Twilight Vamp has to be Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene). Not only does she have an
awesome precognitive ability, but she finds a way to be a good friend to both
Bella & Edward, even when things aren't going well between those two. Not
to mention, scenes with Alice often come with a bit of Jasper (Jackson
Rathbone), and who doesn't love her Jasper love story!
3. Underworld (2003)
I love the Underworld series because it gets more
complex and the mythos behind the Vampires and Werewolves gets increasingly
intricate with each movie. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is a wonderful Vampire who
has a deep inner complexity. Of course, Lucian (Michael Sheen) makes one heck
of a great werewolf, but that's a different list! Either way, I like the way
the Vampires in this series are relatable and have a deep well of emotional
involvement.
2. True Blood (2008)
I absolutely adore Eric Northman (Alexander
Skarsgård) and Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) as Vampires in this series. I
even like Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) even though she doesn't exist in the books
at all, because she's an emotionally confused young girl who is going through
becoming a Vampire. But Eric, my heart for Eric, I could just watch his scenes
on replay all day. When the super strong, powerful, ancient Viking Eric is
crying his bloody eyes out over his sire wanting to end his life, it's
impossible to not feel moved to tears. However, I feel like Stephen Moyer
(Bill) and Anna Paquin (Sookie) ruined this series because they got married
after meeting on-set, and then didn't want to follow the books in which she
actually has a relationship with Eric that is far, far deeper than anything she
has with Bill. Thankfully, Eric and Pam's wonderful interplay saves a lot of
the story from going too badly.
1. The Originals (2013)
This one is number one of my list for the simple
reason that the loving, sympathetic, relatable Vampire is everything that goes
on in this show. These Vampires are not flat, mindless monsters. They're
complex, individuals with deep affection and protective instincts toward those
they love. Sometimes that love is destructive and painful, and other times it's
intense and powerful. I won't deny being a HUGE fan of Klaus (Joseph Morgan)
and I love the way that both he and Elijah (Daniel Gillies) are willing to do
anything to protect those they love. This is something that I can definitely
say I do try to bring into my book world. I love the relationship Klaus has
with Marcel, complicated as it is, as well as his love for Camille. Elijah's
mostly restrained love affair with Hayley (Phoebe) is both perfect and awful.
But of all the relationships that are beautiful and terrible in this series,
the one that melts my heart the most is the love between the two main brothers,
Klaus and Elijah.
A Tale of Vikings, Elves, and Gods
The Cursed Elves
Book One
Diedra Drake
Genre: Mythic Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Apache Creek Publishing
Date of Publication: September 03, 2019
ISBN: 9781088922415
ASIN: B07WD29D3P
Number of pages: 402
Word Count: 107,500
Cover Artist: Apache Creek Publishing
Tagline: What if the myths were all real?
Book Description:
1000 years ago the Elves nearly destroyed their species through war. As punishment, their ancestors cursed them and trapped them on the Earthly plane.
Priscilla Forester is a 500-year-old Cursed Elf, with abilities far different from most. She knows there is some secret about her origins, but has given up thinking she will ever discover the truth.
However, Fate was only waiting for the right moment to reveal its secrets. As Priscilla and her lovers battle against warring Elf Houses, her true nature begins to emerge, and it is more than anyone had bargained for.
EXCERPT
1 (598 words)
Mitchell parked
in the lot, careful to stay out of the immediate line of sight while Raymond
filled up his tank.
He replaced the
pump nozzle before entering the store to get his chips and pay for the gas.
Another car pulled up, and the driver also went inside. A few more minutes
passed, and Mitchell started to grow concerned.
Raymond didn’t
normally dawdle, and there weren’t so many cars around that there should be a
big line. Maybe the clerk was having problems with his register or…
A shot rang out.
Then another.
Mitchell’s heart
sank and fear surged through him as he nearly tore the door off getting out of
the car. He was inside the store in a blink and took stock of the situation in
seconds. Raymond lay on the floor bleeding from his side, the red pool growing
quickly. The clerk's body hung slumped over the register counter, blood pouring
out from his chest.
The shooter’s
eyes darted back and forth between the two victims, his breathing chaotic as he
rubbed his fingers through his hair and pressed his palms to his temples. His
eyes wide as he stared at the bodies and the blood. He didn't immediately
realize anyone else was standing there. When he finally noticed Mitchell, it
was but a moment before the shooter’s neck was broken and he collapsed next to
where his gun had fallen.
Mitchell dashed
to the automotive aisle and returned with a pack of terry cloth rags and duct
tape. He ripped open Raymond’s shirt, tore one of the cotton rags out of the
bundle, and started mercilessly packing the wound. Raymond screamed in agony
for a few seconds, then his body became limp as he lost consciousness.
“Sorry Ray, it’s
better this way," Mitchell mumbled as an apology.
He put his
fingers underneath the bleeding side of Raymond’s body and felt around looking
for an exit wound. Sure enough, the bullet had gone entirely through. With one
hand Mitchell shifted Raymond onto his side, then shoved another piece of rag
into the exit wound. When he rolled him back over, he noticed the fabric on the
front was completely saturated and blood was pouring out of the injury again.
“Dammit.
Something’s bleeding inside." He took a shaky breath. “Shit!”
He wiped off as
much blood as he could to dry the skin, folded a piece of cloth like a bandage,
and duct taped it over the opening in his flesh. He repeated the process on the
back.
Mitchell looked
around and realized he needed to lock down the scene. He stood and flipped the
sign on the front entrance to 'Closed,' then hit the nearby light switches so
the interior went dark.
He returned to
Raymond, lifted him effortlessly, and carefully carried him outside to where
he’d left his vehicle in the parking lot. He managed to open the passenger door
and put him in the seat, then reclined it back to keep his body at an angle. As
he was about to close him in, he noted the seat belt. With a last-minute idea,
Mitchell ripped it from the wall of the car and started sliding it under
Raymond.
Raymond regained
consciousness for a moment, took one look at Mitchell, and began yelling in
terror while pulling away.
Mitchell sighed
as he realized his fangs had been out because of all the blood and stress.
Another mistake. His superiors were going to kill him. He tightened the belt
over the wound like a tourniquet, and the sudden pain made Raymond pass out
again.
About the Author:
Diedra Drake is a life-long student of mythology and history, with a particular interest in the ways that different cultures tell the same stories using name variations. She is competent in classical Latin, and enjoys reading the classics – particularly Homer, Plutarch, and Shakespeare. For relaxation, Diedra loves to crack open a new historical romance novel or binge a new series on streaming. After a couple of decades being a business owner in the technology industry, she decided to explore her other interests through the creation of a mythic fantasy romance world. She lives in Central Texas with her family, which includes a small cat colony and a couple of dogs, and tries to ensure she gets a daily serving of ice cream for continual inspiration.
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