70 Best Vampire Movies

70 Best Vampire Movies http://www.imdb.com/list/F1w6m2-kN9k/ A few years back Snarkerati did a list of the [link=http://snarkerati.com/movie-news/top-70-vampire-movies-of-all-time/]Top 70 Vampire Movies Of All Time [/link], as this list left many good films out and has not been updated in three years time, I have decided to do a similar but updated list and include my own reviews in with the scoring. This list is based on a combined score of my own personal preferences, IMDB scores, Rotten Tomatoes critics' scores, and Rotten Tomatoes audience scores. I have given each film my own score from 1 to 10 based on my personal likes and dislikes, then I averaged all the scores. This list reflects those averages. (NOTE: Anywhere a film is missing a score due to not enough reviews it is indicated with N.A. for "Not Available", this has caused some film averages to be higher or lower than what they might otherwise be, but this was the best method I could determine to include these films in the list). The list does not include TV episodes, TV Mini-series, or TV shows. (See [link=http://www.imdb.com/list/nCOxSn5PMbE/] Best Vampire TV Series[/link] for my choices of the best of vampire TV). The list also does not include films with mere vampire segments, the film must have a vampire as a main character or an overarcing vampire theme as the main focus of the story to be included in the list (i.e. Black Sabbath, Waxwork, or Kwaidan are NOT on this list). No short films have been included on the list. One final thing, it is guaranteed you will disagree with some inclusions or omissions. There are many films that I would have liked to see on here myself that just didn't make the numbers, and there are some that are on here that I would not have chosen based on my own opinion alone, but this is how things played out. If you want to argue with my own PERSONAL choices of my favorite vampire films or how I have personally scored a film, please do so at [link=http://www.imdb.com/list/5pOgv-XKvfc/]My Favorite Vampire Movies[/link], as that is where my personal choices are listed. Enjoy! Updated: 5/19/2013 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 06:56:45 GMT Sun, 19 May 2013 13:06:47 GMT Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:51:30 GMT Let the Right One In (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/ IMDB: 8.0 / Rot Critics: 8.2 / Rot Aud: 8.4 / My Score: 10.0 My opinion: This film is everything a vampire film should be. It has a creepy atmosphere, complicated relationships, a strange romance, and most importantly, it is oddly and poetically macabre. I love films that suggest things through imagery without giving everything away in the details and there are several suggestive enigmas in this film that make this a film you will reflect on long after you've finished watching it. It is no wonder it is a favorite of most critics and audiences. This is the best achievement in the genre thus far. Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:02:15 GMT Nosferatu (1922) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013442/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013442/ IMDB: 8.0 / Rot Critics: 8.9 / Rot Aud: 7.8 / My Score: 9.2 My opinion: F.W. Murnau's classic silent film was nearly destroyed by Bram Stoker's widow for copyright infringement when she first saw the film, but a few copies managed to survive thankfully, as this was the first film to present the story of Dracula onscreen and has endured ever since because Max Schreck's performance in this film is so incredibly creepy. A definite must for any film fan or any fan of the genre. Rated higher than I personally would have put it, it is still one of the best of vampire films. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:15:15 GMT Vampyr (1932) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023649/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023649/ IMDB: 7.6 / Rot Critics: 8.6 / Rot Aud: 7.8 / My Score: 8.7 My opinion: This movie, much like Dracula with Bela Lugosi, is made much scarier by its near silence. The lack of music in the film, and the very little dialogue, combined with the strangeness of the imagery really make this an excellent film. The only problem I really had with it was I found the narrative a little confusing. Overall a very good film, but again, because it is a classic, has probably been rated higher than I personally would have put it. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:14:09 GMT Dracula (1931) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021814/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021814/ IMDB: 7.6 / Rot Critics: 7.7 / Rot Aud: 7.4 / My Score: 9.5 My opinion: The first approved adaptation of Dracula starring Bela Lugosi is still arguably the best. Bela Lugosi's performance seems strange and overdone in some moments, but it is the silence of the film that adds weight to its creepiness. The director used unusual lighting on Bela Lugosi, which makes his eyes appear to glow in some scenes and the stark silence of the film, (see the version without music, please, it is the best) and the slowness of Lugosi's movements are what make this film not just a classic, but one that endures and continues to scare even today. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:11:07 GMT Near Dark (1987) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093605/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093605/ IMDB: 7.0 / Rot Critics: 7.4 / Rot Aud: 7.0 / My Score: 9.7 My opinion: Released the same year as the Lost Boys but not nearly as popular, this is arguably a better movie. It's more of a character driven vampire movie, which is my personal preference and the characters are really interesting. An excellent film. One of my favorites. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 06:57:52 GMT Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110148/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110148/ IMDB: 7.5 / Rot Critics: 5.9 / Rot Aud: 7.4 / My Score: 10.0 My opinion: This movie is my personal favorite, not because it is the best movie, but because Anne Rice's story is ground zero for making the vampire's plight and existence and perspective the complicated focus of the story. This is a very good adaptation of that story. This, to me, is the genesis of most of the vampire movies and television shows that followed it. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:08:07 GMT The Lost Boys (1987) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093437/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093437/ IMDB: 7.1 / Rot Critics: 6.3 / Rot Aud: 7.4 / My Score: 10.0 My opinion: This is the movie that first got me interested in vampires. This movie was the ultimate cool when it first came out. It is equal parts humorous and serious, which is appropriate for the genre, and it launched most of its stars' careers. Kiefer Sutherland has never been better than this. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:39:39 GMT Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216651/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216651/ IMDB: 7.6 / Rot Critics: 6.4 / Rot Aud: 7.6 / My Score: 9.2 My opinion: I'm not a big fan of anime, but this film completely won me over with it's smart story and it's amazing visuals. This is one of the most visually beautiful vampire stories I have seen. The castle at the end of the film alone is worth watching the movie for. Fantastic. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:35:48 GMT Kuroneko (1968) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122136/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122136/ IMDB: 7.6 / Rot Critics: 7.9 / Rot Aud: 7.8 / My Score: 7.5 My opinion: Kuroneko is a Japanese film that focuses on a story drawn from classic folklore of vampires returning as vengeful spirits who've pledged to drink the blood of those who had wronged them in life, in similar mythology to the Strigoi. Interestingly here the spirits have very feline qualities. This movie is absolutely beautiful to behold, and the attention to detail in how images are presented is really superb. I was struck by how graceful and ethereal the images of the vampires here were without being overt. The cinematography is gorgeous and the story is told in a traditional folk story manner. An excellent film, perhaps only lacking in that I never really felt particularly strongly for any of the characters. Perhaps slightly over rated in general, still a really excellent film. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:21:21 GMT Thirst (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762073/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762073/ IMDB: 7.1 / Rot Critics: 6.9 / Rot Aud: 7.2 / My Score: 9.5 My opinion: This is a very odd and interesting love story. It pokes around at ideas about love, loyalty, desire, and religion, and is fascinating in its quirkiness. Even a year after seeing it, I find myself strangely fascinated by this oddity. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:25:38 GMT Black Sunday (1960) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054067/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054067/ IMDB: 7.3 / Rot Critics: 7.4 / Rot Aud: 7.6 / My Score: 8.2 My opinion: It is easy to see why Tim Burton considers this to be one of his favorite horror films. It has some shockingly gruesome imagery for the time it was made and has a really great storyline. The only real fault with the movie is the poor dialogue and the fact that it is dubbed, which makes the bad dialogue seem even worse. Again, this movie ended up scoring highly I think due to it being so far ahead of its time and a classic, but against some of today's films, I would not have placed this so highly. It is definitely a good film, though, and worth watching. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:43:52 GMT Shadow of the Vampire (2000) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0189998/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0189998/ IMDB: 6.8 / Rot Critics: 7.0 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 9.7 My opinion: Whether or not you have seen Murnau's Nosferatu, doesn't really matter in watching this movie. If you have seen it, you will immediately recognize that the director faithfully captures the scenes of the original movie, but what makes this movie great is its self-reference and black humor. Originality goes a long way with me, as far as vampire movies go, and it is certainly one of the most original movies in this genre. Furthermore, the ending of the film is quite unsettling. An excellent film. Sat, 09 Jul 2011 18:35:48 GMT Moon Child (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365514/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365514/ IMDB: 6.2 / Rot Critics: N/A / Rot Aud: 8.0 / My Score: 8.5 My opinion: A great Japanese gangster film about life and how tenuous it can be, that also happens to have a vampire in it. This film is at times outrageous and at other times poignant, but what is fascinating about it is that in this story, the human drama takes center stage not the vampire. A very unusual and terrific vampire film. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:00:38 GMT Fright Night (1985) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089175/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089175/ IMDB: 6.9 / Rot Critics: 7.3 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 9.2 My opinion: Another favorite from my childhood, this film is equal parts funny, scary, gruesome, and sexy. In other words, it is everything you could possibly expect from a good vampire film. Watching it again now as an adult, there were some moments that seemed too staged and false, particularly at the beginning of the film, but overall these even out with the moments that ring true. One of the best of the "vampire hunter versus vampire" type of films, it even pays teasing homage to the classic Hammer films. Overall, one of the best of the genre. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:53:09 GMT Let Me In (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228987/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228987/ IMDB: 7.2 / Rot Critics: 7.6 / Rot Aud: 7.4 / My Score: 8.0 My opinion: There was really no reason to remake "Let the Right One In" as it was already a wonderful film, but if they were going to do it, at least they did a half-way decent job. The setting was good and the murders are handled pretty well (although I was not a fan of the "Gollum"-like quality to Abby's attacks) and all the acting is good, although not as good as the original actors. Overall a good film, but personally, I still prefer "Let the Right One In". Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:33:55 GMT Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079641/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079641/ IMDB: 7.5 / Rot Critics: 7.7 / Rot Aud: 7.4 / My Score: 7.5 My opinion: The greatest thing about this film is the way that it echoes the horror of the film it is mimicking, in that the scariest scenes are mostly silent. In addition to this, Klaus Kinski gives a very eery performance as the vampire. The grand picturesque way that Werner Herzog tells the story - languidly using the landscape as part of the story, a score that adds considerably to the atmosphere, and with an adept eye for detail - is what really make this a worthwhile film. On the other hand, the pacing is sometimes so slow it is painful, and the ending really disappointed me in how far it strayed from the source material. Overall a good film, but perhaps slightly overrated. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:01:17 GMT Dracula (1992) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103874/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103874/ IMDB: 7.4 / Rot Critics: 6.6 / Rot Aud: 7.0 / My Score: 9.0 My opinion: This is currently the most popular version of Dracula, (aka Bram Stoker's Dracula) and is also the most stylized, and arguably the most accurate. I admire it for basically combining everything that was good from the films that came before it together, and adding some of the history of Vlad Tepes into the mix, and yet still having its own uniqueness through its costumes, sets, make-up, and excellent performances from its cast. Overall, a great film, and while not my personal favorite Dracula, certainly an excellent one. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:02:28 GMT Martin (1976) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077914/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077914/ IMDB: 7.0 / Rot Critics: 7.6 / Rot Aud: 7.2 / My Score: 8.2 My opinion: It is harder to like "Martin" than it is to admire it. In truth, George Romero's take on vampirism is more a social commentary and study in social predators than it is a vampire movie in the more supernatural sense. This movie left a strong impression on my mind and I found it fascinating, even while feeling repulsed by its main character. The story is ironic and the telling is original, and so overall, it gets my approval, if not my love. Sun, 28 Nov 2010 07:40:30 GMT Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066516/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066516/ IMDB: 7.0 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 8.0 / My Score: 7.5 My opinion: As I watched this movie I felt confused as to how seriously to take it. This was a very surreal film. It is more of a coming of age fairytale story than a vampire story in any typical sense, but it is fascinatingly nonlinear. At times the symbolism hits you over the head too blatantly, but when you remember that the film is a strange fairytale dream it somehow feels right and makes perfect sense. I found myself thinking about this film repeatedly and reflecting on it long after I finished watching it, so all in all, I'd call it brilliant. If you are not a fan of nonlinear storytelling, you probably won't like it, but if you enjoy film as a surrealist artistic endeavor, for a film that is like a dream, this is a must-see! Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:19:57 GMT Ganja & Hess (1973) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068619/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068619/ IMDB: 5.7 / Rot Critics: 7.7 / Rot Aud: 6.6 / My Score: 9.7 My opinion: This is a film that was intended to be a blaxploitation film but is really more of a black art-house film, but either way, it is so good as a vampire character story, that it doesn't really matter. Being a fan of films that reveal story more through imagery than dialogue, I really loved this movie. The camera shots are not fantastic, but I liked watching the characters talk about things and know the subtext that was occurring through their actions far outweighed what their words did not reveal. A really great movie and by far one of the most original of the genre. Sun, 28 Aug 2011 13:21:46 GMT Strigoi (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1117636/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1117636/ IMDB: 5.6 / Rot Critics: N/A / Rot Aud: N/A / My Score: 9.2 My opinion: This film is one of the most original comedies of the genre I have ever seen. It was unusual and full of double meaning and random startling moments. It was confusing and fantastic and the unique vision of the director really makes the story shine. It focuses on the Strigoi, a particular folk myth in eastern Europe about witchcraft and vampirism. The movie is a mystery, a puzzle and an intriguing look into the region post-communism. A very perplexing and fascinating film. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:01:40 GMT The Last Man on Earth (1964) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058700/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058700/ IMDB: 6.9 / Rot Critics: 6.3 / Rot Aud: 7.2 / My Score: 9.0 My opinion: Of the three film adaptations of "I Am Legend", this is my favorite. Vincent Price very effectively presents the growing insanity of the last man on the planet and the problem he is faced with is chilling. Of all the films in which vampirism is presented as a plague-like disease, this is by far the best. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:02:07 GMT The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061655/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061655/ IMDB: 7.2 / Rot Critics: 6.2 / Rot Aud: 7.4 / My Score: 8.5 My opinion: There are many vampire comedies, but this is probably the one that is the most classically funny. Relying heavily on situational humor and physical comedy the movie is timeless. Also it pokes fun at classic vampire films (in particular the Hammer Horror films) which are so easy targets to poke fun at. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:41:44 GMT Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040068/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040068/ IMDB: 7.3 / Rot Critics: 7.2 / Rot Aud: 7.6 / My Score: 7.0 My opinion: You can't help but relate to poor Wilbur while watching this movie and that is what makes it so terribly funny. These poor guys get thrown in with not one, but three classic horror monsters. This is the original blueprint for a horror comedy movie and has such classic jokes that it is still funny today. A bit higher on the list than I personally would place it, but definitely worth watching. A good choice for a family horror night with the kids. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:42:19 GMT The Addiction (1995) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112288/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112288/ IMDB: 6.2 / Rot Critics: 6.3 / Rot Aud: 7.0 / My Score: 9.5 My opinion: This film has a very gritty performance by Lily Taylor. She is fantastic as the addict vampire. Also it does a great job of delving into the philosophy of being a vampire and the manner in which the psychology of these vampires in their evil, damned aspects is frequently like that of an addict. A really great unusual movie full of heady philosophy. Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:50:00 GMT Isle of the Dead (1945) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037820/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037820/ IMDB: 6.5 / Rot Critics: 6.3. / Rot Aud: 6.6 / My Score: 9.5 My opinion: This film was discovered by me at the website <a class="offsite-link" rel="nofollow" href="http://taliesinttlg.blogspot.com/2009/01/taliesins-top-100.html">Taliesin meets the vampires: Taliesin's Top 100</a>, which is a website that has the most extensive vampire film reviews I have ever seen. (Over 1000!) Taliesin has this listed as his number one vampire film. I won't go that far, but this one is definitely memorable and willl leave you pondering it long after watching it. Interestingly, the movie doesn't really have a vampire in it. The story all revolves around the superstitious fears of vampires and what they manifest. It is not without flaws, but it is a truly fantastic and original film. Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:34:59 GMT Stake Land (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1464580/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1464580/ IMDB: 6.5 / Rot Critics: 6.5 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 9.0 My opinion: The very low budget gritty quality of this film is what adds to its appeal in many ways. Unlike many blockbuster films, Stake Land relies most heavily on the performances of its actors to tell a serious vampire apocalypse story in what we must assume is a fairly early stage of the overall deterioration of things. It is also in many ways a coming of age story. Original and well done. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:43:30 GMT Horror of Dracula (1958) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051554/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051554/ IMDB: 7.5 / Rot Critics: 7.6 / Rot Aud: 7.4 / My Score: 6.0 My opinion: This being one of the original and best of the Hammer Horror films, many people hold it very dear in their hearts, and, for the time it was made, it actually is a pretty good adaptation of Dracula. It is more sinister and horrific than Bela Lugosi's Dracula in its more graphic depictions of blood and violence (most eery being that of the lady in white), but the problem with the movie is the stage productions are so obvious, the sets so obviously sets, and the blood so obviously fake, that it makes the whole thing laughable, not only that but the first few scenes are overly dramatic and poorly written. What once might have been frightening, just seems mostly campy today, and to me, that makes it less than great. Highly overrated film, but still worth a watch for vampire film fans. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:30:38 GMT Dracula (1979) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079073/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079073/ IMDB: 6.2 / Rot Critics: 6.0 / Rot Aud: 6.2 / My Score: 10.0 My opinion: This was the first version of Dracula I ever saw, and I still have a love of it. I consider this the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" of Dracula movies. It may not be the most faithful adaptation of Dracula, but it is certainly action packed. This was the first time Dracula was presented in a romantic manner, and Frank Langella plays him with an intensity that makes him sexy, smart, and dangerous. Exactly what a vampire should be. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:22:06 GMT Salem's Lot (1979 TV Movie) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079844/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079844/ IMDB: 6.6 / Rot Critics: 6.4 / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 9.0 My opinion: I originally saw this back in the 90s when it was released on video for the first time. At that time, the only version that was available was the 112 minute version, and I was not that impressed. When I rewatched this to make this list, I watched the full 180 minute version, and I finally understood what all the fuss was about! I definitely recommend watching the full version. As Hitchcock so eloquently proved, suspense and suspicion are key ingredients in horror and film, and this movie has that in spades. Definitely among the creepiest of the genre. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:23:56 GMT The Hunger (1983) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085701/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085701/ IMDB: 6.4 / Rot Critics: 5.4 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 9.7 My opinion: This film is oozing with style and the story is largely revealed through flashes of imagery more than dialogue. Again, one of my favorites, and a largely under appreciated film. It has the best opening sequence of any vampire film I have ever seen. For that reason alone, it is worth watching. Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:25:14 GMT Blood and Roses (1960) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053802/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053802/ IMDB: 6.6 / Rot Critics: N/A / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 8.2 My opinion: This is a beautiful film and really original for the time in which it was made. The dream sequence is very odd and disturbing and the ambiguity of whether Carmilla is crazy was quite good as well. More of a classically gothic story than anything else, it was very beautiful, if a bit talkative at moments. A good movie. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:42:01 GMT 30 Days of Night (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389722/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389722/ IMDB: 6.6 / Rot Critics: 5.5 / Rot Aud: 6.6 / My Score: 9.5 My opinion: For shear adrenalin rush terror, this movie is the one to beat in this genre. The actors all contribute subtly to the story through downplayed performances, and we get hints to a back story that is quite dynamic through this, but that all takes a back seat to the intense survival of the smartest storyline that unfolds. The movie revolves around one simple idea: What if your town was attacked by not one, but a group of vampires (who are fast, fierce, smart, and powerful) and virtually their only vulnerability (daylight) was eliminated? What would that look like? It would look like this movie. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:02:47 GMT From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116367/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116367/ IMDB: 7.2 / Rot Critics: 6.0 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 8.2 My opinion: This movie - like most of Quentin Tarantino's films - is good, violent fun. His dialogue has to quickly keep pace with the horror violence of this vampire flick, but overall it is fun, funny, and highly entertaining, if completely absurd. There are some moments of rambling by some of the characters which seems a bit much, but George Clooney is great at subtly reminding us how ridiculous the movie is even while being cool. Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:33:47 GMT Mr. Vampire (1985) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089371/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089371/ IMDB: 7.4 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 7.6 / My Score: 6.0 My opinion: An unexpected comedy with lots of physical humor, this turned out to be a very good movie that actually made me laugh out loud occasionally. The action sequences are very entertaining and the overall plot while being pretty crazy, was still really original. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:43:16 GMT I Am Legend (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480249/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480249/ IMDB: 7.1 / Rot Critics: 6.4 / Rot Aud: 7.2 / My Score: 7.0 My opinion: Will Smith does a great job in this third big screen adaptation of "I Am Legend". ("Last Man on Earth" and "Omega Man" being the first two versions.) And while I prefer Vincent Price's performance and the smaller scope of "The Last Man on Earth", this is a good adaptation of this story, too. The only thing I didn't particularly care for was the look and mannerisms of the "Vambies" (That is my word for vampire zombies - deal with it). Otherwise, a good film overall. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:43:05 GMT Day Watch (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409904/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409904/ IMDB: 6.5 / Rot Critics: 5.9 / Rot Aud: 7.0 / My Score: 8.2 My opinion: The perfect compliment to Night Watch, this film keeps the style and tone of the first film and brings the whole story to a good ending. I felt the final battle of the film seemed to drag on a bit long, but overall it was a great movie. The two movies really complete each other. Here it is best to watch them back to back as one story. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:38:19 GMT Cronos (1993) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104029/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104029/ IMDB: 6.7 / Rot Critics: 7.4 / Rot Aud: 7.0 / My Score: 6.5 My opinion: Cronos is one of the few successful sci-fi vampire stories, I've seen. Guillermo Del Toro and Ron Perlman teamed up together for the first time on this film, long before reteaming for "Blade II" and made a pretty decent vampire film together. What's great about this film is the characters, settings, and back story are well developed, interesting, and unusual, which makes it enjoyable to watch. The problem I had with the movie is that it spends too much time focusing on how the main character is physically changing into a vampire and too much time showing other characters attempting to kill him for the device. Overall, though, it was still a very good movie. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:12:40 GMT Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293113/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293113/ IMDB: 6.9 / Rot Critics: 7.4 / Rot Aud: 7.0 / My Score: 6.2 My opinion: This is a very well done film and it is interesting since it is done largely in ballet in black and white with specific splashes of color for emphasis. I enjoyed it, but again, I feel perhaps it has been a bit overrated. After all, it is a silent BALLET of Dracula. Sat, 02 Apr 2011 15:02:53 GMT Trouble Every Day (2001) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0204700/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0204700/ IMDB: 6.0 / Rot Critics: 5.6 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 9.0 My opinion: First off, I will caution that this film has a few harsh scenes of realistic graphic sex and violence. I was not really expecting much from this bilingual film, but I was very pleasantly surprised. It took me off guard at how it combined the intense need for blood in a very sexual way for these characters. For me, this film exemplified the human dichotomy between love and desire really well. It does not have a very elaborate plot and the pacing might be a little slow for some people, but the gritty realism of the film and the superb acting were just note perfect for me. Absolutely one of the best of the genre. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:15:32 GMT Blade II (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187738/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187738/ IMDB: 6.6 / Rot Critics: 6.0 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 8.0 My opinion: As many critics have already said, this movie is much better than the original Blade. In Guilllermo del Toro's skilled hands, Blade is not only a fantastic comic book action movie, but has a very good storyline, smart characters, good acting, and really good dialogue, which was what was lacking in the original film. A really good action vampire film. Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:01:40 GMT Fright Night (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1438176/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1438176/ IMDB: 6.4 / Rot Critics: 6.3 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 7.7 My opinion: Remakes are a hard thing to judge fairly, particularly when an original film is so greatly beloved as the original Fright Night is by many people, myself included. The greatest judge of the success of a remake is if the filmmakers are able to pay a bit of homage to the original and the spirit of it, and yet make the film something uniquely their own. This retelling of Fright Night does this wonderfully. It loses some points in my book for the pure fact that it is a remake and not an original story, but for its fantastic performances, particularly from David Tennant and Colin Farrell (Farrell makes this character his own here, completely) and its alternately scary and humorous tone, this film is a great success. A remake worth watching, even for fans of the original. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:42:34 GMT Night Watch (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/ IMDB: 6.4 / Rot Critics: 5.9 / Rot Aud: 6.6 / My Score: 8.2 My opinion: Night Watch has such a great premise and is so well filmed and directed that it needed to be included on this list, even though it is not exclusively about vampires and doesn't deal with vampirism in any typical sense. This is more a story about all supernatural beings and their struggle to be good or evil. This is a really great action movie though, and it is worth watching. It's unusual and a great addition to this genre. Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:57:58 GMT Vampire Circus (1972) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067924/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067924/ IMDB: 6.4 / Rot Critics: 6.3 / Rot Aud: 7.0 / My Score: 7.2 My opinion: The plot of this film is ok, the acting decent, the costumes, sets, and makeup, not bad for Hammer, and the effects are pretty good too. This is not a brilliant film, but there is really only one reason to watch it and that is an awesome reason - two words - VAMPIRE CIRCUS Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:38:05 GMT Blade (1998) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120611/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120611/ IMDB: 7.0 / Rot Critics: 5.7 / Rot Aud: 7.2 / My Score: 7.0 My opinion: Blade is a great concept and has a good story, nice action sequences and decent acting. It has the second best opening sequence of any vampire movie I've seen, (that club and the following battle were just superb) but the writing is just bad. Like the even worse third film, "Blade: Trinity", this film suffers from faulty logic in its storyline. The pure bloods being so weak didn't make sense and don't even get me started on the whole sunscreen bit. Even more than this though, the characters tend to monologue too much - particularly Deacon Frost. Despite this, the film is still a pretty kicking action comic book movie and worth watching. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:42:49 GMT The Wisdom of Crocodiles (1998) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120894/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120894/ IMDB: 6.1 / Rot Critics: 5.3 / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 9.0 My opinion:The first time I saw this film, I found the pacing a bit slow, but upon watching it again, I've come to realize that this is really a fantastic film. There are layers to the performances here. Here the vampire must not just feed on blood, but must feed on love. This is more vampire as sociopath, but somehow you can't help but feel some empathy for him too. A very interesting film. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:16:04 GMT Chin gei bin (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0351887/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0351887/ IMDB: 5.5 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 6.6 / My Score: 8.0 My opinion: This film took me by surprise not just because of the strangeness of the two congruent love stories, one with vampire hunters and one with a vampire, but because it was so funny and random in its storytelling. The fight scenes are great fun and the unexpected addition of Jackie Chan in the story really added to the silliness. Not a brilliant movie, but definitely an original one and a fun martial arts action film too. Definitely worth watching. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:07:03 GMT Dracula's Daughter (1936) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027545/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027545/ IMDB: 6.3 / Rot Critics: 5.7 / Rot Aud: 6.2 / My Score: 8.5 My opinion: This is a very beautiful and tragic vampire film. Of the several sequels to Universal's version of Dracula, this was by far the best one. It picks up right where Dracula leaves off with Van Helsing forced to justify his actions, but what makes this movie really compelling is the performance of Gloria Holden, who is desperate to free herself from the curse of her father and start life fresh - and the impossibility of her doing that. This was the first good example of the tragedy of the vampire's plight. A really good film. Sat, 02 Apr 2011 15:16:58 GMT Marebito (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434179/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434179/ IMDB: 6.1 / Rot Critics: 5.0 / Rot Aud: 5.8 / My Score: 9.7 My opinion: Marebito is one of the most fascinating films I have ever seen, pure and simple. By the end of the film, I was not really sure which parts were meant to be real and which were from the perspective of the main character, but what was clear was that I had just seen one of the creepiest, visually rich, and original vampire movies ever. Some people won't like its dreamlike qualities and the impossible to fully understand plot, but I loved it. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:12:37 GMT Frostbitten (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454457/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454457/ IMDB: 5.5 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 8.0 My opinion: Sweden has contributed three truly excellent things to vampire cinema: Firstly, "Let the Right One", second Alexander Skarsgard, and finally, this little film, which gets its inspiration from the same source material as "30 Days of Night", although with a very different storyline. "Frostbitten" is very hard not to like. It has some very suspenseful and scary moments, but it has some utterly absurd moments of humor as well. It's this humor mixed with outrageous horror that makes this movie so fun to watch. A very good film. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:06:49 GMT Underworld (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320691/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320691/ IMDB: 6.9 / Rot Critics: 4.7 / Rot Aud: 7.2 / My Score: 7.7 My opinion: Many people have criticized Underworld and written it off as a Matrix wannabe, but having just rewatched this, and having since seen the two sequels, while I admit it has a comic book storyline and borrows heavily on style from The Matrix, it actually has a really great and intricate plot, good acting, and a fully developed story. Of all the comic-book-style, action-film type of movies in this genre, this is one of the best. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:46:56 GMT Twins of Evil (1971) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069427/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069427/ IMDB: 6.5 / Rot Critics: 6.2 / Rot Aud: N.A. / My Score: 7.2 My opinion: Of the many Hammer Horror vampire films, this is definitely one of the best. I really enjoyed Peter Cushing's performance of a much more ambiguous character in this film than his typical Van Helsing performance in many of his other films. Here the issue of what is Godly has become a lot more complex and it is great fun watching a vampire movie with twins. We are even treated to some of the Karnstein mythology in this film as well. Overall a really good film that I have a hard time finding much fault with. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:07:36 GMT Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098412/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098412/ IMDB: 6.2 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 6.6 / My Score: 7.0 My opinion: This movie really threw me for a loop when I saw it. First of all, it is a modern day vampire WESTERN starring David Carradine and Bruce Campbell of all people, and it revolves around a town of vampires. If that idea isn't intriguing enough to make you want to watch it, then this is not a movie for you. I found this to be both silly and original, and an all around fun movie. This is definitely one you could watch with the kids, and it introduces original plot ideas that have since popped up in "True Blood". A really good film. Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:01:37 GMT Perfect Creature (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403407/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403407/ IMDB: 5.3 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 5.8 / My Score: 8.5 My opinion: This film was another pleasant surprise. I never heard anything about this before watching it, so I was surprised to find it had really excellent sets and costuming (almost steam punk), a good strong storyline and good acting. As it turns out, this little import from New Zealand had the fourth largest budget in their history, so it makes good sense. On top of all this, Perfect Creature is an interesting sci-fi story and has a unique view of vampirism. The ending seemed a bit too abrupt to me, but overall, a really impressive addition to the genre and the best sci-fi vampire movie I have seen. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:43:48 GMT The Vampire Lovers (1970) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066518/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066518/ IMDB: 6.4 / Rot Critics: 5.2 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 7.7 My opinion: This film really surprised me. Of all the Hammer Horror films, this one had the best direction and tone and writing. This is a pretty faithful adaptation of "Carmilla". I really got drawn into the performance of the vampire in this, and the moments of subtle suggestion from the mystery man. He is an enigma that kept me fascinated after finishing it. This film is classic horror done really well. Not for everyone, but if you like classic Hammer style horror, then this is the one to watch. It is well worth it. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:29:40 GMT Hotel Transylvania (2012) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0837562/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0837562/ IMDB: 7.0 / Rot Critics: 5.4 / Rot Aud: 8.2 / My Score: 6.0 My opinion: I have to admit my expectations were pretty low for this animated film. There have been a barrage of overly silly animated films over the last several years, and while this film was not always perfect and perhaps tried a little too hard to have a message for the kids. I have to admit I was really fond of many of the characters and the jokes really did make me laugh consistently. The standout performance in the film is Andy Samberg's clueless human character, which I found hilarious from his first scene. Maybe not perfectly brilliant, but definitely one of the more enjoyable kid friendly monster films. Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:39:23 GMT We Are the Night (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692504/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692504/ IMDB: 6.2 / Rot Critics: 5.4 / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 8.0 My opinion: This is the most stylistic vampire movie I have seen in a long time, and has a classic coolness to it, reminiscent of the Lost Boys in its day. Indeed the story in many ways was also reminiscent of the classic vampire film Near Dark in story arc, if it were set in Berlin in the modern age, with a techno soundtrack and style that pays homage to Run Lola Run, and all the vamps were powerful women. All in all a very cool film that I found highly enjoyable, if a bit derivative and not offering too much that was all that new. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:18:55 GMT Tale of a Vampire (1992) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105527/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105527/ IMDB: 5.2 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 6.6 / My Score: 7.7 My opinion: When I first saw this movie several years ago, I really liked it a lot, and on subsequent viewing found myself liking it even more. There is something about Julian Sands that just sort of naturally screams "Vampire!" at me anyhow, so it was sort of a non-brainer to have him star in this film. The movie is a slow, character study of a vampire and an offbeat love story, but it has a surprisingly well developed back story to it. The only thing bad about it I can really say is that I was disappointed with the ending. I would have liked more resolution to the story, but in general, it was a very good vampire film, if a bit hard to find. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:16:29 GMT Daybreakers (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433362/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433362/ IMDB: 6.5 / Rot Critics: 6.1 / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 7.0 My opinion: This movie's premise is really interesting. Most of the population are vampires and are assimilated, but what would they do with a shortage of blood? This is a more sci-fi type of vampire movie again, but it really asks some interesting questions on choice in becoming a vampire. Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, and Ethan Hawke all have strong performances in this, and it is another unusual and interesting film. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:01:45 GMT The Countess (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0496634/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0496634/ IMDB: 6.1 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 7.0 My opinion: The Countess is a retelling of the story of Countess Erzebeth Bathory. Those who are familiar with one of the so-called historical "vampires" of history will see that much of the historical account of the Countess rings true. This is not a story of a vampire myth, but an account of a historical person who had a certain desire for blood with the belief that it made her younger. It is an excellent story and well-told in this film, but overall the film left me feeling mentally engaged but cold. Perhaps it was the way Julie Delpy portrayed the countess, but I never really cared about the plight of the character in this. An interesting historical film all the same, and well told. Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:18:45 GMT The Revenant (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1336006/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1336006/ IMDB: 6.3 / Rot Critics: 5.8 / Rot Aud: 6.6 / My Score: 7.0 My opinion: This one took me by surprise. I have to admit, I had fairly low expectations for this low budget indie horror comedy, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. The filmmakers did a good job of straddling the line between a serious tone and absurdity. With moments that felt very real, wherein the audience could identify with the reactions of the characters, interspersed with ultraviolence and absurd humor on par with the Evil Dead series, overall, the film is just good fun. For fans of both vampires and zombies. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:19:12 GMT Innocent Blood (1992) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104511/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104511/ IMDB: 6.0 / Rot Critics: 4.4 / Rot Aud: 6.0 / My Score: 9.2 My opinion: As a fan of gangster movies and films that mix genres, I really fell for this movie. The vampire is cute and funny and the story is really funny too. It's well written and smart and one of the few vampire gangster movies in existence. A must see for vampire movie fans. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:21:37 GMT Blood & Donuts (1995) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112527/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112527/ IMDB: 5.6 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 7.2 My opinion: This is another somewhat difficult to find vampire film, perhaps because it is a smaller Canadian film, but it is worth it if you can get a copy. What I particularly liked about this movie is that the vampire in the story is so idiosyncratic. I found him fascinating to watch and that made him more appealing. This is a very cute and sweet movie in general, (if you can call a vampire movie that) and I definitely recommend it. Its only real flaw is having some utterly absurd moments (particularly at the end) and not a lot really happens in the film, but in this case, it didn't really bother me much. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:38:08 GMT Thirst (1979) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080016/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080016/ IMDB: 5.6 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 6.4 / My Score: 7.2 My opinion: This little film from Australia really surprised me with it's advanced themes. The horror here is not traditional vampire horror. The focus is instead on the systematic psychological programming of the main character and is in many ways more overwhelming and more terrifying. A really good film overall with some interesting effects. Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:21:41 GMT Midnight Son (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068961/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068961/ IMDB: 5.6 / Rot Critics: 6.4 / Rot Aud: 7.0 / My Score: 6.5 My opinion: Another pleasant indie surprise. While there is very little new in this film, it is done exceptionally well in this case. Here we have a vampire story where the character does not know he is a vampire and the audience does not know how he became afflicted, but much like similar character study films that deal with vampirism as affliction, we have a film that is a study in the growing confusion of dealing with a physical disorder that is becoming ever more dangerous. It's biggest failing is its lack of budget and a few weak supporting performances, but it has excellent and realistic main characters, terrific pacing, and is well worth watching. Sun, 05 Dec 2010 14:06:36 GMT The Living Dead Girl (1982) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084357/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084357/ IMDB: 5.7 / Rot Critics: N.A. / Rot Aud: 6.2 / My Score: 7.2 My opinion: First off, it could be debated whether the main character in this is a vampire or a zombie. Toxic spill and eating of flesh and lack of fangs would indicate zombie, but the character drinks blood and remembers her life, that would imply vampire. I'm gonna say it is okay to include it here. That said, let me say that the performance of Francoise Blanchard in this is so note perfect that it really made all my other complaints of the film just sort of dissolve into thin air. Here is a vampire film which really shows the horror of life as a vampire. She cannot drink animal blood and she cannot control her thirst for human blood. She knows she is evil and she is being driven insane by her actions. I like Jean Rollin's sort of real life storytelling pace, but the rest of the actors are just okay at best. Also, it is pretty gory at moments and sometimes the gore was too over-the-top for me and seemed unrealistic, but overall it was well done. A good vampire film if a fairly straightforward one. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:19:25 GMT Daughters of Darkness (1971) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067690/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067690/ IMDB: 6.5 / Rot Critics: 6.6 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 5.5 My opinion: What I found interesting about this film was that the majority of the violence that actually occurs in it is perpetrated by the humans and not the vampires. There are some interesting sadomasochistic moments in this film and some odd moments that left me confused and wondering. That is a plus in my book. On the other hand, the ending was absurd and disappointing and really ruined the whole thing for me in general. Overall it was ok, but there are much better films in this genre. Again, this one has been highly overrated. Sun, 25 Nov 2012 11:44:32 GMT Films to Keep You Awake: A Real Friend (2006 TV Movie) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461826/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461826/ IMDB: 5.2 / Rot Critics: N/A / Rot Aud: 5.6 / My Score: 8.2 My opinion: This Spanish film has a slow storyline, but I felt the slow pace and the fantastic elements really helped it to build a compelling story. This was a sweetly told nightmare tale. Sun, 25 Nov 2012 11:45:34 GMT The Brides of Dracula (1960) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053677/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053677/ IMDB: 6.8 / Rot Critics: 6.1 / Rot Aud: 6.8 / My Score: 5.5 My opinion: I've decided to raise the score I gave this film, which I had originally rated much lower. It is a Hammer film that has actually stood much higher in my memory than I rated it for originally, and while it is not perfect, it is certainly one of the first vampire films to present a soft spoken, attractive, and seductive vampire in its lead role, which I think was a master stroke of originality that has been repeatedly used in later films. Another excellent Hammer film, if a bit dated. If you are a fan of Hammer, you will certainly love it, however. Sun, 19 May 2013 13:01:56 GMT Netherbeast Incorporated (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787495/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787495/ IMDB: 5.2 / Rot Critics: N/A / Rot Aud: 6.2 / My Score: 7.5 My opinion: This film is the Office Space of vampire movies. Essentially setting vampires in corporate environment, it was kooky and oddly humorous. One of the more original vampire films I have seen.