Summary
Vampires have populated media for quite some time, starting out as bloodthirsty creatures on the pages of books, such as Stoker’sDraculaor Le Fanu’sCarmilla. Eventually, these fanged monsters made it to Hollywood in the year of 1922 withNosferatu, a silent movie that closely resembled the plot ofDracula.
Ever since, vampires have been popular movie monsters, and they are often perfect for the roles of beautiful yet terrifying villains. They look human, but beneath their skin lurks a beast that will tear open the necks of their victims without blinking. There is plenty of talk about the kings of the night, but what about the queens, who are just as iconic (if not more so) than their male counterparts?
Despite being called theLeague of Extraordinary Gentlemen, both the group and the titular movie feature an iconic female character fromDraculafame. The character in question is Mina Harker, who has been bestowed with vampirism by Dracula. Part ofan ambitious superhero-esque squadcontaining many famed novel heroes, such as Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, and Ishmael, this team is tasked with stopping Fantom from assassinating world leaders, as many countries stand on the brink of declaring war.
Mina Harker more than proves that she is a match for any gentleman on this team, as not only is she an immortal vampire, but she is also an accomplished scientist, proving that she has both brawns and brain. Her self-dependence is made very apparent when she is kidnapped, intended to be used to blackmail the other members of the league, and drains the blood of her attacker, not content to play damsel in the tower.
An achingly somber yet romantic movie,Only Lovers Left Alivecenters around two vampires named Adam and Eve and their peculiar love story that has weathered ages. Unlike other vampire movies in the genre, there aren’t lashings of fantasy, myth, gothic horror, or gore here; the movie essentially follows two vampires as they cruise through the nights and contemplate their own existences and endless future.
The simplicity and grounded nature of this movie leaves plenty of room for strongly written and compelling characters. Eve comes across as a strong and sensible woman with a strong love for Adam, and she seems somewhat protective of him, especially as he falls into a deep depression. Viewers won’t be able tohelp but root for the coupleand grow a deep admiration for Eve.
In the small Swedish suburb of Blackenberg, a young girl named Eli moves into the apartment next to Oskar, a young boy who lives with his mother and is the victim of a group of school bullies. Eli comes to be something of a light in his life as the pair become friends, and she encourages him to take a stand against those who pick on him.
But what Oskar doesn’t yet realize is that Eli isn’t quite an ordinary girl; rather, she is a vampire, which is why she expresses that they cannot be friends at first. Whether it is pity, a real desire to connect, or hunger, something compels her to form a bond with Oskar. All throughout the movie, Eli demonstrates that she is not about to sit idly by as bullies continue to torment Oskar, and she even dismembers many of them. While this may be taking things too far, her protective nature is endearing and lets viewers know that, wherever the pair end up, Eli will continue to be a protector.
Under orders from the Vatican, Van Helsing journeys to Transylvania to kill Dracula and protect Anna and Velkan Valerious, the last descendants ofan ancient Romanian family sworn to slay the vampire. But there is more than just the one vampire to contend with, as Dracula’s three brides, Aleera, Marishka, and Verona, are perhaps even more fearful than Dracula himself.
The three of them are a force to be reckoned with, as they have the ability to fly and are more than capable of tearing their prey apart. Though they eventually fall one by one, the brides are still one of the more exciting parts of the movie, and they have staunchly remained as fan favorites.
From Dusk Till Dawnsees two robbers take a vacationing family hostage and force them to smuggle them across the border to the gentleman’s club where they are due to meet their contact, Carlos, at dawn. They are eventually given quite a show by the women working there, and one in particular, going by the name of Santanico Pandemonium, gains the adoration of any who behold her.
Not only does she have the most inventive and coolest names of all time, but she also has a magnifying stage presence that makes her the most memorable character in the whole movie, despite not being the main character. An alluringly beautiful woman at first, Santanicoreveals her monstrous vampire formafter her initial introduction, eliciting disgust and fear while also adding an interesting spin to the vampire mythos.
A continuation ofInterview with the Vampire,Queen of the Damnedbrings back famous vampire Lestat, who openly admits on screen that he is a vampire, catching the intrigue of paranormal investigators. His music awakens an ancient vampire known as Akasha, who is, in fact, the first vampire in existence.
Her pursuit of Lestat throughout the movie doesn’t deter Akasha from being a character in her own right, with her alluring and dangerous nature being made clear through her murderous actions, such as burning other vampires to death without hesitation. Every moment on the screen, she commands the audience’s attention, right through to her dramatic death towards the climax. Though it is tragic how fans may never see her grace the screen again,Queen of the Damnedstill stands as a fantastic legacy to this iconic vampire.
An adaptation of the popular Anne Rice novel,Interview with the Vampirechronicles the existence of vampires Louis and Lestat, as Louis gives his account of his life with him to a reporter. The movie flashes back to showcase his siring, his life as a vampireduring the 19th century, and his growing hatred for his sire. In a bid to manipulate him, Lestat sires Claudia, damning her to an eternity as a child.
Her existence is an interesting one, as it does raise the question as to how one would navigate immortality with the body as a child as their mind continues to mature. The audience bear witness to Claudia’s frustrations as she grapples with this herself in the movie, resulting in understandable outbursts of anger at Lestat and Louis. Her tragic story has a tragic conclusion, as she is burned to death under the light of the sun. Still, she left an indelible mark on the movie and will go down in history as one of the most underappreciated movie vampires.
Underworldis a moody series of movies, centering around a vampire named Selene caught in a conflict between vampires and lycans. This individual has also become one of the most popular and beloved movie vampires of all time. With there being five total movies in the main series, fans have plenty of bloody goodness to sink their fangs into, even if later installments such asBlood Warsweren’t as warmly received.
But even in her worst movies, Selene is a stand-out character and a shining example of just how cool, capable, and well-written female vampires can and should be. She is more than a bloodythirsty death dealer, having the wits to question elders and enough compassion to aid the hybrid Michael. Selene’s story may have come to an end, but her legacy still remains.Underworldwould not be nearly the same without Selene as the leading lady.
