I discovered this National Geographic documentary on vampires on YouTube. It’s from late 2006 but probably more relevant and interesting for people nowadays than 3 years ago.
Watch it – the narrative and ideas are very enjoyable. It’s a crash course on vampire folklore as well as weaving an argument pro-and-con vampire existence using history, forensic science, modern medicine and chilling case studies.
The most intriguing part of the episode for me was when they interviewed so-called real life vampire Don Henrie. I’ve seen Don before on television interviews (Tyra Banks show I think from a couple years ago) and he’s apparently the “face” of the real life vampire community in the U.S. That being said, I recall hearing that the vampire community is torn about having a real life celebrity face like Don. Though it’s nice that real vampires finally get some recognition (Don’s openness welcomes others of his kind to step out), other vampires are furious because their very existence is supposed to be shrouded in mystery. Also, anti-Don vampires are upset because now pseudo-real vampire posers are stepping out and claiming the dark gift and they’re obviously not the real real thing. Because technically real real vampires would never do such a thing. And pseudo-real vampires are obviously just impostors channeling the fictional myths fed to the public by media so no one truly knows what vampires are really like … and then the argument gets supremely confusing (and preposterous) and probably best not to think too deeply about it.
Visit Don Henrie’s Myspace page if you’d like – he lives by the motto, “You cannot see the stars without the darkness.” (I believe he only found his darkness a couple years ago because he used to be a computer programmer or something in a 9-5 job… before he suddenly realized that he was a vampire. That’s called “awakening.”)
Some of the stories National Geographic shares concerning real vampires are not as nice as Don’s (since he doesn’t prey on innocent humans). Some are deeply unsettling. But that just means it makes for a good watch and lessons to learn.
I was roaming Suburban Vampire when I came across an intriguing list of vampire-related films that are slated to be released in 2010. Being a huge film buff, I’d like to share the ones I think are going to be most exciting with you. I was pleasantly surprised by the length of the list (or perhaps not judging by the widespread hype about the genre nowadays), but as usual, most offerings coming up are strictly B-movie fare and not worth the light of day. (Unfortunately since I am so dedicated to dark material concerning immortals, I tend to suffer through these horrid films anyways. And yes, they never do get better.)
Bucking the trend were the following mentions. Of course, I won’t know until I actually view the films whether they’re of merit or not but my hopes are high. Sorry to say for many of the films I won’t be able to offer a more specific time frame of when the movie will be released, other than to say “sometime in 2010.” (Helpful, I know.) I tried to uncover this information online but other sources seem at a lost also. I think the only way to find out is to upgrade to an IMDb Pro account and alas, that is not going to happen.
The Historian
Based of course on the 2005 best-selling novel of the same name by Elizabeth Kostova, people are sure to get excited about this film as more news emerges. I’m envisioning a similar historical thriller film style to the Da Vinci Code, except much more eerie. Kostova was originally inspired to write this book because of childhood stories her father told her of Dracula; hence, the novel blends history and folklore surrounding Dracula and his real life inspiration Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler.
Sony bought rights to the novel for $1.5 million and the film is currently in development. Kostova has recommended certain famous names to portray her characters, however, she is insisting that the actor who plays Dracula must be unknown. For someone to convey a truly frightening and strange presence, she believes that the audience must be unfamiliar with him.
The Knights Templar
Universal Pictures always gets the most interesting pick in movies. The Knights Templar story is definitely not new, but this time around the twist is that the knights are forced to defend the Holy Grail from a band of vampires who seek to have it destroyed. Variety states that the storyline occurs following the Crusades where these legendary fighters from the Middle Ages combat an evil vampire army. We wonder what motive these vampires will have for wanting to destroy the cup of Christ. If it’s anything like Dracula 2000 then I am beyond excited. I love religion and folklore mash ups. Plus, good-old-fashioned showdowns with swords are also a perk to watch.
Let Me In
If the title sounds vaguely familiar (along with the poster) then it’s because this is the U.S. remake of the beloved dark Swedish film Let the Right One In. The original coming-of-age tale discusses feelings of childhood alienation, bullying, improbable friendship, young love and vampires. The original has garnered major praise as both bleak and wonderfully beautiful. Though a critical success, the Swedish version didn’t attract mainstream American audiences, which is what this new adaptation aspires to do. I loved the original – the film’s vibe is definitely chilling, but you can’t help but smile at the growing love between Oskar and the vampire Eli. Watch it and then wait for the adaptation to hit theaters.
There is an official release date for this and it’s October 1, 2010.
Last Blood
Post-apocalyptic world where vampires must protect the last remaining group of humans safe from the zombie plague… because or else they would starve. I know the story sounds like a joke (and not a very good one), but I read a bit of the comic (that the film is based on) online… and I must say, I was quite pleasantly surprised. The vampires are skilled killers but they also seem to have hearts. (One of them was responsible for killing Hitler back in the day.) I think the vibe of the comic is pretty tongue-in-cheek and definitely makes you smirk. If this is preserved in the film adaptation then the movie should prove to be quite entertaining. Enjoy an excerpt below and read the comic online here.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
… Small film coming out summer 2010 sometime. About a love triangle between a human, vampire and werewolf. Don’t expect too much buzz.
The other day I was reading a post from DarkFaery Subculture Magazinethat brought up many intriguing points explaining why girls and women today are looking for vampire lovers. The ideas expressed in the post were so incredibly accurate and simple that I’m amazed I did not consider this before. The original post’s main topic of discussion is why there are no (or very little) ugly vampires in media… but then the discussion delves into love and why vampires offer the undying love that every girl or woman dreams of, hence the subsequent obsession with finding a vampire soul mate. And because vampires don’t exist, the only way to vicariously live out this immortal love experience is to worship fictional vampires like Edward Cullen. (Because in reality, I think very few women are attracted to the actor Robert Pattinson, sans broody vampire personality.)
It used to be that girls and women would dream of their own Prince Charming who would come sweep them off their feet and then they would live out their perfect lives together. Prince Charming was dashing, charismatic, good-looking, moral… pretty much the all-around perfect man. It’s a wonder when fanged, pale, soulless creatures of the night arrived and kicked Prince Charming out of the picture.
Now why are females dropping their dreams with Prince Charming in favor of the complete antithesis? … A dark, secretive and ultra-complicated relationship with a man who definitely has issues, and with at times uncontrollable propensities towards acts of evil?
Because it seems that the powerful idea of love for eternity draws women in like a potent drug. Vampires offer what Prince Charming can’t. Prince Charming will give you a love for a lifetime. Vampires provide love and devotion for this lifetime… and the next… and the next… it’s not a joke when the vampire lover says that he will be with you and love you forever.
There’s also a perceptible difference in the types of love offered by each. Prince Charming’s innately good nature assures you that his love is the most beautiful and pure in the world; that form of love is truly admirable and in a sense places the female object of his affection on a sort of pedestal. He admires her and loves her with a gentle goodness and song in his heart. Should he lose her, Prince Charming would spend the rest of his days in mourning and never be able to find another to make him happy again. Yes, we can look at this and say it is true love.
… However, contrast this with how a vampire would love his soul mate. A vampire’s love is burning, passionate and ceaseless. Nothing can stop him from being with the one he loves and his desire for her will never end. The vampire and his lover are on the same plane (as opposed to the pedestal) because he sees her as part of himself. He lived a mediocre existence before her and is only truly able to find happiness now, only because he has found her. If he were to be separated from his love, he could never truly be happy. In fact, should he lose her, in all likelihood he would take his own life in order to avoid suffering for eternity without she who makes him complete.
The true difference in the love of Prince Charming vs. the love of a vampire is that ultimately Prince Charming could still find happiness somehow after separation from his true love. Whereas a vampire’s love is so all-consuming that happiness cannot exist without his lover. Does this seem like the healthiest sort of love to have? Probably not. But it is the type of love that will promise any female devotion for eternity, which is perhaps why females don’t mind the darker bend on it. It’s so strong it’s like an addiction, which is reminiscent of Edward Cullen quotes to Bella (his soul mate):
“I don’t have the strength to stay away from you anymore.”
“I hate you for making me want you so much.”
“You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you.” (… and since he’s a vampire, it’s been a freaking long time.)
“It’s your scent. It’s like a drug to me. It’s like you’re my own personal brand of heroin.”
And why is it that vampires experience love with so much of their heart and soul (despite not really having one)? Why is it that they can resort to actions that may be deemed immoral or evil except when it comes to love? To answer this we will have to consult words of wisdom from my favorite fanged baddie, Spike (from Buffy), who despite being soulless was able to express love in its most devoted and beautiful state…
Spike: “You’ll be in love ’til it kills you both. You’ll fight, and you’ll shag, and you’ll hate each other ’til it makes you quiver… Real love isn’t brains, children. It’s blood. It’s blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may be love’s b*tch, but at least I’m man enough to admit it.”
I think the best contrast to make is comparing Ellie and Carl’s love in Disney-Pixar’s UP with that of Bella and Edward in Twilight. Both are obviously very powerful, but very different. I think right now I’m dreaming of the latter, but who knows in a few year’s time…
I posted before in November of last year that I was very excited for the release of Daybreakers, the supremely creepy-looking vampire flick starring Ethan Hawke. This is another example of how incredibly fast time flies because the wait is now over – Daybreakers will be arriving in theaters this Friday, January 8th. Unluckily for me, I have a rather busy weekend planned so my enjoyment of this film might have to wait a week. But for this film, I’m willing to try and make the effort to see it during mid-week or something as opposed to waiting until the next weekend.
In the meantime, I’ve been watching all the preview clips I can get my hands on – on repeat. Check out the two clips below to see if you’re interested in catching Daybreakers this weekend. Especially all you Anti-Twilight fans. I know the haters are so over the whole vampire genre, but I think everyone can still appreciate dark + crazy which this film most definitely is. Heck, I LOVE dark + crazy… vampires or no vampires.
There will be no broody, abnormally attractive (save for a few) vampires who talk incessantly about their emotions in this film. Instead, audiences will receive the full experience of what a vampire film should be – a supernatural sci-fi horror that’s rated R for a reason. Hawke said the following during a group interview Monday in Beverly Hills, CA and I completely agree:
“I think what’s good about this movie is it’s the first post-adolescent vampire movie in a long time. It’s an R-rated vampire movie. I remember being a kid and sleeping over at my friend’s house and staying up late and watching the Isabelle Adjani Nosferatu. Vampire movies are supposed to be secret and bad. They should be rated R.”
Hawke plays the character of vampire Edward Dalton who is a researcher in year 2019. Vampires have taken over the world and pushed the human population to near extinction. While the government is trying to capture every last remaining human and farm them for their blood, Dalton the scientist is trying to come up with a suitable blood substitute in time before the last drop of human blood runs out. And of course, there is the requisite band of rogue humans and covert vampires that have come up with a miracle cure that will save humanity (hopefully).
For me, the most fun thing about this film is the fact that vampires end up turning into some sort of terrifying vampire-mutant hybrid if they drink their own blood. And since some vampires who can’t afford the real thing are resorting to this measure that means there’s a handful of nasty monsters running around that both humans and vampires need to be afraid of. You’ll see what I mean in the attack clip below. You can’t help but chuckle when you hear Hawke’s vampire character let out a manly yelp when he sees the vampire-mutant.
The first clip shows a scene where the covert gang of humans accidentally get into a car accident with the scientist Dalton and he helps them out of a sticky situation. The second clip kicks your adrenaline up a notch since it shows what happens when you start splashing human blood all over your apartment.
We’ll see what the mainstream thinks, but Daybreakers definitely has the makings of a cult hit.
I’ve been feeling in the Christmas spirit lately. No big surprise considering it is December and Christmas is now just two weeks away. The world always seems to enter a surreal phase during this time for me: Christmas carols are playing on every radio station, I see commercials for all types of products on TV and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was just on last night. Everything is just so sweet and sappy.
… I love it.
Anyways, I’ve been looking into Christmas gifts for some friends who are fans of Goth culture. This kind of Christmas shopping is always the most fun because of all the intriguing gift items I come across. This year, I get to add a couple more friends to my dark Gothic gift list since a couple of them who would previously have nothing to do with anything vampire-like are now Twilight converts. So I’m going to humor their new obsession with vampire paraphernalia. They’ll probably hate the gift because it won’t have a picture of Edward or Jacob on it – oh well. (Speaking of… has anyone seen this ridiculous Twilight “Edward” holiday stocking on Amazon? The price tag of this oversized sock with Edward’s blown up face is outrageous.)
On sale for only $99.95... wait, what?
So here I am sharing some lovely vampire-inspired gift ideas that are suitable for any diehard Twilight shipper, Goth vampire wannabe or real vampire. Some are kooky, but they’re definitely all fun gifts for the holidays.
“Sealing wax”
Instead of signing and sealing in blood, you can use a dark crimson wax instead – it lends the same luxurious effect. In the past, lovers’ words were sealed this way to symbolize a passion meant only for the recipient. The prettiest seal I’ve seen is a stamp of a rose in dark glittering burgundy.
“Chalice”
Everyone should have at least two Gothic chalices to use when the mood strikes. They are sure to add elegance and color to any meal. They’re also very useful for intimidating dinner guests.
“Vampire perfume”
Aka. Bouquet du Vampyre… custom-created by a perfumer in New Orleans, it’s been known to be a scent that attracts vampires. The aroma is a blend of oils and ingredients from all over the world, but primarily the rose. Vampires adore the intoxicating fragrance of the rose which has a deep, sophisticated and musky smell. Purchase this brand of vampire perfume here.
“Poison pendant”
Small necklace with a compartment that opens to carry poison of your choice. Needs no further explanation on how useful this is.
“Gothic hourglass”
Black sand, fifteen-minute timer gives the perfect measurement time for ¼ of an hour. And it’s just so beautiful to admire.
Finally, this last gift idea is more suited for those who detest the vampire craze and are just waiting for the fad (and vampires) to die off:
“Vampire hunting kit”
Good ones should come with a couple wooden stakes, a vial of holy water, garlic powder (good for savory dishes as well), silver bullets, a revolver, and a holy cross as starter package. More vampire killing items can be acquired at a later time.
**Note: All of these lovely items (including the vampire hunting kit) can be purchased online at Boutique du Vampyre.
You’d think it would be hard to pull off pale and gorgeous at the same time, but these lovely vampire ladies are breath-taking. Out of all the undead females out there nowadays, I thought I’d share with you which ones I think are the most alluring (i.e. I find it difficult to take my eyes off them when they’re on screen). Beauty and fangs make for a killer combination.
5. Aaliyah as the Queen of the Damned (or ‘Akasha’)
The Queen of the Damned lives in Anne Rice’s vampire universe as the very first vampire ever created. She’s hyper sexual, manipulative and all around insane; it’s no surprise that the vampire boys love her. Plus her blood is a potent aphrodisiac. Though her speaking role in the film (with the same title) was negligible, Akasha stole every scene she was in because… well, look at her. That outfit gives me goosebumps.
4. Elena Anaya as Aleera
I always thought Dracula’s first bride was supposed to be the most enchanting? Well maybe she is but the youngest vampire bride Aleera in Van Helsing was definitely the most smoldering hot. I believe this is the reason why she survived to stick around until the end of the film so she could do battle with the primary female lead… epic cat fight. I kind of really wish she won. Her thick Transylvanian accent was music to one’s ears – that is if you’re into cold growl tones with a slight metallic quality.
3. Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen
The combination of innocent, pixie-like features and vampire fangs and blood is irresistible. Such a cute exterior to mask a killer nature. (Well, I suppose the entire family is vegetarian so that makes it less scary?) Though Alice has quirky style and sometimes looks a little too pale and washed out in the Twilight films, her sweet face and graceful demeanor are always a pleasure to behold. Alice often has this cute smirk on her face; it’s charming in that it seems to say to would-be aggressors, “Try something. Really, I dare you.”
2. Jun Ji-hyun as Saya
The young, but incredibly deadly protagonist in Blood: The Last Vampire. She’s half-human, half-vampire which makes her all the more glorious. The fact that she carries a huge katana (a sword to kill demons of course) and her cold, aloof personality makes her an intimidating presence. No surprise she’s a loner, but it makes you want to sit next to her and be her friend. When she’s in action slaughtering other demons, she’s at the peak of her blood-smeared beauty. (Just disregard the pig-tails.)
1. Kate Beckensale as Selene
Just look at that face… beauty that is captivating and definitely beyond mortal. It’s even better when Selene speaks and you catch a glimpse of her fangs now and then. (They are of the kind that don’t retract.) The best part of watching Underworld was seeing Selene nonchalantly pummel lycans left and right in her black spandex body suit. Even in the midst of flying bullets, crumbling buildings and spatters of blood – she always looked perfect. Enjoy Selene in the intro of Underworld below:
With the recent vampire obsession, I suppose it’s expected that I receive this question sooner or later from friends and others who are wondering how they can become vampires. Most of them ask me in jest, others are confused by the different and conflicting methods on how to turn offered in folklore and film, and still some others actually want to become real life vampires. The most interesting conversations have been spurred by this initial question.
In European folklore, when demons possess a person’s body then that individual becomes a vampire. It seems that the transformation process has become more elaborate than those days. I’d like to clarify and go over different myths by which vampires come to “life”:
1. Via a vampire’s kiss (otherwise knows as the bite)… this is the method that the Twilight family adopts. Some other popular vampire fiction also cites this method for turning (like Blade, Dracula, From Dusk ‘Till Dawn). The basic idea is that any individual who is bitten by a vampire will ultimately become a vampire – they don’t even necessarily have to be drained of all their blood. The rationale is once you’re bitten, you’re infected with the vampire virus and eventually it will take over your body and turn you. And then the thirst begins. I’ve always found this theory for turning into a vampire too outlandish since all vampires have to feed and if just one bite will do the trick, then the world would experience a rapid exponential growth of the vampire population. Since this never happens, this biting business can’t be right. Plus vampires would have to be really picky with choosing their meals… which just doesn’t seem practical.
2. Via a blood transfusion… which basically means an exchange of blood between the vampire “sire” and the human “childe”. This is how vampires are made in Buffy, True Blood, the Anne Rice ‘verse, etc. This is what I live by as the “official” method of becoming a vampire. Vampires can then feed on a regular basis and not worry about producing all kinds of strange and non-worthy offspring. The vampire chooses which human they would like to sire. (Understandably it’s a big decision considering this person might be with you for all eternity.) After draining the human of almost all their blood, the vampire can make a cut on their own body (usually the neck, chest or wrist) so that the near-death human can drink some of the vampire blood. In doing so, said individual will wake up next as an immortal vampire childe. This method of siring also provides a hierarchy to the vampire community since all members would have a sire and mentor. Bonds between a sire and childe are also the strongest since they share a blood line; you can share thoughts and emotions with each other beyond words.
3. Via awakening… for those who believe they are real life vampires. This process requires that the human wake up and realize that they are of another kind. You can awaken during any stage of your life. The two primary types of real vampires are sanguinarian (blood-drinking) or psychic (energy-drinking) vampires. This explanation is most intriguing. The awakening process will naturally come for those destined to be vampires. It’s impossible to resist the change even if you don’t want to become one. Read more about real vampires here.
P.S. For a morbid take on how to become a vampire, follow this link. But let’s be clear that these methods don’t work. So please don’t try them.
(I know – it’s not “Twilight: New Moon” entering theatres this Friday. The chorus of screaming teen girls from the anticipation of this film started on Tuesday and it’s absolutely deafening. I hope it ends soon.)
Watch the trailer for “Daybreakers” which is the film I’m anxiously awaiting:
Doesn’t that just get your blood racing? I don’t recall when I first heard about this film or the vampire storyline behind it but I know it was a while ago. It might have been when I went to see “District 9″ in theatres. Though I might be confusing it with the trailer for “Legion.” (Equally amazing – it’s a must-see film for those who like apocalyptic narratives involving fallen angels bringing about the end of the world. Yes, you heard me right.)
I’m so intrigued by the “Daybreakers” story, at least from what I can glean from the trailer snippet. (The actual release date for the film is January 8, 2010.) It’s such an imaginative twist on the vampire theme. Since vampires are usually always the predators, it’s refreshing to see when they’re the hunted or in jeopardy instead. At least that’s what I’m assuming happens in the film since it looks like vampires who continually feed on blood substitute instead of fresh human blood turn into a large hideous winged gargoyle-bat type creature. (And honestly the winged monstrosity doesn’t look so friendly.)
The last time I experienced a story like this was in “Blade II” where the so-called reaper vampires (bald Nosferatu-looking vampire mutants) fed and killed vampires and multiplied at alarmingly high rates. The reapers feeding process is terrible – they have no fangs; instead the entire bottom jaw splits open and this inner fanged mouth comes and attacks the jugular. Here’s a video clip from Blade II if you’d like to see reaper feeding in action:
(Oh my. I always have to grip my neck watching that bit.)
It’s interesting because a common thread across these two stories is that the vampire mutations came about because of scientific experimentation and biological interference. In the case of “Daybreakers” it was vampire testing of blood substitutes and in “Blade II”, the first reaper was created because the vampire legions were trying to morph their DNA so they could walk in the daytime.
… Can’t wait for the 2010 release date for this film.
(On a side note, I admit I will probably watch “New Moon” in theatres as well, but I’m waiting until the screaming masses die down. Probably in three weeks or so.)
I'm addicted to vampires and blood. This is where I'll share my musings on vampiric film and TV, as well as other thoughts on vampire culture. Read my ramblings - I could think endlessly about vampires and other divine creatures of the night.
The Knights Templar
Let Me In
It used to be that girls and women would dream of their own Prince Charming who would come sweep them off their feet and then they would live out their perfect lives together. Prince Charming was dashing, charismatic, good-looking, moral… pretty much the all-around perfect man. It’s a wonder when fanged, pale, soulless creatures of the night arrived and kicked Prince Charming out of the picture.
“Chalice”
“Poison pendant” 
“Gothic hourglass” 
“Vampire hunting kit” 
