A list that truly sucks: Vampire time again!
With the movie Twilight coming out this week, I'm hard at work coming up with tons of vampire lists for the St. Pete Times. Among my chores: Naming the 5 best movie vampires, 5 worst movie vampires, 5 best TV vampires, 5 best female vampires ... and 5 best vampire hunters.
As usual, I could use your help! Surely the '80s was full of all these categories. But feel free to suggest ones from other decades as well.
Some that come to mind:
KIEFER SUTHERLAND vs. JASON PATRIC (The Lost Boys): Kiefer delivers every line with the world's coolest smirk, and that's fine by me. Does Jason count, though, since he was technically only a half-vampire? Consider either of them for the "best" list.
ROBERT SEAN LEONARD (My Best Friend is a Vampire): Sure he was great in Dead Poet's Society, but in 1988 he was starring in this suck-fest. No pun intended. Put him on the "worst" list.
AL LEWIS (The Munsters): Don't forget that TV's "Grandpa Munster" was a vampire too. Can't have a "best on TV" list without him, can we?
GEORGE HAMILTON (Love at First Bite): "Children of the night ... shut up!" If we had a funniest list, he'd be king, but do you put George on the best or worst list?
JENNIFER BEALS (Vampire's Kiss): Does it really matter if she's a real vampire or a figment of Nic Cage's imagination? With those fangs, we're all a maniac, MANIAC, on the floor. And she's dancing right onto the list of "top lady vamps," unless someone objects.
Please add your favorites for any category!
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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which of you blood thirsty vampire critics can tell me some years ago i saw a vampire movie where at the very end they plaued a song called forever but i cant remember the name of the movie
Posted by: jhnull | March 24, 2009 at 05:43 PM
ok non-80s, but best dracula of all time, the puppet in forgetting sarah marshall.
Posted by: CHAD | November 18, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Don't forget Klaus Kinski in the remake of Nosferatu...
Posted by: Dave from MN | November 18, 2008 at 06:25 PM
"FANGS - A - LOT"
Posted by: Svengoolie | November 18, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Tell you what,
I got Lost Boys 2 on DVD.
Save yourself the pain of watching only one of the corey's repeat the same lines he had in the first movie.
Without Feldman, could have titled the movie anything.....
Fright Night - '80s Vamp classic.
LOVE that one.
"wait! She left a note. MMM MMmm DINNA's IN DE OVEN!"
Posted by: crockett | November 18, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Bill from HBO True Blood is pretty cool actually the whole show is a well produced version of the Sookie Vampire Novels.
Posted by: Nelson | November 18, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Max Schreck as Graf Orlok (Nosferatu, 1922), or Willem Dafoe AS Max Schrek as Graf Orlok (Shadow of the Vampire, 2000). Both worthy candidates for Best Vampire. Schreck was the original film vampire, and played his part brilliantly. Dafoe's performance is a wonderful interpretation of the myth surrounding Max Schreck as the actor in Nosferatu, yet adds a slightly comedic element and, of course, the benefit of spoken lines.
Posted by: Amanda | November 18, 2008 at 02:41 AM
Dave, you beat me to Near Dark! I was just thinking about that one! Bill Paxton, Lance Henrikson, and Adrian Pasdar, and directed by Kathryn Bigelow, who also did the great Swayze/Keanu Reeves flick, Point Break. Near Dark was near perfect! Great, under-appreciated movie!
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | November 18, 2008 at 01:24 AM
Worst vampire movie ever: Coppola's Dracula.
Best vampire movie ever: Near Dark
Posted by: Dave from MN | November 18, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Jeff - I will be standing in line to see Suck on opening day.
Iggy and Alice - great Detroit connections!
Posted by: Vegasgirlfriend | November 17, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Dark Prince: The true story of Dracula, Rudolf Martin stars as Dracula. Good story line, love the romanian setting and there couldn't be a better Dracula!
Posted by: JamieLee | November 17, 2008 at 07:36 PM
Thanks Jeff! I'll be real interested to see it when it comes out.
Posted by: Bassnote | November 17, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Gary Oldman was great as the Count.
Love the True Blood series, Eric and Bill, almost live up to the books!
And you absolutely have to include Chris Sarandon, Fright Night, what a classic!!!
Posted by: KG | November 17, 2008 at 04:22 PM
By far the vampires that touched me the most were Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt in Interview with a Vampire....
But I look forward to seeing how the newest vampire comes to light as the books are incredible.
Posted by: Mel | November 17, 2008 at 03:46 PM
'note,
Real movie: http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=40091
Malcomb McDowell's attached as well.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | November 17, 2008 at 03:43 PM
How can you mention great Vampire hunters without mentioning the surfer turned vampire hunter John BonJovi? Vampires: Los Muertos was low quality gold. Another great Vampire hunter would be Robert Van Helsing a.k.a. Bruce Campbell in Sundown: The Vampire in retreat. Probably my favorite vampire would have to be Kate Beckinsale in Underworld, her and her spandex was a wonderful thing!
Posted by: Kevin | November 17, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Jeff, is "Suck" really a movie that is being made?
Posted by: Bassnote | November 17, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Vampires suck. My fav is the SLAYER - Buffy. She kicks all of their asses!
Posted by: Derek | November 17, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Kolchak! Good gracious! I grew up on that. The series was put in my Netflix queue last weekend. I can't wait!
Although horror movies have never been my love, I am drawn to vampire movies --Tom Cruise vampire movies need not apply.
Are we sticking to 80s blood suckers or is it open for any decade?
Gerard Butler as Drac in "Dracula 2000" The movie? Not great. Butler? Hello! I have a jugular I'd like you to meet.
Posted by: Marissa | November 17, 2008 at 02:18 PM
It looks like Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, and Henry Rollins will be cast in "Suck", an upcoming "Rock 'N Roll Vampire Comedy".
The movie will surround a young vampire hunter who chases undead rockers who are looking for immortality (and a record deal).
The hunter's name? Eddie Van Helsing. Classic.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | November 17, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Count Blakula, that movie was pure 70's fun.
Posted by: jay | November 17, 2008 at 02:01 PM
I liked the movie 30 Days of Night. It was not as good as the graphic novel but I still liked the movie. I cannot say anything else really without giving away spoilers though. It had a very interesting concept.
I agree with James Woods selection in Vampires. I loved his attitude in that.
I really did not like the movie Salem's Lot - I thought it was boring. I also did not like the Mina Harker vampire in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Wesley Snipes - Blade. Gotta go with it (even though Blade 3 was iffy). Kris Kristofferson was good too. As for vamps - Ron Perlman in Blade 2. Again - gotta love the 'tude.
Posted by: LEJ | November 17, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Best Vampire hunter is Roddy McDowell as Peter Vincent in Fright Night. He was comic gold.
Posted by: Bassnote | November 17, 2008 at 01:34 PM
OK, best female vampire: Salma Hayek in From Dusk 'Til Dawn. I know, I know, the movie was awful, but man, was she hot. And for vampire hunter, let me just toss out a little raw meat and let the fray ensue: Dennis Miller in Bordello of Blood. Wow, I'm bringin' out all the awful vamp flicks today.
Posted by: Matt | November 17, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Kolchak is definitely one of the tops for vampire hunters. And even though they didn't hunt vampires all the time, Micky and Ryan from Friday the 13th the series should be on the list of hunters.
I don't know if anyone else has seen this movie but Subspecies (1991) is a good, campy vampire movie made by Full Moon Videos.
Best vampire has to go to Chris Sarandon of Fright Night.
And True Blood is an awesome new vampire show. My hubby and I are glued to the tv every Sunday night to watch it.
Posted by: Melissa | November 17, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Lifeforce was something. That movie threw in everything. The first 15-20 minutes was very interesting in a good way.
Posted by: Eric S | November 17, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Add me to the list for a shout out to Kolchak. Darren McGavin was absolutely awesome in this role. I have very fond memories of staying up late on Friday nights back in the mid-70's to watch this show and being scared as all get out by it. I got the boxset of the complete series when it came out, and I have to say that a lot of the episodes hold up and still give me the chills...especially the zombie episode where he has to sew up the zombie's mouth after filling it with salt in the junk yard! Spine- tingling to be sure! Besides, this show was the direct inspiration for the X-Files, AND Kolchak was a newspaper reporter, so that should have some resonance with you!
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | November 17, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Gee, there doesn't seem to be a lot of love for Vampire's Kiss. Diffr'nt Strokes I guess. I happened to quite like it. Darkly campy, and filled with over the top performances by Nicolas Cage and Jennifer Beals. The true winner though was Maria Conchita Alonzo who was wonderful in this flick, and deserved more of a career than she got.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | November 17, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Ooh, what about "Nick Knight" with Rick Springfield? *swoon*
Posted by: Michelle | November 17, 2008 at 10:11 AM
George Hamilton: a vampire with a tan. He stays on the best list!
Posted by: Eric62 | November 17, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Should be "Vampire Hunter D" , sorry y'all
Posted by: Tom | November 17, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Here are a couple of vampire stinkers from the 80's that might make a guilty pleasures list.
-"Lifeforce" with Steve Railsback and Patrick Stewart, yes,
that Patrick Stewart!
-"Once Bitten" with Lauren Hutton and very young Jim
Carrey.
For best vampire hunter, "Vampie Hunter D" from the anime classic.
Posted by: Tom | November 17, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Loved the updated version of Dark Shadows Vegasgirlfriend. Good call with Ben Cross. I really did wish that show went on further. Great show.
I would also vote Angel and Spike for the best male TV vampire. Throw in Bill from True Blood as well. Good job Bill getting Anna Paquin or Sookie as is the case.
Another vote for Drusilla and Darla from the Buffy/Angel universe for female TV vamp.
I did like George Hamilton in that movie. Funny stuff. Definitely go with Keifer over Jason Patric in Lost Boys. Especially with Jason stealing all of Vince's lines lately.
You can't forget the all-time greats in Christoper Lee and Bela Lugosi.
Carl Kolchak is good choice as vampire hunter. Buffy definitely needs to be on there along with Rupert and Xander.
Worst Movie vampire would be Nic Cage in Vampire's Kiss. I hated that film.
Posted by: Eric S | November 17, 2008 at 01:22 AM
One of the best vampire hunters - James Woods as Jack Crow in John Carpenter's Vampires.
THE best vampire hunter is of course, Ms. Buffy Summers, who uttered the immortal line "Can you say SIT80s?"
One of the best female vamps - Anne Parillaud as Marie in Innocent Blood, as well as Darla and Drusilla from Buffy. And, the ravishing Catherine Deneuve as Miriam Blaylock in The Hunger.
Some of the worst vamp movies - Nadja, Vampire's Kiss w/Nicholas Cage, as well as former director Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula. You know it's bad when all the Americans play English people, and the Brits are playing Austrians and Romanians.
Worst TV vamp - Forever Knight.
One of the best TV vamps, besides Angel and Spike from Buffy, is Ben Cross as Barnabas Collins from Dark Shadows.
And, one of the best vamp movies is Shadow of the Vampire, w/Willem Dafoe and John Malkovich.
Posted by: Vegasgirlfriend | November 16, 2008 at 11:11 PM
If you are taking names from outside the 80s, to me I am still creeped out by the vampires of Salem's Lot (TV two-parter 1979).
Danny Glick (and Ralphie Glick)from this movie gets my vote in the TV vampires category..."Open the door Mark...He commands it!"
Still scares the @#$% out of me to this day...
Posted by: Debra | November 16, 2008 at 10:21 PM
"Love at First Bite" is pure fun cheeze, so I'd put GH in the good vampire category ("Look!...it's George Hamilton.").
Darren McGavin (the "Old Man") should be on the vampire hunter list for "Kolchak: The Night Stalker."
Posted by: Michelle | November 16, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Bassnote, good call. I love that movie because of Chris Sarandon. Ooh la la!
Posted by: Marissa | November 16, 2008 at 08:11 PM
Spearsy, I think you should consult Miquel, The Portuguese Vampire, on this one.
Posted by: Vlada | November 16, 2008 at 07:41 PM
Chris Sarandon in "Fright Night". He was the coolest vampire of the 80s. the guy could have come right out of the pages of GQ.
Posted by: Bassnote | November 16, 2008 at 06:11 PM