I Was A Teenage Vampire Lover
Posted in Halloween, Horror, Movies |By Noreen Sobczyk
Nope, it’s not coming to a drive-in near you. Nor is it a juicy tell-all about my steamy copulations with the undead. And truth be told, this one sided love affair lasted well beyond my teens. Yes, it’s true: I’m a vamp-a-holic.
Some people go through a phase where they idolize a rock star. Some become interested in a genre of art and learn its history. Me, I had it bad for the bloodsuckers. It started when I saw a BBC mini series called Count Dracula as a kid, which had me transfixed. I read a few Anne Rice novels, and some Poppy Z. Brite.
Yet when I saw a film called The Hunger my addiction to vampires on television and in film really began. Then my dalliance became a full on obsession (to often hilarious, velvet-clad results). This one-sided romance extended to my music, make-up, and choice of room decor. My paychecks went to purchasing shelves of vampire memorabilia and novels and viewing vampire films.
Like many addicts, I occasionally relapse. So I’ll share a few memories of fondly-remembered vampire loves past, and dish dirt on some of the stinkers.
Angel, 1999 – 2004
Vamps On TV
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
This show took place where the 1992 film of the same name left off, and starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, one of the most kick ass female leading characters of all time. Women are featured in this series as smart, sexy, strong, fully developed characters who often are flawed, but also save the world. While it’s debatable that the series may have started a bit rocky, it definitely became multi-dimensional over time. The fight scenes and plot twists are enough to capture the action lover, but there is more substance for those who care to take the full ride through seven seasons.
There are many rich characters and sub-plots. The geeky Willow blossomed; the snarky and evil Spike evolved. The show is serious, but often didn’t take itself too seriously. That tricky balancing act was pulled off with panache by Joss Whedon, and other writers. The show also featured non-vampire foes, and I’ll argue that the fairy tale influenced “Hush,” with hardly any dialogue, was not only seriously creepy, but one of the most interesting and creative episodes on television.
Angel (1999-2004)
Angel followed the exploits of Buffy’s true love. It’s about a vampire with a soul who fights to save the world from vampires and other powers of destruction. The show tread upon some fairly dark territory. Spike joined the fold as the ridiculously hot “punk rock” vampire, and became a much needed comic foil to Angel’s serious demeanor. And the vapid Cordelia from Buffy grew emotionally and became an integral part to each episode’s mission with visions of the future.
Angel and Buffy The Vampire Slayer are classic television which bear repeated viewings, and seem to become more relevant as opposed to less, with the passing of time. They make the lack of interesting and complex roles for women on network television more apparent.
So beloved are these shows, that even after cancellation, the plots of both continued with graphic novels written by Whedon and others to keep the story and characters alive. College courses are taught based upon Buffy, and there are discussion groups across the globe that meet to speak about the show’s metaphors. Sing alongs happen during showings of Buffy‘s musical episode “Once More, With Feeling” at cult movie houses.
Count Dracula (1977)
This is an excellent adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel which retains the spirit and story line of the original while also veering slightly into romantic territory. All of the basic characters are present, but this version has Mina and Lucy as sisters, with Lucy engaged to American Quincy Holmwood. And for once the bad accent shoe is on the other foot, Holmwood’s southern drawl is pathetic. Though the special effects are dated, the acting is superb. Louis Jourdan plays Count Dracula without a trace of camp. And Jack Shepard does a superb job playing Renfield. If you can get your hands on this version, give it a chance. One can definitely see that it heavily influenced Francis Ford Coppola’s story line and vision when he made Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Salem’s Lot, 1979
Salem’s Lot (1979)
This is a faithful retelling of the Stephen King novel about a cursed house. It’s directed by Tobe Hooper, with David Soul and Lance Kerwin playing the heroes. That casting is either a blessing or a curse, but it was nominated for several Emmy Awards. Kerwin delivers the line “I can’t” in a way which must be heard to be believed. Also not to be missed is the awkward North Eastern accent in the line ” I fell asleep on Harmony Hill. Didn’t wake up until morning,” delivered by prolific TV actor Geoffrey Lewis.
This was a well-done made-for-television movie that likely stuck in the memory cells of all who saw it. The story is compelling, and the effects hold up pretty well. It has plenty of suspense and its fair share of chills. Especially memorable is the image of the recently undead Danny Glick hovering outside hero Mark’s (Kerwin) room, and scratching on the window pane, still one of the most frightening looking creatures in vampire film history. A 2004 remake starred Rob Lowe, but despite its improved production value, the original is the version to see. (And make sure you see the full-length, not the shorter, edited version.)