Five Fantastic Vampire Films To Sink Your Teeth Into After "NOSFERATU" (RANT)

With Robert Eggers’ “NOSFERATU” sinking its teeth into the holiday box office, we thought this was the perfect time to keep the blood flowing and suggest some classic and contemporary vampire films to keep your undead heart beating through the New Year. Before you all start sharpening your stakes, let us point out that these are only 5 suggestions in a sea of brilliant films. Think of it as a spark to ignite your very own curated list of fanged frights to watch during these long, dark winter nights. Enjoy!

Is it blasphemous to start our list without a Bela Lugosi or Christopher Lee pick? You bet it is, but what better list to be blasphemous on than one about vampires? “BRIDES OF DRACULA” from 1960 is a top contender for best Hammer Horror classic and deserves your attention, if not for the sumptuous visuals, lavish sets, and solid acting, then for the fact that it will introduce you to two of the best creatives to ever work within the Hammer Studio system. Directed by Terance Fisher (“CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF,” “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA,” “THE GORGON”) and written by Jimmy Sangster (“JACK THE RIPPER,” “THE MUMMY,” “DRACULA": PRINCE OF DARKNESS”) their collaborations were always something special. The title is a bit misleading as there’s no Dracula to be seen in this film, but we are treated to Baron Meinster (David Peel), who answers the question: what if one of the Von Trapp kids turned into a vampire? Still better than a Nazi, we’d say! He’s great, as is Peter Cushing, returning as Dr. Helsing and Yvonne Monlaur as Marianne, the love interest. Just the right amount of camp, class, and canines, this is the perfect Hammer film to cut your teeth on.

You can rent “BRIDES OF DRACULA” on Amazon Prime

We never said these had to be theatrical releases, so the 1979 “Salem’s Lot” miniseries is a must on the list. Directed by Tobe Hooper, based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Stephen King…as if you didn’t know. “Salem’s Lot” is special for so many reasons: the Glick boy scratching at the window, Geoffrey Lewis rasping in the rocking chair, the heartbreak of Bonnie Bedilla, and the sheer majesty of James Mason reveling in motherf*cking this quiet little hamlet to hell itself. American culture is captured perfectly as a canvas of bike rides, barbeques, and tranquil autumn nights as the cold embrace of evil is literally breathing down their neck. This is a yearly watch for us, and we encourage you all to make it one as well. The Master commands!

You can rent “SALEM’S LOT” on Amazon Prime and Apple TV

WELCOME TO FRRRRRRIGHT NIGHT!!! We never had it so good in 1985. Chris Sarandon is charming as hell as Jerry Dandrige (hands down the best vampire name in the history of vampire names), the bloodsucker putting the moves on both Charlie Brewster’s Mom AND girlfriend in this 80s classic written and directed by Tom Holland. Roddy McDowell is the perfect embodiment of Vincent Price (who was originally set to play the role until health reasons made it impossible), the reluctant mentor to Charlie in his quest to rid the neighborhood of the sexy ghoul in the turtleneck making the moves on just about every woman he knows. McDowell is fantastic as the audience proxy, constantly scared, hesitant to take action, and preferring to stay home with a nice glass of wine rather than risk a neckectomy. He steals the show in this great ensemble piece that has so much fun you’ll realize halfway through the watch you’re actually smiling.

You can rent “FRIGHT NIGHT” on Amazon Prime

Kathryn Bigelow’s “NEAR DARK” is the 1987 noir/horror/western from a screenplay by Eric Red you need in your life. Beautifully shot with night scenes that are almost as seductive as Jenny Wright’s, Mae, the lonely vampire that lures smitten Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) into the family business, which happens to be cutting a bloody swath through the hapless townsfolk of rural Oklahoma. This film is famous for the powerhouse trifecta of Bill Paxton, Jeanette Goldstein, and Lance Henriksen as the engine to this runaway killing machine. This movie pulls no punches, and the violence is visceral and real. Outside the last film on this list, “NEAR DARK” feels as close to what being a thrill-kill vampire drifter would actually feel like. Watch this film with two others: Peckinpah’s “THE WILD BUNCH,” another classic about apex predators that have outlived their heyday, and the Coen Brother’s “BLOOD SIMPLE". You’ll swear M. Emmett Walsh is a distant relative to this dysfunctional clan. MVP goes to Paxton, whose line delivery, “We keep odd hours,” is an all-time hall of fame.

Our last film on the list is 2008’s “LET THE RIGHT ONE IN,” directed by Tomas Alfredson from a script by John Aljvide Lindqvist from his novel of the same name. We’ve saved the most devastating film for last. This a searing exploration of loneliness, longing, and trying to connect in a cold, bleak, cruel world. Don’t let this turn you off; this is possibly the best vampire film ever, and there are moments in this film that will stay with you forever. If you want to see bullies get their comeuppance, you must see this film. We recommend reading the novel first and then watching the film. This is one of the rare occasions where it’s almost impossible to decide which is the better. The power of this incredible film is the real-life depictions of dead-end people finding the joy of companionship, the sinister reality of what being a vampire is truly about, and what friendship means…and costs. Like a vampire film by Robert Altman, “LET THE RIGHT ONE IN” is a modern-day masterpiece.

You can watch “LET THE RIGHT ONE IN” on Peacock and Amazon Prime for free.

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