I read a stat somewhere(no I don’t have a cite) that there have been more movies made about vampires than any other subject. I was just wondering why? I mean they are all pretty much the same thing they suck blood they try to take a certain girl with them and they got somebody chasing them to kill’em with a piece of wood.
So what is with Hollywood putting out so many of them?
Vampires represent sexuality in certain forms and they’re sensual creatures to start with.
Because they represent our darkest fears, hopes and dreams. We often dream of immortality, staying young forever and having great power but they expose to us the darkness that can fill our souls when we encounter this. Immortality gets pretty boring after awhile and eventually you have to cut yourself off or learn not to feel so much while you stay young and everyone you know grows old and dies. You see eras rise and fall and other things. They also represent our sexual desires that have often been repressed (even in this day and age) shrugs At least thats some theories I’ve heard from people. One thing I’ve heard that I find so applicable to how we see vampires and by extension ourselves is the quote “Beasts we are lest beasts we become.” smiles It’s from V:tM But still shrugs
More than any other subject, eh? There are move movies about vampires than, say, war, space travel, or organized crime?
Vampires make me giggle.
All of the other points you made seem to make sense except:
I have never wanted to suck the blood out of any body that is just way to kinky for me I guess.
They make great bad guys. They look like us. They have all of our strengths such as intelligence, great physical strength, are hard to kill but non of our weaknesses. They are eternally young and are usually played by beautiful people. This establishes they are superior to us.
They only come out at night but unlike werewolves every night. They prey on our fear of darkness.
They require very little special effects other than fake teeth and blood. Cheap independent movies can use them as a basis.
While stated earlier, they have intelligence equal to ours. Zombies, werewolves, Frankenstein’s monster, mummies, and most other horror creatures that are superior physically are relatively stupid. The whole brains versus brawn battle is not the core of this conflict. It is more good versus evil battle. Intelligence puts them above other supernatural creatures (except for aliens).
The good versus evil battle is exemplified. Vampires are unholy creatures from the devil or at least devils themselves. Most other bad guys including nonsupernatural ones are not completely evil. They have some reason for being evil that is beyond their control. Vampires generally are EVIL. Good versus evil, one of the best plots, is accepted fully when vampires are the bad guys.
I don’t know why but I started rambling. Shutting up now.
…the blood. The blood is the life…
And you call yourself Wildest Bill!
There is an interesting looking movie coming up called Shadow of the Vampire about the making of Nosferatu, which is the first vampire movie. So I think there are so many vampire movies because they always recycle movie plots and with this early vampire being so good they just did it over and over again.
A lack of originality perhaps, and a predictable release date (halloweenish usually, though I think one is being released soon).
I disagree. I think this is a fairly modern development, probably instigated by Anne Rice’s books. The archetypal vampires played by Max Schreck (and later Klaus Kinski) and Bela Lugosi were not exactly lookers. Nor was Christopher Lee, for that matter. And Bram Stoker’s description of Dracula leaves one with the impression that he was not particularly attractive.
To answer the OP, the vampire archetype is so common because it feeds on a basic human fear of being attacked in the dark by a creature that drains us of our vital essence, while also instilling in us an alien nature. There is a strong sexual phobia element at work as well.
I’ve never wanted to suck the blood out of anybody either but I have done it with other substances
Why I was breastfed of course. What did you think?.:rolleyes:
Why so many vampire movies?
Because there’s only 10,000 or so Straight Dopers who would pay good money to see a stake driven through the heart of a troll.