Top 10 Vampire Films

Vampires have been scaring and/or seducing audiences for a very long time. Every generation has had their vampire, from that scary bloke who played Nosferatu in 1922 to the modern day sexpot the vampire has become. (Insert Hollywood heartthrob name here.)

I confess I'm not a massive, massive Vamp buff, but I know what I like when I see it, and me likey these Top 10 Vampire Movies. Some of these films are a few decades old, but don't let that put you off -- they were filmed back when people could still act. More importantly, they were filmed back when actors still looked like people, and not like the plastic dolls so many seem to have become.

Also, if you're looking for vampire television series, check out the list on the right. True Blood is a fabulous piece of Americana, while Ultraviolet is a very, very cool British mini-series that I LOVED. Moonlight will make lots of womens happy, and, of course, there's Buffy and Angel. And let's not forget Dark Shadows, I wasn't even allowed to watch that when I was a kid -- compared to the raunch-factor of True Blood, Dark Shadows is rated G!

Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins; two of my favorite British actors. This movie isn't entirely perfect, but the love story is. Like so many other women, I could watch this every day and still sigh dreamily throughout its entirety. Costuming is fantastic, the setting is fantastic, the story is close to the original. It's a bit racy in parts, and a bit creepy in others, and Gary Oldman is so absolutely brilliant. One of my fave movies of all time, just for the role he plays.

Gerard Butler makes one sexy Dracula in this Wes Craven vampire film. I'm not going to give you the plot, because it's a bit out there and I don't want to put you off. But, honestly, the story just doesn't matter when Dracula looks this hot.

If a film has Christopher Walken in it, it needs to be watched, if only to see him do what he does best. This film is a bit different to most vampire movies, as it's really more about the slippery slope of immorality. Lily Taylor is a very good actress and Christopher Walken's character is rather unique.  

This is a very, very artsy film. Susan Sarandon plays a mortal who gets mixed up in a liason with mortal/vampire couple David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve. Adult cinema, to be sure, you probably don't want your kid watching this, as there is quite a bit of nudity. This is a very clever story, however, and I very much like it.

A movie from my childhood, when Kiefer Sutherland was famous the first time round. (I had such a crush on him then, you've no idea.) This cult classic is both scary and funny, and stars other actors you'll recognize, such as Jason Patric and Corey Feldman. Teenage vampires in California during the 80s. Think Brat Pack with fangs. 

Wesley Snipes plays a half-vampire/half-human who doesn't indulge his baddie side. Instead, he becomes the hero of humans and slays the Vampires, aided by the fact that he doesn't have any of the vulnerabilities that vampires tend to have. This film is based on the comic of the same name, and if you dig it, there are two more films in the series.

I can remember Oprah flipping out about this film when it first came out. (This was back before she was a proper brand name, and prior to Tom's couch thing.) I remember her actually telling Cruise that she and her audience were not pleased with the film, and I believe it was due to the violence. It's not my favorite vampire film, but Kirsten Dunst was pretty remarkable in it.  

This film is really gorgeous in terms of background and costuming. The story is interesting and detailed -- Selene is a vampire who runs around offing werewolves. She falls for a human who gets bit by a werewolf and then has to decide what she's going to do about it. This film also has of my favorite actors (Bill Nighy) in it.  If you like chicks with weapons you'll dig this film. If you like vampire chicks with weapons, you'll really dig this film.  

George Clooney is in this film. Do I really need to tell you anything more? Not if you're a female, I don't. If you're a male, I'll simply add that Salma Hayek's in it, too. There you go, that really ought to cover it! 

I've yet to see a scarier vampire. This is the classic German silent film made back in the day where there weren't nuthin' sexy about vampires. If you want to be properly freaked out, have a watch.