Twilight’s Edward Cullen may be the vampire receiving the most attention these days, but there have been many other vampires worth watching over the last century. Bram Stoker’s Dracula was published in 1897, and his mysterious lead character has been inspiring movies, books, and art ever since. Here’s a list of the top 5 vampire movies to include in a Dracula movie marathon!
F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
Filmed in 1921 and released in 1922, Murnau’s film is an unauthorized adaption of Stoker’s novel. The plot is similar, but the names of characters and places have been changed. Here, “Dracula” becomes “Nosferatu.” The now-standard myth that vampires will die if exposed to sunlight was created with this film. This black-and-white silent vampire movie is a must-see for anyone interested in exploring the genre.
Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht
Released in 1979, Herzog’s version of the vampire film is a re-make of Murnau’s 1922 classic. The movie was filmed in both English and German: the scenes were shot in German, and then the same actors would re-do their scenes in English. Though the English version is easier to find in North America, the German film is well worth watching: the actors, while speaking their native German, provide better performances. This is an artistic re-imagining of the vampire myth, very moody, haunting, and beautiful.
Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys
Vampires don’t have to be just be scary; they can be cool, too. Schumacher’s 1987 movie features teenage vampires and stars Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim and Jason Patric. Teenage love and violence, rock music, and 1980s style make this film worthy of any vampire movie marathon.
Tony Scott’s The Hunger
While this 1983 film strays far from Stoker’s original plot, it shows how versatile the vampire myth had become within 85 years of the novel’s release. Starring David Bowie and Susan Sarandon, The Hunger is just as much a romance as it is a horror movie. Miriam is a vampire who has survived for centuries on the blood of her lovers, who live only as long as she lets them. When she begins to tire of her current partner, John (Bowie), he seeks the help of a specialist on aging, Dr. Roberts (Sarandon). Soon the vampire myth is entwined with a love triangle.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula
This 1992 version of Stoker’s novel is loyal to the original plot. With a star-studded cast and vibrant visuals, it’s also stunning to watch. The cast includes Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker, Winona Ryder as Mina, Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing, and Gary Oldman as Count Dracula. For anyone seeking an accurate film version of Stoker’s novel, this is the vampire movie to watch.
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