Top 10 Favourite Vampire Movies

So, I was watching Near Dark the other night, and I decided to make a list of my favourite vampire movies. At least, the ones I've seen so far. There are about ten hundred or so more films that I eventually want to see, but I thought it would be interesting to figure out my favourites at the moment. I would have watched them for this list, but honestly most of them are foreign art-house films (of course) and I really hard to get a hold of. So, this will just have to do for now!

Please keep in mind that these are favourites. The films on this list are ones that I enjoy watching for whatever reason, but it doesn't mean that everyone will like them or even that they would be considered good. But when it comes to favourites, I don't care about a film being 'good'. I care more about a film entertaining me, which might explain some of the weird choices on this list. Anyway, let's get on with it! Oh, and spoilers! Potentially!

10. The Twins Effect

Remember when films that featured pop stars weren't vapid documentaries, and they actually had plots and ridiculous characters? Those were the days! This film is just pure silly fun, featuring Cantopop duo Twins as a pair of vampire hunting bad-asses who have to stop an evil vampire duke from taking over the world! Kung-fu plus vampires, I mean what more could you want. The fact that Jackie Chan has a cameo makes this even more awesome. There are some really fun sequences in this film, including a part where a vampire tries to steal blood from a hospital and a really good opening fight scene. If you're up for a bit of fun, and don't mind a film that's light on the vampire lore but heavy on the comedy then I would definitely recommend this!

9. From Dusk till Dawn

This film is just crazy. Like, bat-shit insane! It starts off like a typical Tarantino crime film, but then suddenly, vampires! Because why not. A lot of people get turned off by the sudden turn this film takes, but I really like it! It's so out there that I can't really hate it. I also really like the gore effects, and the transformations as well, it's not your typical blood and guts. More like mucus and vomit. The first part of film is also a really slick crime thriller with Tarantino's trademark dialogue, and his performance in the film isn't as terrible as he usually is. It also helps that Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, and Juliette Lewis each give excellent performances. A cult favourite for a reason, it's one that I like to watch every now and then for fun.

8. Vamps

This film does a lot of things right that people just don't realise. Two awesome female characters played excellently by Alicia Silverstone and Krysten Ritter, vampires who have to deal with time passing while they stay the same and how they deal with that existential crisis, really hilarious moments that incorporate vampire lore, Sigourney Weaver chewy the scenery with such deliciousness! Despite what the trailers tell you, the film is not about two shallow party girl vampires, it's actually about how vampires have to deal with the modern world and all the problems they face. It's surprisingly deep, for a horror comedy and if anyone has written it off I would encourage you to give it a proper look! The jokes are funny, the vampire lore is strong, and the characters are excellent!

7. Night Watch

I was a little hesitant to put this on the list, since it's not entirely about vampires. But they do play an important role in the plot of the film, and the filmmakers do some interesting things with the vampire lore. Now, if you've seen Night Watch, then you know how complicated a film it is and I don't think that I have enough time to go into detail. Basically, the Night Watch are the good guys and they have to make sure that malevolent beings don't disrupt the truce between good and evil. Vampires include those beings. There are some really cool weapons used against the vampires, like a flash light that uses UV light to shine in their faces, and they use blood to find where the vampires are. And the vampires themselves are really interesting, they break like porcelain when they are defeated, and they have these really cool systems in place to find and store blood. While it's not an entire film about vampires, it is definitely one to watch for a different take on vampires.

6. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

 Yes, I know. This is a major CGI fest, that has a really silly premise. But that's only one way of looking at it. I prefer to look at it as B movie blockbuster that managed to get a mainstream release, with some awesome set pieces, a premise it takes just seriously enough with actors whose tongues are firmly in their cheeks. And it has Rufus Sewell as the villain. How was I not going to love this film! I have done a full blog post about this, but basically, I think this is a really underrated film. People didn't respond well to it because they were expecting campy, and instead got action! I mean, yes the CGI is a little intrusive, but not so much that it impinges on my enjoyment. I just love how such a silly film takes itself so seriously yet still turns out fun and entertaining!

5. Brides of Dracula

This wouldn't be a list about vampires without at least one Hammer film on it! This is the first Hammer movie I ever saw, and consequently the first film I saw with Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. So it holds a very special place in my heart. Peter Cushing is such a bad-ass in this, that it kinda makes up for the lacklustre Dracula replacement. I do like how the film starts, and I love the main female character, Marianne Danielle (Yvonne Monlaur). It's a film I watch when I want the opulent atmosphere and fantastical sets, that may not be historically accurate but they do look amazing! I have seen more Hammer films, some good, some not so good, but this will always be one of my favourite vampire films from Hammer, even though Christopher Lee sadly isn't in it.

4. Only Lovers Left Alive

Again, another film that deals with how vampires deal with the modern world, and how they use modern technology to survive and entertain themselves. But instead of finding any joy in what they do, these vampires are instead becoming apathetic at how humanity has changed, and how the present might not be as satisfying as the past. At least, that's what it means to me. This is also the first time Tom Hiddleston has really impressed me, maybe it's because he's starring with such acting royalty as Tilda Swinton as his lover and John Hurt as a vampiric Christopher Marlowe. What is also impressive is the fact that I don't think the word vampire is actually said once during the film, which is quite a feat. The music is also excellent, and one of the few soundtracks that I listen to frequently by itself. A little more arty yes, but an excellent commentary on how isolated vampires have to become in order to survive, and how the outside world is viewed from their perspective.

3. Fright Night (both versions)

And now we're back to good old horror comedy! Fright Night is one of those films from the 80s that mixes together the perfect amount of cheese and actual horror. It's a good premise (what would happen if a vampire moved next door?) and in the original 80s version it plays out a little more unexpectedly than what you would first imagine. Our hero, Charlie (William Ragsdale) isn't a popular jock who gets his friends together to defeat the bad guy. He's a nerd who no one believes, and the only help he does get is from an Elvira type TV presenter played hilariously by Roddy McDowall. I still find it surprising how early on we find out that Jerry (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire, but it does make a nice change from the typical "are they/aren't they" story line. Things are changed to be a little more predictable in the remake, but I'm kinda glad about that. It's nice to see that they did decide to change things, like the setting, and the swapping Charlie with Ed a little bit, rather than just rehashing the original. Both films have their silly moments, and both films have their darker moments. And believe me, both of them make excellent films to watch late at night surrounded by friends!

2. The Lost Boys

Hands down, one of my favourite Halloween films of all time! I always try and watch this during at least some point in October. I dunno, there's something about 80s vampires that I just love! Maybe it's the cheese factor, maybe it's just the ridiculous fashion. The Lost Boys again is able to blend comedy and horror together really well. I also really like the characters, especially Edward Hermann as the most unlikely vampire leader. Kiefer Sutherland is electric in this film, and it's arguably his best role. Jason Patric and Corey Haim are believable as brothers Michael and Sam, and have a really good rapport with each other. Which makes the scenes where Michael tries not to kill Sam when he's hungry really tense. Another good thing about the film is the plot. When I first saw this, after the first ten minutes or so, I had no idea where the film was going to go next. And the ending! One of the greatest end lines of any films! I love it. This is a classic for a reason, if you haven't seen it yet, I would definitely recommend that you do!

1. What We Do in the Shadows

This film gives me everything I could want from a vampire movie. Horror. Check! Comedy. Check! Gore. Check! Awesome characters. Check! Looking at how aging vampires react to the modern world. Check! Analysing the traditional vampire lore and how restrictive it is. Check! A new way to tell a story through the use of mockumentary. Check! A scene with a funny dance. Check! This film is as near to perfect as a film can get. Written and directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, What We Do in the Shadows is one of the most creative horror films to come out in years. It doesn't rely on the usual plot conventions you get in horror films, and instead focuses on character rather than story. That might explain why the mockumentary format works so well for this film. I just love it to pieces! And now that we are done, I might just go and watch it again.

So, there you have it. I know, my film tastes are terrible. But anyway, let me know what your favourite vampire films are! I'm sure I left out a ton of movies that people were expecting, and it's probably because I just haven't seen them yet. Anyway, until next time readers, keep your powder dry.

Women He's Undressed

So... we're off to a great start. Sticking to my New Year's resolution is going to be a little tougher than I thought it would be. Still, better late than never. This was one of the first films I saw this year, and is certainly one of the more interesting documentaries I've seen. It using some different techniques to tell the story of Orry-Kelly, possibly Australia's most successful costume designer, working on over 300 films, including Some Like It Hot, Jezebel, Gold Diggers of 1933, and Gypsy. I'm still kinda surprised that he wasn't more well-known before this film came out. Australia has a habit of coveting famous people, and worshiping them as home grown. 

The big selling point of this film is that Kelly died with a secret that he had written in his lost memoirs, and that it is only just being disclosed to the world. The problem with this is that if you know anything about Hayes era Hollywood, you can kinda guess what the secret might be. Yep, Orry-Kelly had an affair with his roommate from New York, named Archie Leach, before he moved to Hollywood and became... someone else. I don't want to give it away in case anyone doesn't know who it is. In all honesty, this whole secret thing is the weakest part of the film. It was just too obvious for me, and I thought there were more interesting aspects of Kelly's life that could have been explored more than the film did.

My favourite part of the film was when it actually talked about the films Kelly designed, and his relationship with the actresses he worked with. There were a lot of interviews with people who worked with Kelly and critics of his costumes and films (including Leonard Maltin!). There was a lot of interesting analyses of how his costumes shaped the films. This might be just because I'm a film student and I love close analysis, but I loved those interviews, and I wish there had been more of tha in the documentary. I also wish they had put subtitles at the bottom of the screen to show which clips were from which film, cause I got a little lost here and there.

Another thing that I really liked about the film was how they incorporated reenactments of Kelly's life using passages from his memoir. Actor Darren Gilshenan portrayed Kelly in these segments, and he does a really good job at bringing Kelly's own words to life. It was obviously shot on a sound stage, but that adds to the charm of these moments, and makes the film stand out from other documentaries that use flashback reenactments. It feels like you are getting the backstage story of his life and it added a lot to the film. I also liked the boat motif, and how it seemed to show Kelly adrift in his own life, and not fully knowing where he was going, that was really well done.

The documentary as a whole is a really interesting insight into someone that Australia has forgotten. And I think that after this film, Australia will reclaim Orry-Kelly as one of their own. But that being said, there were a few moments in the film that just seemed a little amateurish. There could have been more overlay, there could have been more insight into his costumes at certain times in his life, and there could have been less focus on his big secret reveal that wasn't very revealing. And why weren't there subtitles! It was a four star film, but there wasn't anything wowing me into giving it five stars.

But I would still very much recommend it! It goes in depth into the life of someone who isn't well known, which makes it stand out. It also presents it's story in an interesting way visually, and while I do have complaints, they are more nitpicks than anything else. So if you are interested, why not try and catch it at Acmi, where I believe it is showing for one more week. Or otherwise, I think it is also out on DVD.

And now, because why not, I present a list of the Orry-Kelly costumed films that I want to watch and review. They won't be coming out all at once, because I do have some other ideas for things I would like to review and lists I would like to make. But anyway, here they are, in no particular order:

• Some Like It Hot
• Gold Diggers of 1935
• Jezebel
• Sunday in New York
• Irma la Douce
• The Bride Came COD
• Now Voyager
• Too Much Too Soon
• The Dolly Sisters
• Gypsy

 I'm not sure which one is going to be first. We'll see. I'll try and get the next review out by next week, but no promises. I am just very lazy. Which is also why this review is so short. Anyway, until next time readers, keep your powder dry!