Vampire mythology originated from diseases like catalepsy and porphyria that caused symptoms resembling death. Early vampire films played on societal fears, like Nosferatu addressing the flu epidemic. Bela Lugosi's 1931 film Dracula established the archetype of the blood-drinking vampire and was a commercial success. Later films like the Hammer Dracula series in the 1950s featured more graphic portrayals of vampiric sexuality and violence. Modern vampire movies like Blade and Twilight have developed more complex mythology while reducing the horror element, instead focusing on action, forbidden love, and sexuality.
2. Vampire Mythology
• Disease and infection such as Catalepsy, Porphyria and Anemia all have
symptoms that led people in the middle ages and earlier to believe that
people were vampires.
• Catalepsy is a disease where the afflicted goes into a suspended
animation-like state that can resemble death
• There are similar symptoms among the varying types of porphyria. One of
these common symptoms is excessive hair growth. In Bram Stoker's
Dracula and numerous mythologies this was a positive identification of a
vampire
• Symptoms of anemia include weakness or faintness, loss of appetite, and
dizziness – all of which could make someone in the Middle Ages, and
earlier, think the anemic was actually a vampire victim.
3. Society
• Horror films played on the fears of society at the time. Nosferatu
(1922) is a early vampire film that was released during the flu
epidemic of the 20’s. A film about a disease ridden looking vampire
biting people and spreading its infection was very apt at the time
because millions all over the world were dying of the contagious
influenza flu.
• Also sexually transmitted disease's like syphilis was a major threat
during the time a lot of vampire films were getting released. There
was a huge connection between blood and disease and vampire
movies played wit people fear of infection.
4. The First Vampire
• Vampire films have been a staple since the silent days, so much so
that the depiction of vampires in popular culture is strongly based
upon their depiction in movies throughout the years.
• Although there were early cinematic vampires in such films as The
Vampire (1913), directed by Robert G. Vignola, these vampires were
not undead bloodsucking fiends but ‘vamps’
• Dracula (1931) film is regarded as the classic vampire film. It was
directed by Tod Browning and starred Bela Lugosi.
• Dracula became Bela Lugosi's signature role, he wore minimal
make-up and the many close-ups of Lugosi's face in icy silence
jumped off the screen.
• Lugosi was so attached to his role as Dracula that he became
forever typecast as the count.
5. • Dracula (1931) was a huge success, and was greeted to critical
acclaim.
• Dracula was a big gamble for a major Hollywood studio to
undertake.
• It was uncertain if an American audience was prepared for a serious
full length supernatural chiller. Though America had been exposed
to other chillers before, such as The Cat and the Canary (1927), this
was a horror story with no comic relief or trick ending that
downplayed the supernatural.
• Newspapers reported that members of the audiences fainted in
shock at the horror on screen.
• This publicity, helped ensure people came to see the film, if for no
other reason than curiosity
6. Hammer Dracula
• Christopher Lee's Dracula (1958 film) had something that was new,
Fangs. This first Hammer Film vampire production ushered in a new
look for vampire movies. They were in colour -- all the better to see
the blood.
• It was also becoming easier to more openly display what had been
merely referred to before: the sexuality of vampirism. A lot of nudity
and sexual content was know involved in vampire films.
• When the film was originally released in the UK, the BBFC gave it
an X rating, being cut, while the 2007 uncut re-release was given a
12A.
7. Modern day Vampires
• Vampire films have become less of a scare factor in today's society,
mythical figures do not create the same fear it did before.
• Blade (1998) was one of the first all action vampire movies. He was
a half vampire half human who protects humans from vampires.
• One of the major plots of the film was to prevent Frost from raising
La Magra, the Vampire blood god, and causing a vampire
apocalypse. This is one of the first films where the vampire
background and story became more complex and detailed.
• 30 days of Night is a 2007 American horror film based on the comic
book miniseries of the same name. The story focuses on the
Alaskan town of Barrow, beset by vampires as it enters into a thirty-
day long period without sunshine. The film follows a group of people
who struggle to survive vampires until sunlight returns.
8. Twilight
• Twilight is the vampire film of this generation.
• Based on the books by Stephanie Meyer, this vampire franchise has
become a worldwide phenomenon.
• Twilight would not be classed as a horror, it is based more on
forbidden love, lust and sexuality. We as viewers are not meant to
be scared of the vampires, they are somewhat seen as heroes.
• However in keeping with vampire theme there is still an element of
danger surrounding them.