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Best Blood Suckers

Robyn74 posted 5/20/2009 from horrorblips.dailyradar.com

Our fascination with blood drinkers started long before Robert Pattinson joined the fray. And while Stephenie Meyers’ “Twilight” novels turned big-screen blockbusters has brought a new wave of attention to these night dwellers, there have been some memorial portrayals of the monsters throughout movie history.

Vampires on the big screen tend to have three distinct personalities: Scary, Sexy, or Funny. We asked several horror bloggers who specialize in vampires to call out their favorite characters, actors and fims in each category. See if you agree. If not, add your own selections and keep the immortals memories alive.

Blogger: Jeanne
Site: The Biting Edge
1. Scariest: “Nosferatu,” 1922, Max Schreck as Dracula. Don’t think that needs much explanation!

2. Sexiest: “Dracula,” 1979, Frank Langella. Old fashioned, charming, romantic, seductive.

3. Funniest: “Love at First Bite”, 1979, George Hamilton. He was born to play Dracula, tan and all.


Blogger: Gabrielle S. Faust
Site:  Fatally-Yours
1. Scariest: "30 Days of Night" —This was a very unique film in which the vampires took on a feral, almost shark-like feeding frenzy quality to them that was utterly devoid of any human emotion, which made them truly terrifying. Any of the vampires in this film could joust for the "scariest vampire actor" so I give them all equal credit.

2. Sexiest: "The Hunger" and "Lair of the White Worm”—These two films delve deep into the sexual nature of the vampire and embrace the world of lust and desire in a provocatively perverse way that I adore. As for the "sexiest vampire actor" however, I think that has to go to Brad Pitt http://movieblips.dailyradar.com/general/brad_pitt/ in "Interview with the Vampire". He is simply too beautiful as Louis!

2. Funniest: "Fright Night" —By and far, "Fright Night" is a classic when it comes to campy vampire humor. It pokes fun at the genre with an impish grin, using its over-the-top stereotypes to make the audience laugh out loud throughout the film. Chris Sarandon is the perfect lead vampire in this b-horror comedy.

Blogger: April aka Lady Vampire
Site: Lady Vampire 2 U
1. Scariest: Marlow aka Danny Huston of "30 Days of Night." My Take: Why Marlow? He looked different, he acted different, he was not the vampire norm. I've come to see vampires as human looking but with a wild side and a barely controlled thirst. But Marlow and group, they blew the whole human-side-of-a-vamp out of the water. Their appearance was the first thing. They looked…different. My instinct on sight of Marlow was to run. Something about his appearance was frightening alone. And then his silence was equally scary. I never realized how important it was to be able to try and bargain or talk your way out of a situation. And then the glee in which Marlow and company literally tore apart the town and just killed anything moving was horrific. Definitely sent shivers down my spine.
 
2. Sexiest: Bill Compton aka Stephen Moyer of the HBO "True Blood" series. My Take: Why Bill? Well I have to admit I've been reading Charlaine Harris's novels since the first book and way before this series came out on HBO. And although Bill caught my attention in the books, Stephen playing Bill on the series really caught my eye. I'm a sucker for dark looks, good manners and determination. All of which make up the character of Bill and come out through Stephen's portrayal on the series. There's just something about Bill that makes him stick out from the rest for me.
 
3. Funniest: Count Dracula aka Leslie Neilsen of “Dracula: Dead and Loving It.” My Take: Why Leslie as Count Dracula? Well the Dracula everyone knows is dark, mysterious and dangerous. Everything Leslie was not. But even though Leslie played the worst vampire in a movie, he still manages to pull off that silly factor that saves this film from being a total disaster. So he’s got my vote as the funniest vampire on screen.

Blogger: Patricia
Site: Patricia's Vampire Notes
It's fun to look back and reminisce about the various vampire movies I have seen, but It's always so hard for me when trying to pick just one of anything. Too many choices!

1. Scariest: That was easy—Max Schreck as the Nosferatu in F.W. Murnau’s German silent classic. The creeping about of that horrid rodent like creature, photographed in grainy black and white, brings instant nightmares.

2. Sexiest: Deciding on the Sexiest was really tough.
• The first contender was Wesley Snipes of “Blade” fame. All those muscles, and all that derring-do. Testosterone to the max! Very hard to resist.    

• Antonio Banderas as Armand in “Interview with the Vampire.” Even though his was not considered a starring role he had my complete attention while on the screen. There's something about his brooding, menacing look, sigh.    

• Frank Langella as Dracula—very sexy guy back in the days when he had all those dark curly locks.

• There were others of course, but I finally settled on Gerard Butler of “Dracula 2000.” What a good-looking guy! I could watch him all day!

3. Funniest: George Hamilton as Dracula in “Love at First Bite.” Poor George was the butt of so many jokes especially when he was dating Lynda Bird Johnson (I'm showing my age here). In this movie George showed he had real comedic talent. Just thinking about it makes me want to watch it again. Leslie Nielsen ran a close second with his comic rendition of our favorite “Count in Dracula: Dead and Loving It.”

Blogger: Catherine Karp
Site: Suburban Vampire
1. Scariest: Without a doubt, Max Schreck as Count Orlok in the classic 1920s vampire film “Nosferatu.” Pointy rat teeth; bat-like ears; hands resembling talons; slow, creeping movements. There's no way you'd let this guy into your house...and no Forks High School girl would ever accidentally fall in love with him. The actor's last name even translates to "fear" in German.  
 
2. Sexiest: This is a tough one. I'm going to go for an underdog here: Julian Sands as Alex in the 1992 film “Tale of a Vampire.” He's as guilt-ridden as a Rice vampire, he enjoys libraries (intellect is definitely sexy), and he's played by the actor who shared the pulse-racing kissing scenes with Helena Bonham Carter in “A Room with a View.” Transfer those lips to a vampire tale, and you've got a prime candidate for the sexiest undead character.

3. Funniest: I haven't watched a vampire comedy in ages (not including “The Lost Boys,” which is one of the funniest vampire movies out there, but it doesn't really contain a hysterical vampire character). My most recent moments of unbridled laughter at a vampire character was while watching Jason Segel's “Dracula” from “Dracula's Lament,”  the musical vampire puppet show in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”  

Blogger: Andy
Site: Taliesin Meets the Vampire
1. Scariest: For ease it would be convenient to mention Graf Orlock (Max Schrek) in the original “Nosferatu” but for sheer terror. However looking at the most scared I have been made by a vampire means I am going to have to suggest it should be Ralphie Glick (Ronnie Scribner) at the window in the 1979 “Salem’s Lot.”
 
Now, when I first saw this I was only young myself and it truly scared the bejezus out of me. Even now, whilst aspects of the film have perhaps aged, that scene stands testament as a true moment of vampire horror.
 
2. Sexiest: Now this is easy – Santanica Pandamonium as played by Salma Hayek in “From Dusk Till Dawn.” Okay, when she turns into a snake like vampire she isn’t that hot but that dance… woot. I could go on but just putting this will have me in trouble with my wife—anything extra would just be inviting trouble!
 
3. Funniest: This is difficult as comedy is subjective and good vampire comedies aren’t that common. I could mention the “Fearless Vampire Killers,” but in honesty it is the hunters and not the vampires that are truly funny. The recent “Netherbeast Incorporated” was an excellent example of a vampire comedy that worked but there wasn’t one particularly funny vampire—the film as a whole was funny.
 
I am going to go for Leslie Neilsen in “Dracula: Dead and Loving It.” I think the Mel Brooks vehicle is vastly underrated and unfairly slated. If you know the 1931 “Dracula” with Bela Lugosi, you can’t help but be charmed by the comedic homage this film is, and Neilson himself is always amusing—the scene where he tries to guide the mesmerized Mina out of her room and keeps summoning the maid is fantastic.