The theme for this week's Thursday Movie Picks, hosted by the amazing Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves, is one that is near and dear to my heart: vampire movies. Vampires are my favorite of all movie monsters. Well, they were, until the Stephanie Meyer led wussification of them. So yeah, I still fully believe that Edward Cullen must die.
Thankfully, there are some vampire movies of recent vintage that I'm proud to call blood sucker flicks. However, they aren't as widely known as the tripe that rakes in all the box office dough so I'm definitely calling these hidden gems. In fact, all three of my picks made my list of the best vampire movies since 2000. Chronologically, they are...
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
(2000)
A wealthy man whose daughter has been abducted by vampires hires D, the best hunter in the business to bring her back safely. What transpires is a wild, violent, and strange ride into a world overrun by vampires. D himself is half-vampire. To oversimplify, think of this as an anime version of Blade. Since that's selling it way short, just see the damn movie. Without the kids.
30 Days of Night
(2007)
In a small Alaskan industrial town, the sun is about to set and won't come back up for 30 days. When that happens, a group of vampires shows up with sharp teeth and large appetites. And that's pretty much it. This is one of the most savage and visceral portrayals of vampires ever committed to film. There are no romantic notions, no thoughtful metaphors, just hunting for food. These vampires...and the food they eat...are about as raw as it gets.
Thirst
(2009)
Oldboy director Park Chan-wook delivers this ridiculously under-seen vampire flick. It centers on a priest who, through a blood transfusion needed to save him from a deadly disease, becomes a vampire. If wrestling with that weren't enough for the man's conscience, he finds himself falling in love with a married woman. He turns her. Then the real fun begins. (full review)
Sorry to say this, but I really didn't enjoy Thirst. It was one of the most ridiculous watching experiences of my life, I just couldn't follow it at all. However, 30 Days of Night is pretty neat and easy to watch. I also like Let the Right One In and the old Nosferatu a lot.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear that about Thirst. I didn't have that problem with it. To each his own, so it's all good. Let The Right One In and Nosferatu are both amazing.
DeleteI'm glad you included Thirst! I have that on my list too, and I really adored 30 Days of Night as well. I haven't seen Vampire Hunter though.
ReplyDeleteI find Thirst to be a phenomenal movie. Whether or not you like Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust might depend on your tolerance for anime.
DeleteAhhh...I still haven't gotten around to seeing Thirst.
ReplyDeleteDo it. Do it now.
DeleteOh shit! I totally need to see Thirst. You know I do.
ReplyDeleteI think 30 Days of Night is one of the best-conceived ideas in the history of horror movies (er, graphic novels). Seriously. Unleashing vampires in a place void of daylight is f--king brilliant.
Did you ever see Blood: The Last Vampire? I remember that one being pretty cool. I'll have to check out the flick you mentioned. You know, without the kids.
I highly recommend Thirst. I did see Blood: The Last Vampire. That was a rather wild ride. A so bad it's awesome one, for me.
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Thirst is easily one of my all-time favorite vampire films. So visually striking and so fucked up. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't possibly agree with you any more with this comment.
DeleteThirst is so fantastic, I'm so glad there seem to be so many fans of it in blogosphere. The actress who played the lead role was just mesmerizing
ReplyDeleteIt's a great movie. I'm also glad so many seem to agree. As for the lead actress, yeah, she blew me away.
Delete"Vampires are my favorite of all movie monsters. Well, they were, until Stephanie Meyer led wussification of them." Ha ha! That wench ruined the bloodsucking undead for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI saw Thirst. I don't remember it well, except it that is was spectacularly f--ked up. :-) I haven't heard of the other two.
Great post!
Thanks. That's a great description of Thirst. The other two are both a lot of fun. And yeah, to hell with SMeyer.
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