I’m not sure where it all started? Did I read the book Dracula by Bram Stoker first or did I watch Salem’s Lot?

All I know is that from quite a young age I’ve had a deep fascination with vampires, especially Count Dracula. 

Perhaps I have always been attracted to Powerful, Charming creatures of the night , eternal (unless stabbed through the heart, see daylight, or have holy water thrown on them) with a  dangerous, mysterious aura about them. What’s not to love especially when they look like Damon from The Vampire Diaries… but I’ll come to that later .

Growing up my mum had a big ‘celebrity crush’ on David Soul. She loved him, a-bit like my obsession with Bradley Cooper! 

Like mother, like daughter …

When I was in my late teens I recall Mum suggesting we have a movie night while my Dad was out. That we watch this film called  ‘Salems lot’ that starred Mr Soul. 

Apparently it was supposed to be really good but I think it was mainly for mum to get her David fix ! I’m not even 100% sure if she knew what it was about but we made ourselves comfy on the settee and settled down to watch

My brother lasted about 5 minutes deciding he was going to his bedroom to read & listen to music. 

He always was a big bloody wuss! 

It’s years since I’ve watched Salems Lot which was originally released in 1979 but I can remember parts of it like it was yesterday . 

It left me feeling a little traumatised; but the adrenaline rush was off the scale. When Dad came home from the pub, he walked into the living room and was met by mum and I almost sat on top of each other , cushions over our eyes, shrieking! 

For weeks afterwards I avoided pulling back the curtains , I was terrified I would come face to face with 2 little eyes that belonged to the little vampire boy who floated in the air knocking on the windows to come in … then bite you!! Years later it’s one of the things that stands out in my memory from the film.

Mum died in 2017; I know it sounds slightly strange but this film always brings back such lovely, fond memories of her, of us . The two of us sat terrified together, nervously giggling , hiding behind cushions, our closeness  … Who knew a horror film could evoke such feelings ?

The Lost Boys Years …

Sleep all day, Party all night. Never grow old. Never die, it’s fun to be a Vampire

Like I said earlier I always found the idea of vampires sexy – BUT The Lost Boys really put the S.E.X.Y into vampires.

This film is one of my favourites.

The soundtrack alone deserves a mention. ‘ Cry Little Sister’ by Gerard McMahon is a masterpiece. 

Kiefer Sutherland plays the head of his vampire gang to perfection and is both evil , yet very alluring. And let’s not forget beautiful Jason Patric the good guy, trying not to make his first kill and turn into a full blown vampire himself …

If you want a modern day, not too scary take on a vampire movie this is a good place to start, because in parts it is quite comical . 

You might also like to try Quentin Tarantino’s ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ which is played out during one night in a truck stop in Mexico .

It’s worth watching if only for Salma Hayeks unbelievably provocative snake dance and some George Clooney action. 

Bram Stokers Dracula – 1992 

Bram Stoker was an Irish author who wrote  the 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula. I’ve read the book several times , but feel like I need to read it again.  

Without going too geek on you … 

Stoker took his inspiration for the character Count Dracula from stories of a Romanian hero, named Vlad Tepes, who became a war hero when fighting off the Turks who were trying to invade.

He was an excessively cruel man who was also referred too as Vlad the impaler. He used to impale his victims alive and let the blood drain from them . Their deaths took days.

Due to his excessive cruelness legend grew that he was in-fact a vampire, which was a common belief in that region during his era.

Stoker also got part of his inspiration for the book while holidaying in Whitby. This is the reason why Whitby has such a deep affiliation with Dracula; holds its famous Goth weekends twice a year and more recently its Dracula experiences . 

The 1992 film is based on the book and is the nearest  interpretation of the ‘original’ story you will see (that I’ve seen anyway) It stars Gary Oldman who is amazing, Keanu Reeves & Winona Ryder .

I love Whitby probably because of its vampire connections . Whenever I’m there I take the steep walk up the 199 steps to St Mary’s Church and look for Dracula’s grave stone in the graveyard … despite knowing there isn’t one. My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy but I guess I just like to fantasise! 

Apparently, although I’ve never seen it , there is a sign on the church door that reads: “Please do not ask staff where Dracula’s grave is as there isn’t one. Thankyou.”

In Bram Stokers novel the Count is being transported from Transylvania in a coffin onboard a ship destined for the UK. He survives by ‘feasting’ on the crew each night so by the time it reaches Whitby , crashing into the rocks there’s only him ‘alive’ aboard. 

He makes his escape, runs up those very same steps in the form of a black dog. Dracula had arrived. 

The rest they say is history…

The Vampire Dairies – 2009 

Is an American supernatural teen drama ( I swear I was about 45 when I first starting watching !! ) that I became slightly obsessed with mainly because of one of the lead characters Damon who I mentioned briefly earlier. 

He is played by Ian Somerholder with his alluring, piercing blue eyes. If I’m ever to be brought down, bitten & turned by anyone – please let it be him ! 

They aired 171 episodes over 8 series of which I watched them ALL ! That’s dedication … or something … for you !!

Other vampire films I have enjoyed – 

‘Interview with a Vampire’ starring Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt. Brilliant film. 

‘Dracula – Dead and Loving it’. A comedy with the brilliant Leslie Neilson. If you don’t like scares but fancy a belly laugh this is the vampire film for you. 

Finally …

I went to see the new film release Nosferatu yesterday, where we encounter Count Orlok, rather than Count Dracula. 

It’s not a bad film – it is 1/2 hour too long in my opinion and very slow in places. It has its tense moments and it’s very atmospheric especially while they are at Orloks castle. It is filmed beautifully and some of the imagery is delicious. 

Lily Rose Depp is amazing in it and resembles a young Kiera Knightley. I think we shall be seeing A LOT more of her in the future.

Nosferatu is basically the Dracula story but with a few tweaks to make it ever so slightly different . The first release of this film in 1922 actually had a lawsuit issued against it by the Bram Stoker estate of which they won. 

All copies of the film had to be destroyed but as I understand it a few survived and it is now classed as a cult horror movie. 

I’m a mindfull of useless information however I only found this out myself yesterday ! 

I am that person that watch’s something then goes down a rabbit hole afterwards … which led me to discover a film that I’ve not seen before. I’m now itching to watch it – ‘Dracula Untold’ AND I’ve found it to rent for £2.39 on Prime! 

Where have I been … it was released in 2014?

I am most excitably sitting down to watch it as I type with a strong coffee and a few chocolates we have left from Christmas. 

I will report back !

Let the vampire fest begin …

Tracey x