Stephanie Myers’ Twilight series is nothing less than a cultural phenomenon. No question there. Vampires a la Myers have become a symbol for adolescence and the first frightful pangs of love; the beauty of vampires is that they can stand for anything you want them to. Pick and choose the parts of the lore that suit you: superhuman strength, avoidance of sunlight, feeding off of human blood – not to mention the whole immortality thing. They can stand for anything we fear and desire. The first recorded usage of the word “vampire,” in fact, is in a metaphorical context. From their very origins, these mythical creatures have stood in for things we can only explain by analogy.

Those of you who’ve been drawn in by the Cullen family’s spell might want to consider expanding your horizons. Watch some of these movies and shows to find out what vampires have meant to other people – and how vampires have changed and stayed the same in each incarnation. It can’t hurt! Unless, of course, you get bitten…

Meet:

The Dapper Vampire: Interview With the Vampire
Anne Rice is certainly one of the pioneers of the modern “sexy vampire” ideal, so this, the best film adaptation of her work, is a good place to start. It helped make Lestat, the rogueish immortal, a fixture of popular culture – the scene in which he pops up in the backseat of the journalist’s car to the tune of “Sympathy for the Devil” is unforgettable. And there’s always the bittersweet tale of the child vampire, Claudia, a woman trapped eternally in the body of a little girl.

The Regretful Vampire: Let the Right One In
This one is a bit difficult to get ahold of, but it’s not impossible – especially if you live near any independent arthouse-style theaters. It’s the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love – well, one of them has been twelve for 200 years. There aren’t a lot of positively-portrayed female vampires out there, so Eli, the conflicted vampire girl, is in a league of her own. Cold, atmospheric, and violent, this is a movie that sticks with you for a long time.

The Romantic Vampire: Buffy the Vampire Slayer -”Becoming, Part II”
I hesitate to recommend this, since it can’t really stand on its own and all the backstory requires watching two entire seasons of the show. However, if you can find the time to make it up until the second season finale, you’ll find that “Buffy” really pays off. This should simultaneously satisfy and crush all your desires for a bittersweet vampire romance. Have a box of tissues ready for the ending montage, set to Sarah McLachlan’s “Full of Grace.”

The Traitorous Vampire: Blade
This classic action film features Wesley Snipes as Blade, the Daywalker, a vampire-human hybrid who fights valiantly against vampires who would harm humans. In this, the first film in the trilogy, he struggles against a vampire cult that hopes to use his blood to awaken an ancient power. It’s kind of like Hellboy, only more violent. And while the Blade universe ascribes to the idea that all bitten humans turn to vampires, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, this movie is still a whole lotta fun.

The Vicious Vampire: Blood: The Last Vampire
This acclaimed anime film briefly introduces the character of Saya, who went on to star in a manga sequel, a video game, and more. Presumed in this story to be at least part vampire, she fight stoically against an invasion of giant, bat-like creatures with a thirst for blood. The relation between humanoid vampires like Saya and these creatures is unknown, but she doesn’t hesitate to slice them to bits with her katana. A scant forty-eight minutes is hardly enough to deal with the mythology behind the events, but the visuals are captivating nonetheless.

The Classic Vampire: Dracula (1931)
No one will fault you for nodding off during this seminal film of the genre; however, there are some particularly enjoyable aspects, such as Renfield, the hapless real estate agent who falls under Dracula’s spell and starts eating bugs for some reason. While Bela Lugosi’s performance as the titular character would benefit from a little more subtlety and a little less I VANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD, it’s an important landmark in the history of the vampire myth.

The Barfly Vampire: From Dusk Till Dawn
The vampire is often portrayed as having its own isolated subculture, and this Robert Rodriguez flick is all about a vampire bar that lures in human customers to feed upon. As the name implies, the club is only open from dusk till dawn, because after dawn and before dusk the vamps are sleeping in their coffins or whatever they do. Plus, screenwriter Quentin Tarantino plays a creepy, possibly ephebophile foot fetishist, which is perfect for him. It’s a great film of the “bunch of people trapped somewhere and needing to destroy a bunch of monsters to get out” genre.

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