Slate Magazine did an article a few weeks ago "The Garlic Years: When have we not been in the midst of a vampire craze?" (view here). I agree. There has been many Vampire themed stories in literature, big and small screens. Remember Buffy in the late 90's and early 2000's. That came to us every week. So there has always been interest in such tales. I just think that with the colossal popularity of Twilight, the media just loves to magnify all the other Vampire-esque stuff out there...some of which have already been out there for a while.
Which comes to this, we've had a few Vampire-esque movies the past year. What others can we look forward to the next year or so?
The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn
The most anticipated...none other than New Moon the Twilight sequel.
This time to keep Bella safe, Edward leaves Forks. Spiraling into a depression, Bella starts delving in dangerous stunts and befriends a Werewolf. I liked Twilight but I'm hoping this would be better especially in the acting. So if you're planning to see this like me, we better brace ourselves for some serious squealing from the teenage girls.
And of course after New Moon there's Eclipse and Breaking Dawn to look forward to.
Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant.
This movie has opened in the US, but not here. Also based on a series Young Adult novels
this is about a kid who goes to see a traveling freak show and is turned into a vampire by one of the "freaks". Seen the trailer, looks interesting. I see it appealing to a younger audience compared to the Twilight movies, and both boys and girls. This one seem to have a slight hint of humour too.
Daybreakers
It is the near future in an alternate universe where the world is populated with Vampires. Humans are an almost extinct species, the few left are farmed for their blood. But a group of Vampires might just have found a breakthrough. The trailer has since been released. The movie looks promising. So I'm definitely going to see this.
Priest
Based on a comic book,
Paul Bettany plays a priest who goes against the church to hunt down the vampires who have kidnapped his niece. I believe this is still in production. Not much of the movie has been released, only a couple of set photos. Sounds interesting though.
Let Me In
Let the Right On In was the Swedish adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist bestselling Swedish vampire novel, "Lat den Ratte Komma In", which tells of
a lonely 12 year old boy who befriends his new neighbour who happens to be a vampire...and its no Twilight. So what Let Me In basically is, is the English American adaptation of the same book. A lot people are to keen with the idea of Let Me In, but I am. I really liked Let the Right One In and I'd like to see Let Me In's take of the same story.
30 Days of Night: Dark Days
30 Days of Night: Dark Days is the sequel to 30 Days of Night which was based on a comic book.
The sequel follow Stella as she goes on a mission to avenge the attack of her town and her husband's death. I have yet to see 30 Days of Night. I will and after that I'll check this one out.
Underworld 4
Underworld 4 is set to be in 3D and will come to us in 2011. No word on the actual plot yet. But that isn't all, it seems there will be more Underworld movies soon bringing in a new trilogy. I'm hoping they're bring back Selene and Michael. I'm more interested in their story and their future then the origin story of the long standing feud between the two creatures, I didn't quite dig the 3rd Underworld.
The Vampire Chronicles
Universal Pictures is planning to reboot Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles, two which has had adaptations in the past, Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned. I have never read any of Anne Rice's books but will they start with a Lestat origin story when he was first turned? Vampires in lace and tights...yes! Kidding, but I did rewatch Interview With the Vampire which I still very much enjoyed. So I'm definitely looking forward to see them revisit that world again. There's mention of Robert Downey Jr as Lestat...err isn't he too old?
The Passage
The Passage a novel by Justin Cronin which has yet to be even released in book stores is already being developed into a movie. The story:
the government run secret tests on human subjects, when terminally ill patients become healthy after being bitten by bats in South America. It leads to devastating result when they turn into Vampires?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Word is there is going to be a new Buffy movie. And it will bear no connection to the TV series. Nothing to pout about as the TV series itself had no ties to its predecessor which was the 1992 movie other than it shares the same name and the same outline that each generation has its own vampire slayer to protect it...and that turned out rather well didn't it. No actual plot details have been released for this one but I'm definitely looking forward to this.
Byzantium
Moira Buffini’s play A Vampire Story is set to get a big screen adaptation called Byzantium.
It tells of two mysterious women who moves to a small town. During a drama class in school, one of the women exposes herself as being over 200 years old and surviving on human blood. Is she a vampire or just plain crazy. Yeah sounds warped.
The Moth Diaries
Another is she crazy or is she not? The Moth Diaries is an adaptation of Rachael Klein's novel of the same name.
A woman with psychiatric history revisits the time she spent at a boarding school through her diary and her suspicions that her new schoolmate was a Vampire. I have to read the book. Sounds very very interesting.
Vamps
With all the sombre, scary and futuristic vampire movies in production out there, there is bound to be a vampire romantic comedy flick right? Apparently there is and Amy Heckerling director of Clueless is about to give us just that. The movie is supposed to be about
two young female vampires living the life in New York City and finding love. Funny how they say young...aren't vampires always young since they don't grow old and die.
