The horror film genre has become so diverse that it has spawned many sub-genres. These sub-genres range anywhere from Zombies to Slashers, from Werewolves to . . . Vampires! Like others, the vamp sub-genre has its own style and even though many of these characteristics have grown from the 1897 Bram Stoker novel Dracula, vampire legends have evolved in modern day folklore but also span to past cultures such as Mesopotamia. Understanding this, it's no surprise that these demons have made their way into the world's most popular and current way of story telling, movies.

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Filmmakers have interpreted the myth of vampires in diverse ways. Some view them as ancient, almost god-like beings while others see them as a tool for blood and gore. Vamps have been shaped into romantic, seductive vixens with their lust for blood often interwoven with sexual desire (Cough Selma). However, they've also been used for comedic B-grade movie making that transform overtime into cult classics. This folklore has been deeply explored by film and now I present to you HorrorBid's top 10 favorite Vampire movies . . .

10. Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992)

Speaking of cult followings. Not everybody likes this film and there's a good chance you're wondering why it made our list over so many others. So why do we dig Buffy? Because it's a terribly fun movie. The acting is deliberately over the top and does quite well. If you try and take one thing in Joss Whedon's original attempt serious you'll be disappointed but if you can go in looking for laughs and a good time with vampires and cheerleaders then check it out. Another reason why Buffster makes the list is because this film spawned the very successful Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series that balanced romance, comedy and horror. Plus, as hot as Gellar is she still has nothing on Swanson.

9. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Two of the best directors of the 90's (Rodriguez & Tarantino) joined forces to give us dirty, sexy, criminal blood suckers. This over the top vamp flick makes our favorite top 10 not because of all star casting, not because of directorial talent, but because of one word, "Selma, Ohhhhhhhh Selma". If any body ever brought Sexy back it was Selma Hayek's portrayal of Santanico Pandemonium, a saucy vamp vixen who's snake danc'n, toe lick'n, bikini wear'n badness not only seduced Tarantino's character but entranced every male viewer. This is BY FAR one of the most smoking hot scenes EVER (oh yes, I went there) in any film in any genre!!!!! If only I could have been that snake . . .

8. Blade (1998)

Wesley Snipes as a half human/half vampire hunting other vamps? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard . . . or so I thought. Blade was one of the first Vampire movies to introduce the idea of Vamps being integrated into society's upper class / high society. Their lust for power outweighed their need for blood, well until a rebel vamp named Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) decides to use an ancient prophecy concerning Blade to make himself a super vamp. On to a better subject, who didn't think that opening blood bath rave scene was cool? Though the special effects are a bit dated the film's climatic battle is also pretty sweet. I'll never forget that famous last line, something about ice skating up hill? LOL.

7. The Lost Boys (1987)

CRRRYYY LITTLE SISTA!!!! Now you'll have that song stuck in your head all night Whohahahahh. You can smell an 80's movie a mile away so it's only fitting that The Lost Boys makes our list. It's very typical of the 80's style of film making yet you can watch this movie over and over again. Financial troubles force a recent divorcee and her teenage sons Mike and Sam to settle down with her father in the California town of Santa Carla. At first, Sam laughs off rumours he hears about vampires who inhabit the small town. But after Mike meets a beautiful girl at the local amusement park, he begins to exhibit the classic signs of vampirism. Fearing for his own safety, Sam recruits two young vampire hunters to save his brother by finding and destroying the head vampire. Why do we like this? Honestly there are two reasons. One, Kiefer Sutherland freak'n rules as David and second, Gerard McMann's Cry Little Sister song that I can't get out of my head!

6. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

I struggled not placing this higher on our list. Not only is it directed by one of Hollywood's great directors, Francis Ford Coppola, but it's all star cast give a faithful adaption to the novel. Coppola takes an artistic approach to the material and creates some startling images (some quite intense and erotic). This film brought the novel's true darkness to movie audiences, something that Dracula had never received yet completely deserved. Bram Stoker's Dracula is as much a love story as it is horror yet is all overshadowed by Coppola's genius direction. Oh, and Monica Bellucci is a topless, blood sucking, naughty, naughty girl . . . I hate you Keanu Reeves.

5. Dracula (1931)

When we think vampire the first image to pop in many of our heads is still that of Bela Lugosi. That's the impact he had playing the iconic role of the notorious vampire count. Tod Browning's vision of Dracula may not be the best but it's the most memorable bar none. "I am Dracula", still makes my skin crawl a bit. This film horrified audience during it's release and many believe Lugosi is the sole reason for this film's success. Why does this make HorrorBid's list? It's all about respect baby.

4. Interview With A Vampire (1994)

A woman's dream come true - Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas wanting to seduce you for a little sucky action (puking right now LOL). I'm sure Kirsten Dunst looks back and wishes they had filmed an orgy scene with her in it (sick I know . . . Ok, I'll stop it LOL). However, when you go back and watch this film it doesn't seem dated at all, particular in this day and age with CGI galore. The gist, Pitt's character Louis tells Christian Slater (a reporter) about his travels as a vampire throughout Europe and early American history. As far as I'm concerned this is still Dunst's best performance to date. Why we picked this? The story is epic and the acting is top notch plus the book's Author 'Anne Rice' was so pleased with this adaptation that she took out a two page ad in both Vanity Fair and the New York Times endorsing it as "a masterpiece".

3. 30 Days Of Night (2007)

This film is delightfully nasty horror, which once again has wet our appetite to see blood suckers on celluloid. These vampires are just scary, no sexual innuendo, they are just plain beasts. The movie's Comic book origins are quite noticeable through the film and it makes Horrorbid's Vamp cut because it looks beautiful, the cinematography is incredible, the punchy electro rock score used is effectively scarce during the film and silence is the films most potent suspense weapon. What about that performance by Ben Foster?!?! WOW. Another thing 30 Days of Night gets right is the Vampire mythology. I love how the Vamps speak a language that is not English for a change. This helps with their background story without having to have random dialog to explain it. It's very different from other Vampire movies and that's why we likes. Originality people.

2. Nosferatu (1922)

Considered the first true vampire film Nosferatu is not only significant for the Vamp sub-genre or the horror genre itself but for the film industry as a whole. Though Murnau, in the hopes of dodging the copyright issues, took many liberties with the novel, he actually shot a large portion of the film on location (an unusual practice for the time) in the historical Carpathian Mountains in Romania (Dracula's old stomping grounds). The town, landscapes, and castles were all for real, not in a fancy studio. Max Schreck became the image of the Vampire. All hail to the king baby!

1. Let the Right One In - Låt den rätte komma in (2008)

Calling Let the Right One In a vampire film is almost doing it a disservice because it's a very human story. This Swedish film set in the 1980's (in my opinion) should have been nominated for the academy award for best foreign film (too bad Sweden wouldn't allow it to be submitted). The story is genius balancing the vampire elements of romance, horror and folklore. It center's around two 12 year olds named Oskar and Eli. On the one hand you see Eli as a protagonist and you some how relate to her (even though she's killing people . . .killing so she can live) but then again she is a killer and a vampire so in a sense she's the evil. I think we forget how bad she might be because she's in the form of a 12 year old girl and I think us (the audience) falls in love with her as Oskar does (since we are following him along this journey). We only see what Oskar sees. Let the Right One in tops off HorrorBid's Top 10 Favorite Vampire movies because it's freak'n brilliant!



So there you have it, our top 10 favorite Vampire flicks. (remember we didn't say best, we said favorite). What are some of your favorite Vampire films?