2 Indie Vampire Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen (But Really Should)
In honor of “Dolloween”, here are some spooky movie recommendations…
Terrifying tales of beautiful bloodsuckers have captured the imaginations of people around the world for centuries, so it makes sense that there’s an entire treasure trove of vampire movies beyond the mainstream classics and big blockbusters like Interview with a Vampire and the Twilight saga. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with things that are popular, I’ve found that it’s often worth the effort to look beyond the surface and explore some of the lesser-known vampire movies out there. With this in mind, here are two of my favorites that are definitely worth sinking your teeth into.
Vampire (2011) | Director – Shunji Iwai
Despite the title, Vampire is not your traditional vampire film. There are no mysterious counts or glistening centuries-old heartthrobs. Instead, the film star’s Kevin Zeger as Simon: an introverted biology teacher who finds a consensual, albeit still disturbing way to satisfy his appetite for blood.
The film follows Simon as he navigates new interpersonal relationships that threaten to complicate and even expose his vampiric tendencies. Interestingly, while Simon is technically a serial killer, he is also empathetic, restrained, and far from the most terrifying character in the film.
Content Warnings: Suicide, Rape, Graphic Violence
The Transfiguration (2016) | Director – Michael O’Shea
The Transfiguration is another modern take on the classic vampire genre. The film chronicles the dark adventures of Milo, a quiet 14-year-old boy who lives with his older brother in Brooklyn, New York. Milo is a loner who is obsessed with vampires and does his best to avoid the gang that terrorizes his neighborhood.
While Milo avoids the violence of gang life, his obsession with vampirism causes him to regularly consume videos of graphic violence and even engage in his own shocking acts of brutality. He even thinks of himself as a vampire, having compiled a set of strict “rules” for his vampire lifestyle, including a feeding schedule. Things get complicated when Milo forms a relationship with a girl who moves into his apartment building, causing him to confront the morality of his choices.
Content Warnings: Suicide, Rape, Graphic Violence, Disturbing Imagery
~DeLa Doll
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DeLa Doll is a culture writer, cosplayer, and artist based in Florida. She has been writing professionally since 2016, with some of her work being featured on sites like HuffPo and /Film. She is an advocate for meaningful diversity and representation in media, a gamer, a mom, and an avid user of DIY hair dye.
