The Evolution of Vampires

Variations of undead beings who feed on human blood developed in fearful human minds in different parts of the world. Vampires have since become a staple of modern popular fiction, although the manner in which they are portrayed has shifted over the years. Once a creature to be feared, now along with the terror comes a whole lot of lusting.

Vampires began to show up in 18th and 19th century poems, short stories, and penny dreadfuls. These culminated with the publication of Irishman Bram Stoker's Gothic horror novel Dracula in 1897. Bram Stoker's version of the vampire survived on human blood, was super strong, could shift into the form of a bat or wolf, could turn into mist, had no reflection, cast no shadow, had hypnotic powers over his victims, could turn humans into vampires in a way similar to the transmission of a disease, and was potentially immortal (he would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for those meddling kids.) He also had to sleep on the soil of his native land, could not enter a home without being invited, could not cross running water, was repelled by garlic and holy symbols, and could be destroyed by a stake through the heart and decapitation. He could move about freely in the daytime, although his supernatural powers were greatly diminished.

Stoker had named his vampire character after a historical figure known for his reputation for cruelty. Vlad III Tepes, Prince of Wallachia in the 15th century, took pleasure in torturing and killing, and his preferred method for dealing with his enemies was impalement (thus, Vlad the Impaler). Tepes' patronymic was Dracula.

Vlad Tepes, aka Dracula

Stage productions were based off of Stoker's novel, and in 1931 a film version was made. The title role in the movie was played by Bela Lugosi.

Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula in Dracula

Previously, in 1922, the German Expressionist horror film Noferatu was released, but this was an unauthorized adaptation of Stoker's novel. This ugly bastard was the one who was first repelled by daylight.

Max Schreck as Count Orlok in Nosferatu

By 1987, film vampires had evolved into this:

Totally rad

In the late 20th century, Gothic romance writer Marilyn Ross wrote the Barnabas Collins series, which was loosely based of the television show Dark Shadows. Her work was some of the first to portray vampires as romantic, tragic heroes, rather than pure evil.

1992 saw the release of another Dracula movie based off of Stoker's novel. This time, the tragic/romantic/sexy aspects came into play. (This Dracula did it all for love!)

Winona Ryder with Gary Oldman portraying a more romantic Dracula

Although even he had his bad hair days.

Yikes

Vampires continued their ascent through society, becoming more charismatic, sexy and smooth-talking with time. Anne Rice's characters can definitely be viewed as tragic heroes (and anti-heroes). Take, for example, the characters of 1994's Interview with the Vampire.

So debonair

Who says the undead have to be savages?

Lestat revels in his monstrousness

While Louis resists his as best he can

Interview with the Vampire also introduces the thrillingly creepy concept of a child vampire.

Then we had TV shows targeting the teenage demographic, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I found it to be a very amusing show, and I always thought that the people who outright dismissed were trying to take it too seriously. The show did not take itself seriously, it was meant to be fun, and funny. Same for its spinoff, Angel.

The majority of these vampires were of the pure evil variety, but then we had the romantic figure of Angel, the vampire whose soul had been restored as part of a curse, so that he could despair in his monstrous nature. These vamps also tended to be hot stuff, turning ugly when things got vampy.

We're kinda hot, and then we're not. Rawr!

Buffy included other supernatural folks in its lineup, including witches and werewolves. In our next movie, 2003's Underworld, we have vampires, werewolves, and a vampire-werewolf hybrid. And (for the most part) they're all smokin'! It also further expounded on the tragic hero theme. The undead are just misunderstood, man!

Kate Beckinsale makes for one sexy, kickass vamper.

Pretty sure Bill Nighy might actually be a vampire. A vampire who also happens to do a really good acting job as a tentacle-faced undead pirate.

 
Our next topic was never a movie, and although it did inspire a short-lived television show (Kindred: The Embraced), it began as a role-playing game. You know, like Dungeons and Dragons. And it's still going strong today. The Vampire: The Masquerade RPG was first developed in 1991, but I placed it here because my very favorite incarnation of this universe comes in the 2004 PC game, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. Even though it's a decade old now, this is still easily one of my all-time favorite video games. You choose which clan of vampires you want your character to belong to, which equates to their lineage and thus the kinds of powers they inherited from their vampire sire. For example, Gangrels can shapeshift, Ventrue exercise mind control, Malkavians are all insane, and you can even be an ugly Nosferatu bastard. As you gain experience you develop your character as you see fit, assigning points to certain disciplines and abilities. The Bloodlines PC game was super fun.

The different vampire clans - do you want to be sexy and manipulate humans with your charm and persuasiveness? Or do you want to be a brute who can beat your way to the top?

The vampire prince of Los Angeles. Kind of a douche.

In the game, you choose to side with the Camarilla, the Anarchs, the Kuei-Jin, the prince, or screw them all and stay loyal only to yourself. Your choice affects the outcome of the game.

Jeanette is a Malkavian. So is her twin sister Therese. As for the other twins...well, hello there.

Okay. So, this next stop in the evolution of vampires in popular fiction. I want to preface this by saying that I really did enjoy Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Like, a lot. Meyer's vampires are certainly romantic, tragic, and heroic. And she also includes the intriguing half-vampire child bit. But even I have to poke fun at the shiny new vampire power these books introduced: sparkling!

From blood-sucking bat transforming evil incarnate to romantic tragic heroic sparkling...wait, nix that last part. For realz.

In 2008 we were treated to the HBO series True Blood, a TV show based off of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. This show is both sexy and amusing, and a lot of fun. Even if it gets a bit campy at times.

Hotness

They bite

Did I mention the sexy? And the campy? Good lord!

2009 saw the inception of the CW's The Vampire Diaries, another television series geared more toward the teenage crowd. I was a fan of L.J. Smith's young adult paranormal novels, (some of which the show is based on), but I have to admit, I never really thought this show would be anything that would interest me. Maybe when I was 14 years old, but not now. It is pretty popular with the right crowd, however.

How sexy. How tragic and romantic.

And yet, staying true to the vampire's bloody origins.

Oh boy, here we go again

Which brings us to my current obsession in life. The Originals on the CW is a spinoff of The Vampire Diaries. Which is why I initially kept ignoring it every time Hulu tried to recommend it to me, based on other shows I enjoyed. As I said, I never though I'd be interested in TVD. People who watch both tell me the The Originals, although set in the same universe, is a more mature show. And I'm glad I finally gave in to Hulu's nagging and gave it a chance. Because I absolutely luuuuuuurve this show!

Here we have sexy and tragic heroes, romance, monstrous and bloody acts, werewolves, witches, and the vampire-werewolf hybrid. Also, vampire mind-control has made a comeback. And it's all wrapped up into a compelling plot. I just hope the magic can be carried on into many more seasons after this first one wraps up!

The family of original vampires - Rebekah, Niklaus and Elijah

Look - beautiful, debonair, charismatic! Their vampire story definitely fits them into the tragic hero slot

But they can be just as diabolical as romantic

And they bite! Ooh, ooh, me next!

Love it. Did I mention that yet?

When Klaus' vampire-werewolf hybrid baby is born, I wonder what new elements she will bring to the world of vampires in popular fiction? (Please, lord, don't let it sparkle.)