vampires are scary

It's a strange statement to make on a Halloween-themed blog. But it has to be said. Vampires scare me. All vampires. Or at least all of the vampires I've ever encountered through books and movies. I can't speak about Twilight because I've never seen it and likely never will. And I'd have to make an exception for The Count from Sesame Street. Let's just say that all vampires that are not fuzzy and cute scare me.



I took some time to reflect on my fear of vampires recently when I capitulated under the weight of my daughter's ridicule and sat down to watch Bela Lugosi's original Dracula for the first time. Yes, the first time. I had never seen it. Despite owning a copy. I bought it because I needed the Dracula set to complete my Universal Legacy Collection of DVD's. My collector's soul simply would not let me walk away.

As a fan of classic horror, I had to ask myself: why? Why do I embrace mummies and ghosts and werewolves, while vampires, and particularly Dracula, leave me cold? And I think I've arrived at an answer.


Dracula has absolutely no redeeming qualities. No glimmer of humanity. No endearing trait.

Frankenstein's monster is seeking acceptance. The Wolfman is the unwitting victim of his malady. The Mummy is searching for his long-lost love. The Invisible Man is . . . well, he at least finds humour in his situation. Maniacal humour. But humour nonetheless.

Dracula, on the other hand, is not humourous. Nor does he inspire pity or empathy.


He's just evil and creepy. Even in 1931 black-and-white.