It seems that a growing number of people, from tweens, their parents, and those in their twenties and upward have been bitten, or rather, smitten by the latest interest in vampire movies, romance novels, along with a possible television show in the works. The fascination with the undead is nothing new, starting as far back as in 1931, with Hungarian-born actor Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of Count Dracula.
In 1966, ABC-TV aired the show “DARK SHADOWS,” with Canadian-born actor Jonathan Frid starring as the vampire Barnabas Collins.
Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Christian Slater starred in the movie, “INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE,” by popular Author Ann Rice in 1994. Sarah Michelle Gellar starred in “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” in 1997, including David Boreanaz from “BONES;” which popularized the whole romantic tension, attraction and interplay between a handsome male vampire and a vulnerable-looking female. Although in this particular case, Buffy could really kick some butt! Now Forks, WA is getting ready to receive the next wave of the almost cult-following adoring fans who were seduced by the first showing of the movie, “TWILIGHT,” with stars Robert Pattinson as the vampire ‘Edward,’ and his almost victim/love interest ‘Bella,’ played by Kristen Stewart.
This is definitely “New School,” because in the past, vampires were not interested in relationships but in control and power, using a hypnotic glare to paralyze their victim before fangs were struck on the side of the victims neck, penetrating the Carotid Artery; killing the victim, while the vampire drank the life-sustaining red elixir of Life. In a few instances, the person was bitten only to be infected with the Vampire curse; of becoming one of the damned, to wander the earth following the scent of blood, pulsating in the warm bodies of their next prey; just as their former masters did to them. Also, vampires could not see their reflection in a mirror, could turn into a bat, were vulnerable to Holy water and the Crucifix, slept in a coffin bed, and could not enter the sacred ground of either a cemetery, Church, Cathedral, Temple, or Mosque(??); that was then, this is now.
Although vampires can still be killed by the Ages old ‘stake’ in the heart, or from a real serious beat-down, the modern vampires like to hit the clubs, take drugs, get freaky in sexual orgies, surf the Internet Chat rooms and collect pornographic materials. Some of them, like the handsome Robert Pattinson, probable spend quite some time in front of the mirror. It is even probable that a few vampires wear a necklace with the ‘crucifix’ around their neck and talk more about a belief in God than the devil; and after all, one must not confuse them with being demons because they aren’t. Lastly, it seems all the fascination with the vampire story is predicated upon the romantic feelings and love between an unequal power relationship between a beautiful and in many if not all cases, female and a male, who like in the fairy tales is dashing, heroic, handsome, unselfish, and most important of all, heterosexual.
One can only wonder how popular would any vampire be if he or she reflected today’s social experience of a homosexual, rapist, a pedophile, a leader in Congress, Police Chief, member of the clergy, Fortune 500 CEO, mailman, soldier in the Military serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, or if there was a beautiful female teacher who seduced her unwitting Middle School male students.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 16, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
