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When it comes to scary tales, there are a few recurring themes: Misshapen things that used to be human, things that man is not meant to know, and various beasties what go bump in the night, but one of the scariest concepts has to be that of the vampire. Carnivorous like a werewolf, undead like a zombie, the classic vamp may be able to shape-shift, control your mind, rip apart even the sturdiest hiding place with their super-strength and steal your village’s woman, all the while totally pulling off an opera cape and also consuming all the liquid in your body. The classic horror movie polymath, a good vampire is the monstrous equivalent of Johnny Depp, able to do anything and everything, without the limitation of having to be directed by Tim Burton…
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) doesn’t drink…wine, but still wonders why Gary Oldman had Princess Leia hair, asking: Who makes for the absolute scariest Dracula (or Dracula-equivalent) in movie history?
Remember: The best comment will win, thanks to Fangoria Presents!
18 Comments
I’ve always thought Hugh Laurie would make an excellent vampire, and depending on which version, Dracula himself. He can seem friendly and trustworthy as seen in “Stuart Little”, but he can also be pretty disturbed as seen in “House”.
Hmm, question got changed since my answer.
For the NEW question (because it really does make a difference how it is worded), I’d have to agree with others and go with the old silent movie Nosferatu. That particular take still creeps me out even with all the special FX and “freakier” vampires we’ve got on movies now.
Sorry, but the question has not been changed or edited since it was published…
Gary oldman was scary because he was civil, but the eyes look like the hold in the monster. The facial hair helped as Dracula is usually clean shaven and docile looking.
I say the oldest is still the best . . . so I’m going to go with “Nosferatu”. That vampire make-up still freaks me out, and the fact that its a silent film makes it all the more scary.
Evil Ed. Loner misfit turned (tenderly, strangely enough) vicious sadist with several terrifying forms, complete with the best-friend-turned-foe motivation. (alternately, purely for creep factor, Amy in the basement when she grows a mile of smile….)
WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
Evil Ed also had that terrible laugh, and I think we ALL know a guy like that. *coughzachcough*
How about Leslie Nielsen, in Dracula: Dead and Loving It, because unfortunately this atrocity is, to date, Mel Brook’s last movie. How terrifying is it that Mel Brooks might pass away with this turd being the last thing on his distinguished filmography?!?
I thought that movie was hilarious when I saw it, of course I was 12……
It’s also one of the most accurate adaptations of Bram Stoker’s book…which is sad enough as it is. I agree though, it was fun.:)
Willem Dafoe in Shadow of the Vampire. He’s practically a movie monster already.
Ahh, but who’s the *real* monster of that piece? Malkovich’s Murnau is a true monster; conniving and cunning, and actually has Nosferatu cowering from his wrath.
The freakiest version of a vampire/Dracula equivalant I can remember is the Blade II new vampires. When I first saw it split its jaw down the middle and the big tounge/tube thing latches onto a neck it was awesomely horrifying. Gotta love Guillermo Del Toro.
I have to go with Nosferatu. Silent, inhuman, very creepy. To be able to be that creepy without having a lot of special effects means you have to do it with acting primarily, which wins my vote.
Gerard Butler in Dracula 2000 is my pick for scariest Dracula incarnation. My reasoning for this is that this is the movie where we find out where dracula came from originally. We all know he has an aversion to light, crosses, and silver, and then finding out it is Judas Iscariot, Jesus’ betrayer is a pretty big reveal. Being a Christian (and loving horror movies) I know the story of judas and the play into very well done and at first is a pretty big hit in the gut giving you a double take. The movie is pretty gory and overall well done, seeing it more tham once I still get a few jumps. That is why Mr. Butler is my choice.
Stephenie Meyer. She took what was a frightening monster with an undercurrent of sexuality and turned it into a romantic subject for a series of Mary Sue stories. And the fable that she got the idea for it all in a dream, wrote part of a novel and sold the idea for $750,000 when she had never written a book in her life is obviously made up, too, therefore, Stephanie herself must also be a fictional character. Seriously, though, the creepiest vampire I ever saw in the movies was the little vampire girl in the original Swedish version of “Let the Right One In.” She was even creepier than Bella Lugosi or Nosferatu.
Scariest vampires? The Twilight vampires, including, but not limited to, the Cullen family.
They have all the advantages of classic vampires, but the limitations are drastically reduced. Further, they are beautiful and glamorous, and clearly as capable as vampires from nearly any other series. In terms of personality, the best of them can be obsessive and violent, while the worst are sadistic and spiteful.
All of this is secondary. The genuine reason that twilight vampires are more frightening than any other vampire presented in the movies I thought of was the level of organization. The twilight world is populated with vampires, vampires who have a central governing body and operate in secret across the world. This level of intellect and control make them more of an insidious threat than most other vampires.
Also, the scene where Edward was stalking Bella through the woods? Creeper.
Sure, when a 100+ year old vampire stalks a teenage girl, he’s a “creeper”, but if a 30+ year old mortal does it, he ends up taking a seat right over there on “Dateline”. XD