A Mania Magnified

There's something about vampires and their lore that make them so attractive to us, mere humans. Upon search, 19,200,000 sites on vampires came up on Google. They may be monsters, but they're almost always portrayed as exquisite creatures in fiction novels, TV shows, and films (well, save for Nosferatu).

They didn't start out that way, though. As a child, I recall watching Dracula movies that starred Christopher Lee over and over again. No, I didn't find him captivating, but the concept of a supernatural being that fed on the blood of humans was fascinating.

Then came along the 1992 production of Bram Stroker's Dracula with Gary Oldman making vampires into seductive beasts. Didn't we all secretly (and maybe even openly) wished Winona Ryder ended up with Dracula, instead of her drab beau, even though he was played by hunky Keanu Reeeves?

Anne Rice's vampire novel series soon afterwards took the world by a storm and moreso when Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Antonio Banderas brought to life on-screen the fabulous creatures she wrote of in Interview with a Vampire.

Attempts in television were made, but it was only in 1997 when Buffy the Vampire Slayer was produced that the teen audience was considered. Angel, as a spin off, didn't however, have as much raving reviews. The catch? He and Buffy were an item and fans just didn't like it any other way.

There's something about vampires and humans as starcrossed lovers that make a tv or movie plot a sure hit. Moonlight tried to latch onto that idea, but it's audience was limited to the 25 and above, and so it failed.

That's where Twilight comes in, which has become a mania, particularly among the youth. I admit, though, that I read the first three books in one night, and the succeeding two soon after their publication. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone below 18 years old, just the same.

Moreso the 2008 TV series True Blood, which, despite the casting of Anna Paquin in the lead role, I find a poor excuse to show nudity and porn. Too much of anything is no longer alluring and much less, entertaining.

These days, hubby and I follow another TV show, Vampire Diaries, that still is far from being wholesome, but its plot is more complex and well-thought of. A twist to the vampire-human romance is the inclusion of the vampire-brother, completing the a love triangle. With teens as main audience, we'll see how long the series will last.

One thing's for sure, vampire stories, be they in literature, on television, or on film, will be here to stay for a very long time.