We have another horror list from our favourite (and currently only) guest blogger Moviejunkies:
Vampires. They’re one of the first monsters to actually be brought to film (Nosferatu 1922) and have become a staple of the horror genre. Unfortunately, in recent times, they’ve been depicted more as these love lorn, beautifully flawless creatures (who for some dumbass reason, glimmer in sunlight) and most people avoid vampire movies just because they tend to be lame.
So today, I’m gonna bring back the BITE and the FEAR that once made these creatures the stuff of nightmares. Here are the Top 10 Ugliest/Scariest Vampires to appear onscreen:
#10 Radu, Subspecies
Plot: The evil vampire villain Radu returns to his hometown Prejnar, after spending years in exile. He steals the precious blood stone, which is said to be bleeding from all saints, from his father and kills him. Meanwhile two American schoolgirls team up with a local girl for work on Romanian culture. Radu becomes attracted to them but runs into trouble when his brother Stephan helps the girls.
I haven’t seen this movie in years! But when I did, Radu was by far, the ugliest vampire I had ever seen. Ironically, his brother Stephan, was your typical handsome bloodsucker, but Radu’s face is the one I remember, and that should tell you everything.
#9 Frost, From Dusk Till Dawn
Plot: Two criminals and their hostages unknowingly seek temporary refuge in an establishment populated by vampires, with chaotic results.
When Quentin Tarantino decides to write a horror movie, you KNOW it’s gonna be something you’ve never seen before! The vampires here aren’t gonna waste their time seducing yo ass. These vamps are brutal and they have the looks to match.
While there’s a lot of awesome looking bloodsuckers to choose from in this flick, I’m picking Frost, played by Fred Williamson. It’s a unique look and the reveal is what really makes it work.
#8 Dracula, Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Plot: The centuries old vampire Count Dracula comes to England to seduce his barrister Jonathan Harker’s fiancée Mina Murray and inflict havoc in the foreign land.
About halfway through this movie, we do eventually get to see the handsome version of Vlad Tepes, that Mina falls in love with, but before that, we get the Count, rocking his satin robes and this look, that had everyone scratching their heads.
He was pale, he was old…and he had a butt for hair. I don’t see any ladies swooning for this version of Dracula, although, he does have his Brides with him. So…a cover for every pot I guess!
#7 Alien vampires, Lifeforce
Plot: A race of space vampires arrive in London and infect the populace
This is one of those movies you have to see to believe.
It’s weird, it’s got some cool special effects and introduces us to an alien race of vampires (they feed off of the energy of humans rather than their blood). Granted, they do look sexy at one point and use this to seduce their victims, but what they actually look like, will make you never want to visit another planet. Ever.
#6 Amy Peterson, Fright Night (1985)
Plot: When a teenager learns that his next door neighbour is a vampire, no one will believe him.
One of the BEST vampire movies ever made and no, I’m not talking about the remake. The original version is near perfect and gives us our first vampire, with an ACTUAL normal name – Jerry.
Don’t let the simplistic name fool you though, Jerry is a badass vampire, who has his sights set on Amy Peterson. Our resident virgin, and love interest of the titular hero, Charlie Brewster.
One of the things I love about this movie, is it surprises you (SPOILER ALERT) and Amy is actually deflowered and turned into a vampire, instead of being rescued in the nick of time. The results aren’t pretty, as Amy reveals her true face to Charlie and in the process scares the crap outta kids everywhere.
#5 Jared Nomak, Blade II
Plot: Blade forms an uneasy alliance with the vampire council in order to combat the Reapers, who are feeding on vampires.
After getting a slew of weak, watered down vampire movies in the late 90’s Blade was a breath of fresh air, and Blade II took it up a few notches by giving us a breed of bloodsuckers we had never seen before.
Jared Nomak, played by Luke Goss (Hellboy II) isn’t your run o’ the mill vamp – he’s a badass, who matches Blade in fighting skills and looks like the love child of Predator and Count Dracula. It’s an original take on a monster that had been done to death (he he) and it was hella fun to watch!
#4 Alison Bromley, Daybreakers
Plot: In the year 2019, a plague has transformed almost every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival. Meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind.
Another cool twist on an old monster. The vampires in Daybreakers start out with the look you and I are accustomed to. They were human once and appear the same way, with the added fangs and pale skin of course. What makes this movie’s monsters different is a lack of blood is turning them into feral versions of themselves, and it ain’t pretty.
Alison Bromely, played by model turned actress Isabel Lucas (Transformers 3, Immortals) is unlucky enough to be short on some AB negative and her deteriorating look is one for the record books as she turns into the kind of vampire you rather see with its clothes on than off.
#3 Kurt Barlow, Salem’s Lot
Plot: A novelist and a young horror fan attempt to save a small New England town which has been invaded by vampires.
If I’m not mistaken, Salem’s Lot has been remade and has a sequel, but it’s the original that holds a place in my memory. The place I reserve for when I have to speak to my therapist.
There’s the scene where young (and very dead) Ralphie scratches at the window to get his brother Danny to invite him in (still get shivers watching it). The one when Ryerson sits in the rocking chair after he’s returned from the dead (Look at me…) and of course, the reveal of Kurt Barlow aka Master Vampire and the source of all the terror that has come to Salem’s Lot.
If you haven’t seen this mini-series, I recommend you check it out this Halloween season, as it’s held up pretty well and will still manage to creep you out. Watch it in the dark, alone. I dare ya!
# 2 Dwight Renfield, The Night Flier
Plot: A reporter is on the trail of a vampiric murderer who travels by plane.
Holy testicles this guy is hideous! I still remember how I felt, when they finally revealed his vampiric face. Richard Dees (portrayed by the late Miguel Ferrer) actually goes insane when he sees Renfield’s true face and I honestly can’t blame him. That face alone is the reason The Night Flier, a so-so Stephen King adaptation, is still a movie I enjoy watching from time to time.
A couple of things keeps this from being my #1 though. Renfield does have a human appearance, one he uses to put his victims at ease. That’s cheating! and two, his reveal is ruined by posters and DVD box art (stupid marketing).
I’m happy to say, I was a wee one, when I saw this and never saw the marketing, making Dwight’s appearance a shock to my system and skyrocketing him on my list of Ugliest Vampires on Screen.
#1 Count Orlock, Nosferatu
Plot: Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter’s wife.
Even if you’ve never seen this 1922 classic, you know the name. Nosferatu. Possibly Hungarian-Romanian. It’s a word that has become synonymous with the word vampire and Count Orlock’s look in this film is the one most associated with the term.
One of the most terrifying portrayals of a vampire ever put to film. He’s not sexy. He’s not suave. There is no handsome visage for the monster to hide behind. He’s death incarnate and he brings nothing but darkness and despair in his wake.
The use of light and shadows in this movie are eerie, making this monster all the more fearsome . The orchestra’s symphony of horror added to the emotive acting (it is a silent film after all) and of course, Max Schrek gave one of the most haunting and memorable portrayals of a vampire ever brought to screen.
It’s 95 years later and people still consider Nosferatu, the vampire that all other vampires should be judged by, winning him the top spot on this list.
For more horror goodness from Moviejunkies you can check out the Top 10 Lesser Known Stephen King Adaptations here and you follow Moviejunkies on their Facebook page here.