With the new Nosferatu hitting theaters (which we haven't seen yet) and a confirmed reboot for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we thought it'd be fun to look back at some vampire interpretations or variations that stuck with us over the years.
Now, a bit of disclosure first: this is a personal opinion, and while vampires come in all shapes and sizes, we seem to find ourselves drawn to those that lean more into body horror and monster design, with cool stories to match. Forget the sparkling sun-resistant centenary dating teenagers; these are the ones that made us remember why these blood-sucking creatures were meant to terrify us in the first place.
THE ANGEL (MIDNIGHT MASS, 2021)
Set in a small, isolated island community, Midnight Mass explores themes of faith, death, and how belief shapes our understanding of the world. In this series, Mike Flanagan reframes vampire mythology through a deeply Catholic lens, where (almost) every vampire trope finds its biblical mirror: communion becomes literal blood drinking, resurrection becomes vampiric rebirth and eternal life becomes less a blessing than a curse. Even the burning sun takes on apocalyptic meaning, straight from the pages of Revelation.
"[...] The fifth, since you asked, the fifth bowl of god’s wrath plunges the world into darkness... which won’t be an issue for you, or Monsignor, will it. Why it’s almost as if God is preparing you. For that", says Bev Keane, the antagonist and arguably one of the best villains since Dolores Umbridge.
After all, it seems angels and vampires have very much in common. It just depends on how you look at them.
FLESH PHANTOMS (AHS: DOUBLE FEATURE, 2021)
What if vampirism came in pill form? That's exactly what American Horror Story (AHS) gave us - a black pill that turns struggling artists into creative geniuses... with a bloody catch. These vampires aren't cursed by supernatural forces but by their own ambition. The show uses vampirism as a metaphor for addiction and the price of fame.
However, the pill only works on those who have talent. If you lack that creative spark, it transforms you into a flesh phantom—feral, hobo-like creatures. Always thirsty, never satisfied or employed. These pale figures stalk the streets dressed in signature black coats with exaggerated shoulders, very much reminiscent of Nosferatu himself.
“Those things you see haunting around town, they took the pill, but they’re just hacks, wannabes, dreamers”, Austin Summers, aspiring writer in the series.
We must confess, Ryan Murphy's take on vampirism hits uncomfortably close to home, giving us a surprising spin on vampire mythology.
THE REAPERS (BLADE II, 2002)
We can’t talk about vampires without mentioning Blade II, the second installment in the Blade series and the first superhero Marvel movie ever (and yes, thanks Deadpool for finally bringing him back into the cinematic universe!). Directed by Guillermo del Toro, it brought a fresh, monstrous twist to the genre. And no, we’re not here to talk about Blade himself, the black, sun-resistant vampire hunter, but about the Reapers—an evolved strain of vampires who prey on their own kind.
Their signature split jaws, created through a mix of practical effects and early 2000s CGI, became instantly iconic. Admit it—you couldn’t look away, even if you wanted to.
MARCUS CORVINUS (UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION, 2006)
The Underworld series gave us a complete lore with leather-clad warriors and amazing creature design for both vampires and lycans alike, straight from the mind of the amazing Patrick Tatopoulos. But it was in the second movie, Underworld: Evolution, that the universe was taken to a whole new level with the first vampire of them all: Marcus Corvinus.
The first impression of him is exactly what you want it to be: a terrifying man-bat who uses his wings as harpoons to actually impale his victims. It's just… freaking cool.
“I think the take we have on this, is that we need to see some practical stuff. Even if aspects of them is turned into CGI we need to make sure we always have something real on camera. It’s more believable”, Tatopoulos.
THE INSECT-LIKE PREDATORS (PRIEST, 2011)
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity lives in walled cities under the control of the Church, these vampires represent a radical departure from tradition. Unlike the aristocratic bloodsuckers we're used to, these creatures are eyeless, sleek and subterranean. They evoke primal, animalistic terror, functioning more like a hive of predatory insects than traditional “guys in suits”, as explained by visual effects supervisor, Jonathan Rothbart, in an interview with FX guide. And they didn't stop at one type - there were hive guardians, drones, and even a Queen, each with their own design.
“We wanted to keep them close enough to a human design so they are similar, but far enough away to where there can never be a person inside a suit”, Rothbart, VFX supervisor, featurette.
The solution? Making them fully CG creatures. For some scenes, they used stand-ins and then replaced them with digital monsters (like they did with Davy Jones), allowing these vampires to move in ways that would be impossible for any human performer.
All in all, vampires endure because they are endlessly adaptable. Whether rooted in elegance or monstrosity, their lore offers infinite opportunities for reinvention. These five examples show how creative storytelling, design and innovative filmmaking can turn even the most familiar creatures into something new and unforgettable. And we'll see which kinds of blood-sucking creatures the future holds for us.
And you, what is your favorite kind of vampire? Let us know in the comments.
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