The Vampire

A classic: the Vampire. One of the original horror creature features. We all know the drill. Drinks blood. Dies in sunlight. Turns into a bat. Crazy mind control powers along with speed, agility, and strength. Whoo, what a being. But where did it come from?

Vampire myths can be traced back to ancient civilizations, including the Mesopotamians, Greeks, and Romans, where stories of demonic entities and blood-drinking spirits existed. However, the modern concept of the vampire as a reanimated corpse that feeds on human blood gained prominence in Eastern European folklore. In these tales, vampires were often depicted as evil spirits that rose from the grave to terrorise the living.

One of the reasons vampires are so prevalent in today's horror (and romance) culture is the influential work of Bram Stoker, who published "Dracula" in 1897. Stoker’s novel introduced many of the characteristics that we have all come to know and love about our vitamin D deficient friends: charismatic demeanor, shape-shifting abilities, and aversion to sunlight, garlic, crosses, and holy water.

The allure of vampires in horror pop culture is tied to their dual nature as both monstrous and enticing beings. They embody the tension between life and death, pleasure and pain, and human and monster. Tiptoeing that line, the complexity of their existence allows us to explore themes of immortality, forbidden desire, and, ultimately, the fear of the unknown.

There was a noticeable shift in vampire representation during the 90s and 00s, with the ever-popular "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "True Blood," and "Twilight." Vampires have slowly become beings to be empathised with, their internal struggles of monster versus human highlighted in modern pop culture.

I can’t imagine a time when vampires aren’t a staple of horror fiction. Their evolution from ancient myths to contemporary pop culture icons highlights their enduring appeal and versatility as symbols of the unknown and the forbidden. I can’t wait to see what the next generation of creatives has in store for this ever-evolving creature of the night!