Vampires » Uncategorized

The Loogaroo Vampire

kate — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:38:37 +0000

The Loogaroo vampire is very similar to the Asema vampire, which comes from South America. And the Loogaroo also sounds very much like the “Le Loup Garou“, which is a French Canadian myth that is also heard of throughout Europe. However, the Loogaroo vampire is quite different from both of these, and should not be confused with either.

The Loogaroo vampire is comes from the vampire folklore of the Caribbean, although they myth is also widely known throughout Louisiana. This particular type of vampire was known to specifically be a woman who was working for the Devil. And because of that, the Loogaroo was also lumped right in with the Devil by the people of the Caribbean. The vampire would shed it’s skin every night and would leave it under a cotton silk tree, a tree which is also known as “the Devil’s tree.” She would then turn into a blue ball of light, and would fly around looking for victims who’s blood she could claim. Once she had taken enough blood, the Loogaroo could then return to its skin and put it back on.

The reason the Loogaroo would feel the need to take the blood of humans though, was not so that they could feast on it. But it was so that she could take the blood back to the Devil, because it was he who actually wanted the blood. The Loogaroo was said to collect the blood for the Devil, because if she didn’t, then the Devil would take her blood instead, killing her. If she didn’t collect enough blood, the myth also goes that she would not be able to return to her own skin, and she would eventually die.

But there was protection that could be had against the Loogaroo. Like many popular vampire beliefs, it was thought that spreading grains or seeds by the door would keep the Loogaroo at bay. This was of course, because she would be compelled to count all of the seeds before entering the home. And if you spread out enough seeds, the sun would come up before the Loogaroo was done, and she would be forced to flee from the sunlight.

Just goes to show once again, that it never hurts to have a few packs of pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds lying around….just in case!

- Kate

I Don’t Fucking Sparkle: Interview with Scott Snyder

Moonlight — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:00:45 +0000

Scott Snyder switches the modern vampire mythos up in his new comic, American Vampire. Created by him and co-written with the horror master, Stephen King. Kickass! In a recent interview with The Faster Times Snyder explained that the comic, set in various time periods in America, follows the epic evolution of vampires and reveals that not all vampires are alike, each has its own appearance, powers and weaknesses. And as you can guess, there’s no sappy sparkling vamps in this comic. Check it out:

Faster Times: I would expect DC/Vertigo to be really secretive about one of their superhero properties and less so about a creator-owned title.

Scott Snyder: They are being secretive, which I see now is a really good thing. At first, I didn’t get why it was so important to tease things out, and I think publicity was a little worried about me as a loose cannon or something, like I’d give away way too much – and admittedly, they were probably right. So they coached me a bit for the first couple interviews, but now they give me a long leash. I just get excited about talking about what’s coming, because we’re about 6 months ahead of schedule, and I forget that no one has seen the previous issues yet.

FT: The project seems pretty epic. What was its genesis?

SS: I came up with it a few years ago in the most mundane way. I was in a hobby shop in the West Village and I was looking at the statuettes and figurines for a present for my friend who’s a big Dr. Who fan. And there was this statue of an undead Confederate soldier, and I started thinking how I’m a big vampire fan. And other than certain films like Near Dark, which is my favorite vampire movie of all time, there haven’t been things that explored vampires in settings that aren’t gloomy, rainy, gargoyle, urban, and nocturnal.

The aesthetic of everything, from Underworld, Twilight, Blade, it always has that same greenlit leather-and-velvet thing going on. I thought it would be fun to see vampires with a different character to them, something more animalistic and feral. Not so sophisticated and snobby. They’re always in the same kind of settings, speak with that same aristocratic flair. I wanted something more down-and-dirty, more American.

FT: And that led to the core idea driving American Vampire?

SS: I started thinking about (vampires) that way and the real idea hit me: instead of having just one vampire type, what if the vampires themselves were a different species or a different breed? From there it exploded in my head to have a genealogical tree of vampires from different time periods and locations around the world. I wanted a secret history where the bloodline, every once in a while, hits someone new. Not just a new population in a new country—but something that will randomly mutate and create a new species.

I started developing it around this character named Skinner that I thought would be the penultimate vampire. If there was a new species born in this country before the 20th century, where should that bloodline start? What’s the best context for exploring both the heroic and monstrous in American culture? And the Old West came to mind.

From there, Skinner quickly became the heart and soul of the series. He’s a vicious, sociopathic, fun character—kind of the seed of this whole thing. The series itself follows his bloodline and the ways it changes based on the people he turns.

For the full interview head over here.

- Moonlight

The Vampire Tarot of the Eternal Night

Moonlight — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:00:53 +0000

Back when I was a kid I was absolutely entranced and in love with tarot cards, they were wondrous, magical and each card featured amazing artwork – so began my tarot card collection. As I am sure you can guess I also adore vampires, so when I found out that there were vampire tarot cards I screamed with joy…on the inside.

The Vampire Tarot of the Eternal Night: “As interest in vampires surges to new heights, this deliciously macabre tarot will attract the masses who feel an insatiable passion for these creatures of the night.

Chillingly wrought in exquisite and realistic detail, this stunning tarot is ideal for exploring your own dark side. Dare to venture forth into a world where time is meaningless, light is death, love is cold, and power rules. Evoking a strange mixture of horror and sympathy, these tragic, ageless beings tell a fascinating story. With eternity before them, these creatures must find a way to survive a nightmare of contradictions. What they have to offer is a rare form of wisdom that perhaps only the damned can impart.”

Since this tarot deck has a bit of a twist on it and isn’t like the traditional decks, some experienced tarot diviners may be wondering how well the cards work. According to thetarotchannel.com review on The Vampire Tarot of the Eternal Night:

“… when I did three separate one-card readings with this deck, I’ll be darned if it was not only accurate, but had a sense of humor! The cards spoke with such clarity, that I admit to being quite surprised. One card made me chuckle with its encouraging bluntness, while another was truly profound.”

The deck has some pros and cons, but everyone agrees that it’s the best vampire deck out there (there’s a few) and that Davide Corsi’s artwork is phenomenal. This is the perfect deck for vampire lovers looking to do darker readings.

- Moonlight

Are Vampires Really Evil?

kate — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:25:57 +0000

One of the most well-known things about vampires is the belief that they are evil creatures. Well, they appear evil enough, don’t they? With those menacing fangs that you know are just longing to suck on your neck, and the fact that they can totally outrun you and beat you at any game that requires any kind of strength, yes, vampires are certainly intimidating. But, evil?

Evil has never actually been a word that I’ve immediately associated with vampires. And I don’t really understand why other people think they’re evil. Sure, they’re killers. But they only really kill because they need to, right? I mean, vampires have to eat just like you and me so why are we holding it against them to the point where we actually call them ‘evil’ because of it? And really, vampires killing humans is no different than humans killing meat to eat. So as far as I see it, vegetarians and vegans may be the only humans that have any right to call vampires evil. The only difference I really see is that most of us don’t actually kill the cow before sitting down to eat it. But still, the principle is the same I think.

Now undoubtedly, there are some evil vampires. Damon from the Vampire Diaries certainly has his evil tendencies, and both Victoria and James, as well as the Volturi in the Twilight Saga are all also very evil vampires. These vampires are different from others because they simply want to inflict pain and torture on innocent people, only to get what they want. But I don’t think it’s fair to lump all vampires in with these types of vampires. And just like there are good and evil humans, vampires can also be either good or evil.

So let’s not call them all evil. I mean, vampires may not have beating hearts, but their feelings get hurt too.

- Kate

An Interview with Author Denise Verrico

Bryce — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:53:03 +0000

Author Denise Verrico was gracious enough to take the time out of her busy schedule to discuss all things vampires. More so, she spilled a bit about her book The Immortyl Revolution, and where she sees herself in 5 years!

What are your career plans for the next 5 years?

I want to keep improving my craft as a writer – there is always room for improvement. I’d like to build a loyal fan base; talking with readers in person is fun for me. Coming from the theatre, I’m an extravert. I have lots of ideas for books, including a Shakespearean inspired high-fantasy novel and a YA fantasy. My current plan for The Immortyl Revolution is a series of nine books told from the POV of three different characters. My dream is to become a full-time writer!

If you were your character Mia, what would you have done differently than she did in the book?

I’d never have taken-up with an older, married man as she did as a mortal; that relationship was doomed to failure. I can say that I wouldn’t have put up with being Ethan’s slave for thirty-eight years, but she didn’t have much choice. Buying into Brovik’s schemes wasn’t a good move either.

Why did you choose the characters of Mia and Kurt to be biological beings with no “magical” powers? Do you feel as creatures of the night, that they lose their mysticism?

Vampires are immortal and that alone gives them a god-like quality. Mia’s master Ethan takes a very Nietzschean point of view on immortality. I set-out to explore the question of what would cause vampirism and what would vampires be like if they really existed. I’m a skeptic by nature and a big fan of science. Nothing is more fascinating and mysterious to me than the workings of the natural world – it’s amazing that tiny molecules of DNA can become a human being with a capacity to learn, love, and create.

I explore how vampirism affects the human brain and body. I have a lot of the traditional vampire powers and handicaps; they can’t go out in the sun and they can drink only human blood. My vampires do have enhanced physical abilities and an ability to experience an empathetic response to a partner in a blood-exchange. The otherness comes out of the dark world they inhabit. I wanted to create a unique sub-culture that brings in elements of ancient cultures, but still differs from those of mortals. My mythology comes out of India – the adepts of the ancient arts in my third novel practice a form of tantrism. They are very spiritual and seek enlightenment through erotic rituals.

Where do you feel that your novel weighs in on the vampire bandwagon in this day and age, especially with popular book series such as True Blood and Vampire Diaries?

I don’t write paranormal mysteries, although I do enjoy reading them. I’m more of a throwback to the Anne Rice style of vampire with a nod to my favorite historical fiction writers, Mary Renault and Robert Graves. I love stories about intrigue and politics. I wouldn’t call the book a “romance;” Mia and Kurt’s relationship is romantic and an important part of their story. The others she becomes involved with only use her for sex and political intrigues. Cara Mia has its share of blood and gore. Recently, I read a comment where someone said Cara Mia reads like heroic fantasy. I think the science also sets me apart. I Am Legend is one of my favorite vampire stories.

Please tell our adoring readers what initially began your obsession with vampires:

The TV series Dark Shadows – I used to run home from school to watch this Gothic soap opera with my mom and some ladies in the neighborhood. This was in the late sixties or early seventies. I was a little kid who loved monster movies, and Barnabas Collins was the first sympathetic vampire I’d ever seen. I actually met the actor Jonathan Frid through a friend of mine back in the eighties; he did one-man Shakespearean shows. My husband and I are theatre folk, and we got the opportunity to watch him do a preview of one of these at his home in New York. He lived on Gramercy Park back then; I have Mia living on Gramercy Park at one point in the novel as a little tribute to him.

- Bryce

Top 10 Ugliest Vampires

Moonlight — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:00:40 +0000

Vampires nowadays are known for their incredible beauty – You’ve got the cuties in Twilight, the damn sexy men in True Blood and even an entire gorgeous cast in Vampire Diaries. But, any real horror fan will tell you that vampires aren’t supposed to be sexy, they’re supposed to be horrifying and repulsive. So here’s a shoutout to the top 10 ugliest vampires:

1. Reggie Calder from Salem’s Lot

Salem’s Lot was a television mini-series released in 1979 that was based on a Stephen King novel, and not only did it scare the hell out of people, but it also has one ugly ass vamp in it, a vamp with some messed up teeth.

2. Santanico Pandemonium: From Dusk Till Dawn

Salma Hayek usually looks absolutely flawless, but damn, the makeup team on this movie managed to make her look awful.

3. Jared Nomak from Blade 2

My goodness, that mouth…wow. One of the most memorable things about that movie was its unique, but nasty, vampires.

4. Mark Metcalf from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The Master was probably one of the ugliest villains on the show. While most of the vampires in Buffy were good looking, or at least human looking, this guy was a hideous monster.

5. Amy Peterson from Fright Night

Yea, you’ve got the creepy red eyes, the massively massive mouth and fangs, bad makeup and the old and hideous hair. Not sexy at all.

6. Grandpa Munster from The Munsters

Ok ok, he isn’t disgusting and creepy like the others but either way he is no Edward.

7. Nosferatu from Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror

This classic vampire has it all – the creepy face down to the creepy hands.

8. Radu from Subspecies

Yea, the misshapen face is all this one needs to be horrible.

9. Dracula from Bram Stoker’s Dracula

I am talking the old man version of him, not the young one. He wasn’t even a little attractive.

10. Dwight Renfield from The Night Flier

Do I even need to say anything here? This has got to be the ugliest of them all!

- Moonlight

Review of The Master of Rampling Gate: A Vook by Anne Rice

Cult Hero — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:38:46 +0000

Every so often something comes along that provides some new and innovative way to enhance the art of storytelling.

The latest in storytelling innovation comes from the trailblazers at Vook. A Vook is the blending of both video and text (video+book=Vook) to create an experience unlike any other. Vooks combine entertaining stories with videos that compliment them by providing the reader with interesting information and special features such as author interviews. Add to the mix informative links to such sites a Wikipedia for those wishing to learn more about the topics within a story and you have yourself the makings of a fascinating read.

I recently had the chance to experience Vook for the first time with the retelling of Anne Rice’s short story The Master of Rampling Gate.

The Master of Rampling Gate, Anne Rice’s first and only short story dealing with vampires tells the tale of a young woman and her brother as they visit their ancestral home after the death of their father. Rampling Gate, passed down from generation to generation for centuries had always been the home of the Rampling family. That was of course until their father had left the mansion vowing never again to return. Both siblings are awestruck by the beauty and magnificence of the place which makes fulfilling their father’s deathbed wish all the harder for their father has commanded that Rampling Gate be torn down.

Neither sibling knows why their father had made such a strange request until one night Julie, a bright young lady with a mind full of fantasy meets the true master of Rampling Gate… A centuries old vampire who has been alive since the age of the Black Death.

As an avid Anne Rice fan I have read The Master of Rampling Gate before but even though the story may not have been new to me the presentation certainly was. I enjoyed being able to read the story as well as watch the short videos peppered throughout. Each chapter includes it’s own video involving such topics as Gothic literature, the Black Death, an explanation of the story by Anne and of course information on Anne herself. Oh and don’t forget the vampires. Links to such pages as Wikipedia and AskOxford.Com are also peppered throughout the tale providing information to the reader about topics related to the story.

Vooks may not be taking the place of books anytime soon but they are enjoyable, informative and even though fairly new there is already a wide variety to choose from. Anne has often spoken of her interest in Vooks on her FaceBook so hopefully we shall be seeing more of them from her sometime in the future.

The Master of Rampling Gate is available for both online reading and as an iPhone App from Vook on their website and is currently on sale for .99 cents for a limited time.

-Chris

True Blood Sunday Presents: True Blood Crashes Twilight’s Vampire Baseball Game!

Moonlight — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:00:44 +0000

A few months ago we filled you Twilight fans in on the big charity baseball game featuring your favorite Hollywood vamps, but it looks like there has been a big change in the lineup.

Recent reports say that Twilight’s Peter Facinelli, who plays the sexy vampire father figure in the series, will no longer be part of the big game. Sorry Twilight fans, but Nelsan Ellis, the amazing man that plays the fabulous fry cook, Lafayette, in True Blood, has taken Peter’s place in the charity Vampire Baseball game in New Orleans on Saturday, March 20.

Facinelli, who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen, was originally signed on, but he’s no longer on the roster. But don’t worry guys, you still have the wolf pack playing in the game – Chaske Spencer who plays alpha-wolf Sam, Alex Meraz who plays Paul and Tyson Houseman who plays Quil. Daniel Cudmore, who plays Felix, is the only vampire left though. So really, it’s turning into more of a werewolf charity than a vampire one.

While this news may bum out the Twilight lovers, especially the ones that already bought their tickets, this is awesome news for the True Blood fans out there. We get to see one of our favorite characters do a good thing for people that really need help. Kudos Nelsan Ellis.

Make sure to pick your tickets up now. Proceeds from the Celebrity Vampire Baseball game will go to benefit Haiti disaster relief. On top of helping out a great cause you also get some awesome kickbacks:

* Vampire Baseball Exhibition Game with Stars
* Autographs and Photos with Stars
* Meet and greet opportunity with Stars
* After-party and concert

Your ticket includes admittance to Celebrity Vampire Baseball. As a ticket holder, not only will you have a great seat to see all the play-by-play, you’re welcome to take pictures of the actors as they play Celebrity Vampire Baseball!

Order your tickets here and show True Blood some love!

- Moonlight

Five of My Favorite Movie Vampiresses

kate — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:34:25 +0000

Vampiresses are just awesome, and we just don’t see enough of them in my opinion. From the classic high-collared vampiresses, to the modern-day ones, here are my five favorite vampiresses, in order.

#5.) Angela Bassett in Vampires in Brooklyn. Sure, she isn’t a vampire for most of the movie, but she’s still hilarious even when she’s in human form. Her humor in this movie, and the fact that Angie is hot, hot, hot, puts her in my top five. Check her out! [YouTube]

#4.) Lauren Hutton in Once Bitten. Another comedy but we just don’t see enough of these anymore. Plus, Lauren is a vampiress for the entire movie and she’s a pretty awesome one at that! [MetaCafe]

#3.) Geena Davis in Transylvania 6-5000. Simply because in this movie, Geena plays the classic vampiress that many women still dress up for as Halloween. Sleeping in coffins, classic vampiress get-up, Geena’s got it all in this one! [YouTube]

#2.) Kate Beckinsale in Underworld. You had to know Kate was going to make the list, didn’t you? Kate is just totally sexy, totally hot, and totally kick ass in the Underworld movies. There’s no way that I could have a top vampiress list and not include her! [Spike]

#1.) Ashley Greene in the Twilight Saga. My favorite, favorite vampiress of all time (and probably even my favorite vampire of any kind) is Alice Cullen. How can you not love her sweet and protective nature, plus the fact that she can totally kick ass too when it’s needed. I love, love, love Alice!

5 Celebrities that Should be Vampires

Bryce — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:14:18 +0000

The creature of the night hunts for his or her next unsuspecting victim, feeds on the helpless, and glows with super-human beauty. Don’t you ever wish that at least one of your favorite celebrities was a vampire and could live forever? Look no further; I’m going to offer a list of 5 beautiful people that reign the kingdom of Hollywood that I wish were blood suckers. Let’s see if your pick made the list…

1. Lady Gaga- This vamp tramp loves to “dance in the dark,” and the best thing about her is that she’s only in her mid-twenties. If this blond bombshell lived forever, she would without a doubt take over the world. My guess is that she would make her way back to Transylvania and move outward, collecting souls of men and make them her immortal slaves … it’s just a hypothesis!

2. Marilyn Manson- He was big in the 90s but if he lived forever, he could reign again as the king of scare. His voice is quite commanding when he sings and just his eyes make you want to cover your head when you go to sleep.

3. Rose McGowan- Even though her plastic surgery choices weren’t the best (in my opinion), she’s still a great candidate to be the next princess of darkness – think Elizabeth Bathory but in this day and age!

4. Anna Lynne McCord- This 90210 star potentially has what it takes to live forever. She is hot, has a great attitude, and sure knows how to act. What more would one want out of a sexy vampire? Talent just exudes out of this babe!

5. Jake Gyllenhaal- One word … smooth. In order to be a vampire, one must be a smooth talker and complete lady’s man. In my opinion, Gyllenhal fits the bill!

Who do you wish was a vampire? Why?

- Bryce

Vampires » Uncategorized

The Loogaroo Vampire

Related Reading:

I Don’t Fucking Sparkle: Interview with Scott Snyder

Related Reading:

The Vampire Tarot of the Eternal Night

Related Reading:

Are Vampires Really Evil?

Related Reading:

An Interview with Author Denise Verrico

Related Reading:

Top 10 Ugliest Vampires

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Review of The Master of Rampling Gate: A Vook by Anne Rice

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True Blood Sunday Presents: True Blood Crashes Twilight’s Vampire Baseball Game!

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Five of My Favorite Movie Vampiresses

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5 Celebrities that Should be Vampires

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