Suck it up, Romania!

You aren’t a repressed Communist dictatorship anymore, thank God. Making money is not inherently evil anymore. In truth it never was; only those in power wanted to have it while the proletariat did without. To make this go down a little easier, they told you all it was bad. You never really fell for that line, though, did you? And today you know the importance of revenue. Your tourism department sure understands it. While I get that you want people to come to Romania for its rich culture, its breathtaking beauty, its history, and its delectable food, you’re all just going to have to accept that the primary reason people will come to visit your country is because of your most famous son, Vlad III, Dracula.

Sure, he’s a national hero over there, and you find it a little uncomfortable that his name is now synonymous with vampirism. But it’s not like people don’t LOVE Count Dracula, the literary version of your great soldier statesman. Technically he may be a “villain,” but no villain has ever been so adored. You think people read that novel or watch one of those numerous movies and actually root for Harker or Van Helsing? No way! Bram Stoker did you all a big favor. Had it not been for his book, and his basing his character on your real-life monster-hero, chances are nobody would ever have heard of him outside of your country and those millions of tourists who come every year to spend their money would have gone somewhere else. You NEED Dracula, both the historical and the literary iterations.

By TheCheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS, specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced, and directed (and occasionally acted in) over two dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and True Crime genres. He obtained a doctorate in Occult Studies from Miskatonic University and is an active paranormal investigator. Is frequently told he resembles Anton Lavey. And Ming the Merciless. Denn die totden reiten schnell!

2 comments

  1. Good point, well written. However, even though I like Count Dracula, I’ve rooted for Van Helsing and the other vampire hunters all five times that I have read that book in my life. Same with the movies. Dracula’s like a villain you love to hate (he’s not like a Walter White with fangs…lol).

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