bloodthirsty, hunger and bloodlust
As noted elsewhere at Vampires.com, at least two films based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s vampire classic are on their way to movie theaters. One, Styria, remains in post-production whereas The Moth Diaries is seeking a distributor. Time to take a look at the last major version of Carmilla maybe? Why not? Nightmare Classics back …
From September 12 until October 12–one entire month–a rare film version of “Carmilla” will be available online as part of a promotion for a book, “The Annotated Carmilla.” Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s classic novella, which pretty much created the Lesbian Vampire trope, has been adapted half a dozen times for the screen since its publication …
The most influential and most famous of all vampire novels were published during the 1800s. Highly innovative for the times and groundbreaking, these stories took readers to an entirely new world and continue to this day to be read and loved by many. The stories below gave people something new to fear, something new to …
Consider. “True Blood” is a bona fide hit, as is the network television series “The Vampire Diaries.” Now consider the huge success of various other cable shows–from “Dexter” to “Weeds” to the epic “Game of Thrones.” Might we not ask cable television to give us some more undead-themed television, especially since cable allows generally higher …
One trend we’ve all encountered by now is the blending of classic literature with the stuff of wonderfully schlocky horror. “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” is clearly the most famous, but let us not forget “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters” as well as “Little Women and Werewolves,” “Android Kerenina” and “Queen Victoria, Demon Slayer.” …
Someone asked why I thought vampires remained so popular and intriguing. My answer: Because the undead make such a fluid metaphor. Consider; when they first entered into the Western literature and art–with John Polidori’s “The Vampyre.” For much of the next century, vampires popped up in art and theatre as well as different stories. “Varney …
Go to any search engine of your choice and type in the phrase “Lesbian Vampire.” The results will include a fair amount of scholarly essays, pure porn, a Wikipedia article, reviews to more than a few very cheap movies (as well as some of much higher quality), places where you can purchase anthologies as well …
Cliche it may be, but who can doubt the internet created a whole new venue for amateur writers to put their work out there? In other words, the world-wide web proved a godsend for fan fiction. Or maybe from the other end of metaphysical spectrum, depending upon one’s view of the topic! Contrary to popular …
Burned into the collective memory of our age, it is an image of great power. The vampire looms menacingly, but then the hero reaches up and pulls away the curtains. SUNLIGHT! Like laser beams, the purifying rays of the sun sear the undead creature’s flesh. The foul thing dissolves into the dust it should already …
Back in 1972, Hammer Studios found itself in a good and bad place as far as vampire movies go. On the one hand, they were pretty close to having squeezing every drop they could out of both “Dracula” and “Carmilla.” Yet audience demand remained. One solution they hit upon was a series of original films …
Valentine’s Day may be past (for this year anyway) but thoughts of love between the living and the undead remain in the hearts and imaginations of many. Let us look back upon what couples, struggling with the challenges of such a relationship, have most grabbed out attention. In no particular order… Edward and Bella (“Twilight”), …
The last of my three-part interview with Mark Devendorf, one of the writer/directors of the new film “Styria” now in post-production. It is a re-telling of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla” but set in 1989 Hungary. You cast British and Polish actors. Tell me about that. Its kind of strange for two Americans to make …
I continue my chat with Mark Devendorf, one the writer/directors of the upcoming film “Styria” based on the vampire classic “Carmilla.” The movie finished filming in November and is now deep in post-production. The location you showed me, the castle? That looks amazing! All these places are falling apart. About five years ago you could …
Mark Devendorf is one of two writers/directors deep in post production of the latest adaptation of Le Fanu’s classic vampire tale “Carmilla.” His version, titled “Styria,” stars Stephen Rhea (“Interview With The Vampire” “V for Vendetta”) and Eleanor Tomlinson (“The Illusionist” “Alice in Wonderland”). He very kindly sat down to answer my questions. Most film …
I have finally joined the Kindle masses! Yes, at long last I own a Kindle! After I was finished staring at it, petting it and whispering compliments to it’s pretty screen, I decided it was probably time to actually put something to read on it, so I hit up Amazon and, well, my love for …
“True Story of a Vampire” is actually a short story written by Count Eric Stanislaus Stenbock. The story was published in London in 1894 in “Studies of Death,” a collection of stories which received favorable comment by H. P. Lovecraft himself. In all honesty, “True Story of a Vampire is a horribly written story (seriously, …
Two film versions of “Carmilla” are in some stage of production right now. A stage play based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s last work just opened in Chicago. With the number of Draculas numbering in the dozens, little wonder those interested in the genre find this female literary predecessor increasingly interesting. The current wave of …
Wildclaw Theatre in Chicago (the name is in memory of Ray Wild aka “The Claw,” a writer/director/actor) specializes in what they proudly call Horror Theatre. Their avowed mission is to “…bring the world of horror to the stage. We intend to attract a new kind of audience which does not usually go to the theatre, …
These cold winter nights are perfect for getting warm and cuddly on the couch, drinking hot cocoa and watching a classic vampire film – and what better film than today’s film flashback – Vampire Lovers. This 1970 flick was the first in Hammer Films Karnstein Trilogy, based loosely on Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla.” The film …
Browsing the website DeviantArt I came across photos by the lighting designer (http://dionysuspsi.deviantart.com/) of a Canadian high school production of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Carmilla.” Evidently, the set was minimalist (“a set of demented white ‘pillars’ that when put in the correct configuration form a closing hand”) while the destruction of the vampire in the …