Vampires » Vampires

Come Goth, Come All

Bryce — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:32:53 +0000

Two weeks ago, some friends and I ventured off onto the streets of the concrete jungle (otherwise known as New York City) to celebrate a birthday. We had an entire check-list of things to do and had eagerly anticipated running into local celebrities. However, there was one stop on our route that we couldn’t miss for one reason or another, and that was the Goth night at the Pyramid night club.

A week prior to haunting old watering holes, I was putting together the guest of honor’s to-do list and came across a must-do event thanks to a local website offering all things dark, Gothic, and dead … basically, if I didn’t add Goth night to the list, I would have regretted it forever. And to be perfectly honest, I had secretly wanted to go to a Goth club for some time – win/win, right?

My friends and I first hopped from bar to bar, and even trekked around to search for a refurbished 1920s speakeasy. Then it finally came time to transform into creatures of the night; we had paid our cheap cover of $6.00 at the door and walked through a conglomerate of 80s cheese done up with lights and hand painted posters on black walls.

We walked down the hall then down the stairs to a place where possibilities were endless just waiting for us to take by the horns. DJs Hellraver, Krieg, and Wintermute were spinning the latest and greatest of new wave and dark hits for all to enjoy. My favorite part of the night was the positive attitude that emanated from wall to wall, not to mention inexpensive mixed drinks that could be purchased from a handsome looking Lurch figure at the bar.

Have you ever been to a Goth club? Share your experience below!

- Bryce

If I were a Vampire…

Bryce — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:16:26 +0000

Have you ever said to yourself, “If I were a vampire…,” then proceeded to list numerous and exciting things you could get away with, say, and do without getting flak from those around you?

Imagine what it would be like if the world was your oyster; “normal” beings can’t get away with much, but if you were an elite member of those who creep around in the night, the possibilities are endless.

I’m going to share what I think I could get away with if I were a blood sucker:

1. Mind Control- If I were a vampire, I’m pretty sure I could have my cake and eat it too. Let’s say I had a controlling boss who thought he or she could push people around; I would use my powers to reverse their train of thought and more importantly, make them give me a killer bonus that was a long time coming.

2. Sex- Even though I have flawless looks, I still would want the mate of my dreams. If people told me I couldn’t date someone out of my league, I’d make it my purpose in life to prove them wrong. With that being said, I’d simply flaunt myself and turn into the most irresistible human being possible. Watch out, Cullen!

3. Athleticism- If I were a member of the undead, I’d be a star athlete. You see vampires in the movies run like nobody’s business; they speed through life and don’t look back. I would join a town track team or simply use my powers mentioned in #1 to get on to an Olympic team and show the world what I was working with.

What are your dream vampire powers?

- Bryce

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

The Lost Boys

Cult Hero — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:11:24 +0000

In memory of the late Corey Haim I bring you the quintessential Eighties vampire film The Lost Boys.

Sam and Michael are going through changes, lots of them.

Their parents have just gotten divorced and they’ve had to move from Phoenix, Arizona to Santa Carla, California. They’ve moved in with their estranged grandfather, an old hippie who has no idea the 60’s are over and their mother has started dating again… and oh yeah; Michael (played by Jason Patric) has fallen in with a bad crowd who just happens to be a gang of vampires who want him to become one too.

After his brother is tricked into drinking the blood of the ‘head vampire’ and becomes a half vampire himself it’s up to Sam (played by Corey Haim) to save him. Thankfully he knows just who to call, Edger and Allen Frog, two vampire hunters ‘under cover’ as a pair of kids helping out in their parents comic book store. Edger and Allen (played by Corey Feldman and Jamision Newlander) advise Sam to kill his brother but when Sam insists that’s not an option they turn to plan B, finding the head vampire and staking his ass.

It’s not going to be easy though since no one is really sure who the head vampire could be. Sam suspects his mother’s new boyfriend, video store owner Max (played by Edward Herrmann) while Michael is sure the leader is the viscous and cunning David (played by Kiefer Sutherland). Not knowing who the head vampire is means going through the gang one stake at a time.

Before they can destroy the vampire gang Michael insists they attempt to save Micheal’s new girlfriend Star (played by Jami Gertz) and little Laddie (played by Chance Michael Corbitt) who are also a pair of half vampires. When the rescue results in the death of one of the vampire gang Sam and the Frog Brothers realize vampire hunting is nothing like in the comic books. They also realize that the hunters have now become the prey.

This classic 80’s vampire flick is non stop fun from start to finish, it also happens to be the first film to feature the ‘Two Coreys’ together. Fast paced and quick witted The Lost Boys should be seen by every vampire fan at least once in their lives.

RIP Corey.

December 23, 1971- March 10, 2010

-Chris

Do I Believe In Vampires?

Moonlight — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:00:02 +0000

Something I get asked on a regular basis, whether it’s in an interview or by a reader, is if I believe that vampires exist. After all I do love vampires and write about them everyday, so you would think the obvious answer is that yes, I do. But truth be told, it’s not that simple for me.

As some of you may have noticed, I am a huge vampire folklore/history junkie, I love that nearly every country has their own, totally unique vampire myths and legends. Overall there are hundreds of myths and dozens, upon dozens of different species of vampires. Every country and every author has their own idea of what a vampire is.

For example, in the Philippines they have a vampire known as the aswang that appears as a normal human during the day, but at night takes on the appearance of a giant bird and drinks people’s blood with its long straw-like tongue. And in Germany they have the alp, a vampire that attacks people’s dreams and then feeds on women’s blood by biting their nipples. In the Caribbean you have the soucouyant, a vamp that can turn into a fireball… and you get the point. There are loads of different species of vampires.

So, who is to say what is right and what is wrong? Which one of those myths am I supposed to believe in? In my head there are dozens of kinds of vampires, not just one, so I don’t know which to believe in.

Most people have this singular idea of what a vampire is, that traditional vampire. Whether they got the idea from Anne Rice or from Twilight, they have that image and that’s what they believe in. But I have too many kinds of vampires spinning in my mind and therefore it’s illogical to believe in one over the other.

So do I believe in that one definite traditional vampire? No, because there are too many vampires and too many legends and I have no way of knowing what it real and what isn’t. Maybe they all are?

And for the record, I am speaking of the traditional and mythical vampire, not psychic vampires or sanguinities. That’s an entirely different topic.

- Moonlight

Something I get asked on a regular basis whether it’s in an interview or by a reader is if I believe that vampires exist. After all I do love vampires and write about them everyday, so you would think the obvious answer is that yes, I do. But truth be told, it’s not that simple for me.

As some of you may have noticed, I am a huge vampire folklore/history junkie, I love that nearly every country has their own, totally unique vampire myths and legends. Overall, there are hundreds of myths and dozens, upon dozens of different species of vampires. Every country and every author has their own idea of what a vampire is.

Most people have this singular idea of what a vampire is, that traditional vampire. Whether they got the idea from Anne Rice or from Twilight, they have that image and that’s what they believe in. But I have too many kinds of vampires spinning in my mind and therefore it’s illogical to believe in one over the other.

So do I believe in that one definite traditional vampire? No, because there are too many vampires and too many legends and I have no way of knowing what it real and what isn’t. Maybe they all are?

And for the record, I am speaking of the traditional and mythical vampire, not psychic vampires or sanguinities. That’s an entirely different topic.

- Moonlight

Should we go Vampires.com 2.0?

veritas — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:18:53 +0000

Social networking is everywhere, with the dominating influence of Facebook, or Twitter, and with interactivity like polls, quizzes, like or dislike, favorites, and more. Our main focus with Vampires.com is providing you with exclusive quality content. We scour the net several times daily to find interesting news to bring you. We rack our brains every waking hour (and sometimes in our dreams) to think of what to write that would be entertaining or thought-provoking on the subject we’re all excited about — the vampire! In a sense, other than with comments our interaction almost ends there. Would you be interested in more out of the vampires.com site? Would you like us to add some of the features you enjoy at twitter or facebook? You might like your own vampires.com profile, or vampires.com email address (through gmail.com), submitting news and tips, participating in groups, sharing photos and videos, rating posts, adding favorites, having other members as friends.

Lady Gaga likes to Dance in the Dark

Bryce — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:21:54 +0000

In her music, Lady Gaga sings about dancing in the dark; and along with that comes showing her your teeth, vampire grins and girls named “Baby” who are “vamps.” Call me crazy but I think Lady Gaga might be a vampire! Either that’s the case or she’s just recording a new kind of Goth music.

Personally, I feel it’s a little bit of both. Gaga embraces her freak nature and is certainly not afraid to let her flag fly! With this performer being on the scene for a few years now, I think her music has evolved; you had “Just Dance,” and that was quite bubbly and catchy – her messages and overall themes are getting darker and I say “bring it!”

Vampires of all ages can enjoy this mistress of the monster ball’s music; take for instance the songs “Dance in the Dark,” and “Teeth.” “Dance in the Dark” to me deals with a lonely girl who is misunderstood by her lover; no matter what, she embraces darkness and takes on life with a vengeance. That’s my kind of chick! And aren’t most vampires and those who are part of the Goth community misunderstood in one way or another? Let this song be your life anthem!

The song “Teeth” has to do with ass-kicking and not allowing yourself to take anyone’s s**t; mix in some sex and you’ve got a quintessential Lady Gaga song! In this song, she also asks to be bitten and begs for her loyal subjects to bare their fangs. If her lyrics aren’t sure-fire proof that Gaga loves the vampires of the world, I’m not sure what else will suffice.

Do you think Lady Gaga is a vampire?

- Bryce

Ideology of Gothic Clothing

veritas — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:46:19 +0000

Being Goth is not only a state of mind, but a way of life; it is a heightened state of being often associated with the erotic and morbidity. In order to fully appreciate the lifestyle, one must explore all musical options, read literature written by the masterminds, and of course dress the part. In this piece, we will be discussing where Gothic clothing may have derived from and offer affordable alternatives that you can purchase to sport in this century.

It is said that the Gothic lifestyle as we know it started in the Dark Ages – a world where there was chivalry, knights, maidens and men named Merlin. Most people may associate the lifestyle with the Victorian Era, but that was a time of overall less flamboyancy. However in this day and age, the fads of the Victorians are becoming more and more mainstream on the runways and in our society.

Let us take a look at how you can incorporate the Goth look into your wardrobe without spending a pretty penny:

Men- Although it is easier going for those black trench coats and combat boots, push yourself to dress to the nines instead. Act as if you are Lestat from Interview with the Vampire, and purchase a timeless piece like the Gothic Aristocrat Metal Buckle Tail Coat.

Women- Putting your hair in braids and wearing ripped fish net stockings is cool, but you could be much classier than that. Try purchasing a piece such as the Gothic Victorian Mourning Dress; it is a little bit of the bubbly personality of Lily Allen mixed together with the darkness of Elvira.

How do you see Gothic clothing these days?

- Bryce

Vampires » Vampires

Come Goth, Come All

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If I were a Vampire…

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An Interview with Author Denise Verrico

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Top 10 Ugliest Vampires

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

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The Lost Boys

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Do I Believe In Vampires?

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Should we go Vampires.com 2.0?

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Lady Gaga likes to Dance in the Dark

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Ideology of Gothic Clothing

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