In the Mood for Blood

In the Mood for Blood

A Century of Vampires in Cinema

Though not the first vampire novel, Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been the most influential. Published in 1987, around the time cinema was born, the tome has been filmed countless times. It gave rise to an early case of plagiarism when F.W. Murnau simply changed the names and filmed it as Nosferatu in 1922. Ironically, many of Murnau’s inventions surrounding vampires have since been blatantly copied in subsequent works.

The undead’s constant thirst for blood in the dark is dangerous for man but also the source of our fascination. Vampire stories have creeped us out, given us frissons – sexual and otherwise – and entertained us, whether Tod Browning or Francis Ford Coppola adapts Stoker’s novel or creative minds have taken a more liberal approach. Vampires have popped up in B-movies, comedies, animated films and even influential teenage romances with a bite (hello Twilight). Whether you’re a sucker for hilarious satires a la What We Do in the Shadows or prefer the Gothic backstage drama of Shadow of a Vampire (shot in Luxembourg!), In the Mood for Blood has got you covered.

In November, we’ll screen Tod Browning’s Dracula and George Melford’s rare Spanish-language Drácula, both from 1931 and filmed on the same sets; the star-studded Interview with the Vampire with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt; Blaxploitation film Scream Blacula Scream! with Pam Grier and From Dusk till Dawn with Quentin Tarantino and George Clooney.