Text that reads Vampire Media Masterlist. Font is Caligula, red with a black outline.

My Favourite Media!

As someone who spends a lot of time thinking about vampires and indulging in vampire media, of course I've gathered a collection of my absolute favourites! So, in case you're curious, I've compiled them spoiler free onto this page to sate the thirst of your own curiosity.

By the way. I will be ranting here. Bare with me.

Dracula

I mean, how could I not like Dracula? It's THE vampire novel, and it's ingrained in our pop culture. But with so many adaptations and retellings out there, it would be silly to say that I love Dracula as a whole. So, here are my favourite pieces of Dracula media:

BBC/Netflix Dracula (2020)

LOOK. I KNOW. This adaptation was very hit-or-miss when it came out. I think from the trailer, the miniseries was highly anticipated! But it went in a very unexpected direction. Personally? I LOVED it. Yes, even episode 3 (iykyk). Each had their own taste of vampiric horror, and I felt that overall the show did well to make a point of the details often missed by other adaptations. It was a sort of "What if?" rendition of Dracula more than anything else, and whilst not perfect by any means, was an interesting way to tell the story. And Claes Bang made an EXCELLENT Dracula.

Renfield (2023)

Not so much an adaptation but a sequel to an adaptation, 'Renfield' follows the character of R.M. Renfield (or in this case, Robert Montague Renfield), after the events of Dracula (1931) starring Bela Lugosi. But do not be mislead; for 'Renfield' is a modern-day horror comedy starring Nicholas Hoult (as Renfield) and Nic Cage (as Dracula). It looks at the manipulative relationship between Renfield and Dracula in a perfectly satirical way, but with a healthy amount of ketchup-blood gore and flashy fight scenes throughout. Without giving too much away, it's essentially What We Do In The Shadows' action packed cousin.

Dracula: Mina's Reckoning

Now THIS is what you call a Dracula adaptation! Set in Aberdeen, Scotland (and produced by the National Theatre of Scotland), Mina's Reckoning takes probably one of the most interesting approaches you can get to Dracula as a story. The play has a cast of entirely women and non-binary people, and generally follows the original story of Dracula quite well; Jonathan still goes to Transylvania, Seward still owns his asylum (containing Renfield), and Lucy is still preyed upon by Dracula. But, the play considers the time period in which Dracula is set. Mina and Lucy's relationship is explored rather touchingly, and the issues surrounding women's rights are consistently brought up. In this retelling, Seward's asylum is a "women's" asylum; it is here that the character of Renfield is nonbinary, and is abused due to their gender nonconformity (they do and EXCELLENT speech of the many ways they were examined and tested and overall mistreated by Seward, which hit hard). Oh, and Seward's a misogynistic dickhead (it's relatively satirical too).

Now I've already talked about Claes Bang as Dracula in Dracula (2020) but I think the award for BEST Dracula Performance goes to Liz Kettle here. She was just BRILLIANT. Her Dracula almost stole the show, being both very entertaining and even humouruous at times, but still maintaining the cruelty of Stoker's poignant villain. She had perfect use of her hands, making them very much clawlike and monstrous, and there was even a moment where it looked like she was floating along the ground. Just captivating!

*ahem*

Can you tell I really liked this play?

Hellsing

I don't even know what to say about Hellsing, other than it's just cool. OTT, you might say. Both the manga and the anime (Hellsing: Ultimate specifically as it follows the manga) are great experiences. Alucard is an edgelord badass. Idk just watch/read it!

What We Do In The Shadows

If you're here and you HAVEN'T watched What We Do In The Shadows (either the 2014 film or the 2019 show) then WHAT ARE YOU DOING???. The original horror comedy film gained a cult following and for all the right reasons - its dark humour yet emotional storyline explores the modern vampire life with an amusing sense of irony. And the show? Well, with a focus on character building and relationships, and plenty of twists to the narrative, it simply just draws you in!

guillermo rules!

Vampire: The Masquerade

Have you ever looked at DnD and thought, "Man, I wish there was more vampires!" WELL, World of Darkness has you covered with Vampire: The Masquerade. The franchise is huge, and I've only really dipped my toes into the ocean that is VtM lore, but I get the gist! As a ttrpg, VtM of course is full of actual plays and deep canon. However, the franchise also includes video games - although I haven't gotten round to those yet. Each of the clans takes into account all of the ideas anyone has ever had about vampires, which I think is awesome, as it's pretty coherent.

L.A By Night

My introduction to any Vampire: The Masquerade was the actual play L.A By Night. With one of the characters being a newly embraced vampire, or kindred as they like to call themselves, it's a good place to get to know the world of VtM. In terms of storytelling... I had A LOT of fun watching it. The drama! Is! Everything! Everyone plays their part excellently - Jason Carl does wonders as a Storyteller, Josephine McAdam plays Eva very eloquently, Walter B. Davis has ALL the personality with Victor and- well I could go on forever.

!Favourite Guy Alert! Naturally my brain latched on to Jasper the Nosferatu, expertly played by Alex Ward... man. I do not know what to say he's just Great. Sad but Great. Also pretty badass.

New York By Night

Another official VtM actual play, NY By Night delivers just as well as its predecessor. It follows two coteries, an anarch one and a camrilla one, so it gives a wide berth of perspectives. It also features some of the more obscure clans (particularly with season 1's coterie), which I found particularly exciting. Much of the L.A By Night cast returns for new roles but there are plenty of New new faces to get to know too.

!Favourite Guy Alert! !It's the same guy! !Sort of!

Alex Ward returns to play Isaac, a Tzimisce, and man. Ok. Look. He's just a Bit WeirdTM. And I can appreciate that. He's also introduced me to the Tzimisce which might just be my favourite clan now... THEY'RE FREAKIN AWESOME. Terrifying but awesome.

*ahem*

The Vampire Chronicles

Before I go any further I want to make it clear that I've only read two and a half books from Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles book series. I got bored midway through The Queen of the Damned :P

The ancient vampires talk for too fucking long lmfao

Interview with the Vampire (novel)

So I was in a big vampire hyperfixation when I read Interview with the Vampire; I'd just read Stephen King's "'Salem's Lot" and whilst I enjoyed it for its horror and suspense, well, it's Stephen King and he's not known for being able to write women. So I decided to read something written by a woman instead.

That book is SUCH a ride, holy crap! I mean, it's a huge shift in tone from "'Salem's Lot" so no wonder I was a bit bewildered by it but I also went into it entirely spoiler free, so I had no idea what to expect. All I knew is that it was good, it was about vampires, and my mum had read it not long after it came out. What I did not know was how gay it would be. And also how batshit the plot is. Please just go into it blind because you'll have such a fun time.

I even quoted this book in my YEARBOOK; "You are the night and the night alone understands you and enfolds you in its arms." The quote ever.

The Vampire Lestat

So of course once I was finished with Interview, I moved onto The Vampire Lestat. I'd found some old battered copy at a local choose-what-you-pay charity book table, and this was to be my read for the next couple of weeks. If you thought Interview was a ride, you're definitely not ready for TVL. I mean, the book opens from a totally different perspective and with a different tone, but from what I hear this becomes a key part of the series overall.

I do not have words to describe how Nicki and Lestat make me feel. Like damn. Ough. All my favourite tropes were shoved into their arc!

I do have to complain about Marius. WHY does he talk so longgg. Like I was barely pushing through. This was Anne Rice's equivalent to the textbook section in Nineteen Eighty-Four. Anywho

Interview with the Vampire (AMC adaptation)

Now this series was already out when I read IWTV and TVL but I did get round to watching season 1 eventually! I enjoyed it A LOT. It does a wonderful job at adapting the book for both TV and a modern audience, and whilst yes, it's very different in some areas to the book, I think that just makes it a more enthralling viewing. The amount of times my jaw DROPPED. Please check it out if you can!

Just to note, I haven't watched season 2 yet. I've simply been preoccupied with other hyperfixations and hobbies and general life-stuff. Avoiding spoilers is an Olympic sport (especially on Tumblr) but the show's not exactly going anywhere anytime soon so I'll wait however long I like.