The Webmaster's Favourites
Here is a selection of various media as chosen by the webmaster. Take these as some suggestions if you're stuck for what to sink your teeth into!
Please note that The Webmaster's Notes contain spoilers! You have been warned!Dracula
If you haven't read Dracula at least once, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? It's THE vampire novel, and it's ingrained in our pop culture like nothing else. But with so many adaptations and retellings out there, which are the ones to look out for?
BBC/Netflix Dracula (2020)
It's gorey, it's weird, and it's from the minds of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss: BBC's Dracula miniseries (in partnership with Netflix) put a new twist on the classic novel to.. mixed reception. But, it's still worth a watch if you're finding the Dracula landscape a bit samey.
The Webmaster's Notes
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 - it WAS super interesting to see a story where THE Dracula ends up in modern Whitby instead of 1897 Whitby. And I like that they had fun with it, even if it was too much of a tonal shift for some. I get it. Each episode 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, it 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.
The Webmaster's Notes
If anything, 'Renfield' is just a whole lot of fun. The callbacks to 'Dracula' (1931) are really neat, and although the film descends into a weird mafia story (whilst still involving Dracula), it does it in a way that I think is somehow fitting. And it manages not to be copaganda either, since the New Orleans Police Department turns out to be totally corrupt anyway! It's a shame that dance scene was removed, but I get why. At least it's in the DVD/Bluray extras.
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 casts 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).
The Webmaster's Notes
I was lucky to see this in September of 2023! As much as I love Claes Bang's Dracula in Dracula (2020), 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! And the added twist of a vampire-Mina was *chef's kiss*. The play was a limited run, but I was sent a proshot by someone so it's probably floating around somewhere if you know where to look.
Hellsing
Probably the vampire anime (and manga!) other than Netflix's Castlevania series. There's not much to say other than it's really fucking cool. Dark, an intriguing plot and interesting lore. It's worth noting that if you're going to watch the anime, watch Hellsing: Ultimate. It follows the narrative of the manga which is infinitely better and more fleshed out than what they put together for the original anime's run.
The Webmaster's Notes
I just love Hellsing for how over the top it is. Both the manga and the anime are great experiences. Alucard is an edgelord badass. Most of the characters are edgelord badasses. In the best possible way. Even the Nazis which uh... hm.
What We Do In The Shadows
Probably the most well known vampire comedy, What We Do In The Shadows (or WWDITS) is comprised of both a film (2014) and a show (2019-2024) - but they both have a similar structure; the shenanigans surrounding house-sharing vampires and their human familiar(s). Despite this, the film is quite an emotional watch, and the show had fans divided in the latter seasons. Still, these are no reasons not to watch either. They're both endlessly entertaining, with creative takes on the vampire and supernatural genre not seen often in the mainstream. And, if you're craving more, you can always watch the original 2005 rendition of the film.
The Webmaster's Notes
When I first watched WWDITS, it only had 3 seasons, and I fell in love! I absolutely adore Guillermo, and I found his conflict between wanting to be a vampire, be with Nandor, and being a descendant of Van Helsing fascinating. I'm not a fan of how the show ended at all, but the final season had its moments.
Vampire: The Masquerade
Have you ever looked at DnD and thought, "Man, I wish there was more vampires!" WELL, World of Darkness (WoD) has you covered with Vampire: The Masquerade. Not just a TTRPG, VtM has a plethora of canon actual plays, books, LARPs and video games. The franchise is huge, and has a deep canon that's always being changed and added to since its conception in the 90s.v (And, it's not just vampires; the VtM universe, WoD, goes even further...)
The main appeal is within the clans - rather than different races (although there are a few), VtM utilises different types of vampires inspired by common vampriic tropes, from the romantic allure of Anne Rice's vampires to the unpleasant monstrosities of Nosferatu, and everything in between. Not sure where to start? Watch some of the official actual plays!
The Webmaster's Notes
I've only really dipped my toes into the ocean that is VtM lore, but after watching both L.A By Night and most of New York By Night, I don't think there's any going back. The lore of different vampires is cleverly intertwined in ways I wish I'd come up with! And if you're curious - my favourite clan is the Tzimisce (which has definitely not, in no way, been influenced by Alex Ward at all, nuh uh. Nope. Noooo).
The Vampire Chronicles
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. AnywhoInterview 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.