#–A–B–C–D–E–F–G–H–I-J-K–L–M–N-O-P-Q-R–S–T–U–V–W-X-Y-Z

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30 Days of Night
Released: 2007
Director: David Slade
Synopsis: In Barrow, Alaska, a place that experiences an annual month-long polar night, Sheriff Eben Olsen (Josh Hartnett) and his fellow townspeople are trapped when all communications and transport are shut down. The town is very quickly overrun with vampires, and Eben desperately tries to keep himself, and as many people as he can, alive.
Verdict: The film is a good adaptation of the comic book, even paying homage to particular frames, and it creates some interesting vampires. Polar night is the perfect setting for a vampire horror, and the film does its best to make something original from a legend as old as time. 3/5

A

Abigail
Released: 2024
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Synopsis: Abigail, the daughter of a rich man, is kidnapped and held to ransom by a group of criminals that do not reveal their names or backgrounds to each other. Little do they know, Abigail is much more than she appears. 
Verdict: The twist of the story isn’t particularly original and comes quite early on in the film, which is fine, but the gore and Ready or Not style of hide-and-seek in a big house is rather fun. The performances aren’t all that enticing, but lead actresses hold the film on their shoulders. 3/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Abigail review.

Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story
Released: 2025
Director: Natasha Kermani
Synopsis: Abraham van Helsing (Welliver) moves his sons and wife Mina (Donahue) to the US, and having grown up on Abraham’s stories of creatures of the the night, his sons train to take up their father’s fight against vampires.
Verdict: Frankly it’s slow in pace, boring in story and far too dialogue-heavy. The performances aren’t bad, but they don’t have much to work with. 2/5
Read the Tiny Tapes Abraham’s Boys review.

B

Blade trilogy
Released: 1998-2004
Synopsis: Blade (Wesley Snipes), a dhampir (not quite a full vampire) and vampire hunter, hunts the creatures that killed his mother. Alongside fellow vampire hunter Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), he puts himself in the firing line when pure-blood and bitten vampires are at war, when a mutation in vampires threatens both humans and vampires, and when the most infamous vampire of all is resurrected.
Verdict: While the third film of the trilogy is much more lacking than the previous two, the overall Blade trilogy is epic comic book fun and provides plenty of horror and gore as vampires prey on humans, and vampires fight each other. Snipes is fantastic in the lead role, and we can only hope and pray for another film after his reprisal in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Released: 1992
Director: Francis Ford Coppola, based on the book by Bram Stoker
Synopsis: As denoted from the title, the story works to stay as close to Stoker’s novel as possible. Solicitor Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) visits the Transylvanian castle dwelling of his new client, Count Dracula (Gary Oldman). Dracula finds his way to England, and upon his return, Jonathan tracks down the centuries-old vampire with the help of Dr. Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins).
Verdict: This film is quite infamous for being rather poor in quality (and for the supposed real marriage of Reeves and Winona Ryder during filming), however it does have its moments, particularly in some of the performances, and the set and costume designs are rather pleasing. 3/5

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Released: 1992
Director: Fran Rubel Kuzui
Synopsis: Just your average California teenage Valley Girl cheerleader, Buffy Summers (Kristy Swanson) is in disbelief when she is called upon to fight the vampires running wild in her town, but only she can stop them, and preferably without breaking a nail.
Verdict: The precursor to the fabulous Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show, the film sets up the character and her world well, introducing the world to the butt-kicking bad ass she is. The film is very campy and is certainly very surface level in comparison to the television show, but it’s a fun watch for Buffy enthusiasts. 3/5

D

Dracula
Released: 1931
Director: Tod Browning
Synopsis: When lawyer Renfield travels off to Transylvania to meet Count Dracula, he succumbs to the Count’s will and assists him in moving to England, where Dracula preys on innocent victims.
Verdict: These days this style of film won’t be for everyone, but anyone who can appreciate the classic art style and original performance of Bela Lugosi will get much enjoyment from it. The black and white cinematography, including the calculated lighting effects, lends itself to an atmospheric creepshow, and the skulking actions and intense accent of Lugosi indeed make for a classic horror romp. 4/5

F

Fright Night
Released: 1985
Director: Tom Holland
Synopsis: When a new neighbour moves in next door, Charley (William Ragsdale) witnesses weird occurrences that convince him the neighbour is a vampire. Charley needs to convince people of his suspicions before it’s too late.
Verdict: As vampire films go, this one has all the camp and sex appeal of one not taking itself too seriously but that still invests in its shock factor. It’s highly quotable, with Chris Sarandon’s vampire taking all the one-liners, and rocks between fun and annoying characters. It doesn’t really stand the test of time, but it is appreciated for its special effects, particularly in the death scenes. 3/5

Fright Night
Released: 2011
Director: Craig Gillespie
Synopsis: When a new neighbour moves in next door and kids from his school start going missing, including his best friend, Charley (Anton Yelchin) starts to suspect his neighbour may be a vampire. He convinces a vampire hunter/magician to help him take down his vampiric neighbour, but not without consequences.
Verdict: Coming soon

From Dusk till Dawn trilogy
Released: 1996-1999
Synopsis: Two fugitive bank robbing brothers take a family hostage with an intention to flee to Mexico, when they end up at a bar that has a disturbing secret; another bank robbing gang heading to Mexico stop at the same bar with terrible consequences; and the tale goes back to the beginning to where it all began to round out the trilogy.
Verdict: Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino created a horrifying, twisty film with the inaugural ’96 film that still holds up as an excellent vampire film, however the sequel and prequel both leave a lot of be desired (although the prequel does have some interesting origins for the story).

I

Interview with the Vampire
Released: 1994
Director: Neil Jordan, based on the book by Anne Rice
Synopsis: While conducting an interview in the late 20th century, vampire Louis (Brad Pitt) recounts his life, from his siring the 18th century by Lestat (Tom Cruise) to raising a girl that Lestat sired into a vampire, through travelling the world and ending up in New Orleans.
Verdict: Basically a period drama with vampires, this film is rich in character and performances, particularly from a super young Kirsten Dunst. It doesn’t quite reach the depths of the book, but it is an entertaining, sexy, campy romp nevertheless. 4/5

L

The Last Voyage of the Demeter
Released: 2023
Director: André Øvredal
Synopsis: Aboard the ship ‘Demeter’, sailing from Bulgaria to England, is the infamous Count Dracula, unknown to the ship’s captain and crew. During the sailing, the Count arises and begins to stalk the ship’s animals and crew by night until there is nary a living thing left.
Verdict: Some dramatic license was taken to flesh out a single chapter (“The Captain’s Log”) from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and some of it works well to build the tension, but it doesn’t always work for the pacing of the film. Presenting Dracula as more of an actual monster and less human-like was also an interesting away to go, but it’s not something that will be to everyone’s taste. 3/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Last Voyage of the Demeter review.

The Lost Boys trilogy
Released: 1987-present
Synopsis: On moving to a new town, brothers Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) get embroiled with a gang of local vampires; Chris (Tad Hilgenbrink) and his sister Nicole (Autumn Reeser) move to California where Nicole falls foul of the vampires; and Edgar Frog (Corey Feldman) works to put the vampire epidemic to rest once and for all.
Verdict: The first film has endured as a cult classic vampire movie, and it certainly is entertaining and creepy with an enjoyably twisty plot. The sequels aren’t quite as strong, unfortunately, but the legacy of the vampires will continue in future planned installments.

N

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (German: Nosferatu – Eine Symphonie des Grauens)
Released: 1922
Director: F.W. Murnau
Synopsis: Based (unofficially) on Dracula, Nosferatu features a vampire by the name of Orlok (Max Schreck) who stalks the wife of his estate agent, causing the outbreak of a strange plague in the town.
Verdict: A terrific showcase of German expressionism that, much like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, proves that modern technology is not needed to create a masterpiece. From the set and costume designs to the lighting and the performances, particularly from Schreck and his gangly vampire, Nosferatu stands strong against any Dracula production. 4/5

Nosferatu the Vampyre (German: Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht)
Released: 1979
Director: Werner Herzog
Synopsis: Blending both F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the film loosely follows the plot and characters of the latter while taking theatrical and paying homage to influence from the former.
Verdict: Unlike most adaptations of Dracula, and certainly unlike the majority of remakes, this film captures the essence of the Dracula story while successfully modernising (for the ’70s) its Nosferatu influences. It is darkly elegant, soft yet sharp, multilayered in its themes and wonderfully balances the horror aspects with artful cinematography. It also boasts fantastic performances, particularly from Isabelle Adjani as Lucy. 4/5

Nosferatu
Released: 2024
Director: Robert Eggers
Synopsis: Soon after their wedding, Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) leaves his wife Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) alone in Germany to journey east to Transylvania. There, he meets the decrepit Count Orlok (Skarsgård). When Thomas returns, he has become aware of the dark nature of Count Orlok, and he is disturbed to find his wife is already aware of the Count’s desires and his thirst for blood.
Verdict: Whether you want to be shocked, entertained or disgusted, this version of Nosferatu is likely to satiate many kinds of appetites. Eggers has managed to put his own unique stamp on this enduring legacy, with stunning cinematography, an electrifying and repulsive atmosphere, and some fantastic performances. 4/5
Read the full Nosferatu review.

R

Renfield
Released: 2023
Director: Chris McKay
Synopsis: Renfield (Nicolas Hoult) has grown tired of assiting his master, Count Dracula (Nicolas Cages) for nearly 100 years. After attending a support group for those in co-dependant relationships, he realises what he really wants is to be free from living under the Count’s thumb.
Verdict: A fun and twisty take on a classic tale from a rarely seen perspective, Renfield features some good comedic performances (especially from Hoult, in a role that isn’t to dissimilar from his role in Warm Bodies) and good action. It is however repetitive at times and suffers with a weak plot, but it makes for some average entertainment overall. 3/5

S

Sinners
Released: 2025
Director: Ryan Coogler
Synopsis: In Mississipi 1932, twins Smoke and Stack Moore (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to open up a bar, but their opening night turns out to be anything but grand.
Verdict: Coogler shows a great understanding of horror and how to blend it with real themes, much like his contemporary Jordan Peele. One may even call Sinners a Peaky-Blinders-meets-From-Dusk-Till-Dawn-via-Stephen-King-and-the-Jim-Crow-era masterpiece, and that’s nothing to be sniffed at. 4.5/5
Read the full Sinners review.

T

Thirst (Korean: 박쥐 )
Released: 2009
Director: Park Chan-wook, based on the book Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola
Synopsis: Catholic priest Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) joins an experiment to find a vaccine for a deadly virus, though he ends up contracting the disease. He appears to recover, but soon, Sang-hyun comes to see that what he contracted is much more than your average human disease.
Verdict: A Park Chan-wook film never shies away from shocking its audience, and though Thirst is no different in that regard, it doesn’t necessarily have the most original of stories. It’s dark and makes a good attempt to put a spin on the vampire genre, but it’s not necessarily the best vampire movie out there. 3/5

U

Underworld series
Released: 2003-2016
Synopsis: In a world of vampires and werewolves, both tribes are constantly at war. Most of the films centre around Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a Death Dealer vampire with a personal vendetta against werewolves, or ‘lycans’, and the ensuing clashes.
Verdict: Much like the Blade trilogy, Underworld takes the POV of vampires in their fight against another species, and the series begins rather strongly, with Beckinsale paving the way for many more strong female protagonists in action films. The battles between vampires and werewolves make for entertaining viewing, but the overall quality of the series is lacking, being mainly a vehicle for spectacle and tight-fitting outfits.

V

The Vourdalak (French: Le Vourdalak)
Released: 2023
Director: Adrien Beau
Synopsis: Marquis Jacques Saturnin du Antoine (Kacey Mottet Klein) finds himself at the home of a missing man named Gourcha (voiced by Adrien Beau). Gourcha’s family welcome Jacques into their home, but upon Gourcha’s shocking return, the family become divided, with some believing he has become a vourdalak (similar to a vampire), and Jacques gets involved when Gourcha becomes violent.
Verdict: A wonderfully gothic film that is timeless in its style. The puppet used for Gourcha initially seems absurd to the point of comedy, but as the film progresses, it becomes a real figure of fear. The story is superb and underscored with individual characterisations that are the foundation of this insane and enjoyable horror. 4/5
Read the Tiny Tapes The Vourdalak review.

W

What We Do in the Shadows
Released: 2014
Directors: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi
Synopsis: A documentary crew follows the lives of four vampire housemates. They document how the vampires live their day to day lives, how the role of a ‘familiar’ is supposed to lead to becoming a vampire, and how they create other vampires.
Verdict: If you thought vampires were so 2010s, you were wrong. Clement and Waititi put a new spin on the genre with this comedy mockumentary that was popular enough to warrant a spin-off television show. With plenty of dry humour, sarcasm and witty jokes, it’s sure to be a laugh fest for fans of Clement and Waititi’s other works. 3/5