Previous 31 days of Halloween movies: Part 1, Part 2
Welcome to my personal selection of horror movies to watch in this spooky month. In this second instalment, we are delving into a classic horror sub-genre of vampires. Vampires have a long history in folklore and later in film, as creatures of the night terrorising the locals.
Though we have the classics such as Dracula that many later vampire films took inspiration from, it is the films that add their own flavour and mythos that are the most intriguing.
Vampires
Day 10
Blade (1998)
To say, I am a fan of this film would be an understatement. We all remember the famous scene in the club with the blood sprinklers. Blade is such a gritty, and unsettling film that does not shy away from the horror of what a vampire would truly be like. There is no romance with the vampires in this world.
Blade (played by Wesley Snipes) is the title character in this film, and unlike the comics, he is a dhampir with both human and vampire traits. Possessing the strengths of vampires without the weakness to sunlight, using that advantage to wage a war against vampires to protect humanity.
For those who love darker incantations of vampires, this is the film to watch. Devastatingly the franchise did not continue to the same calibre as the first film.
Day 11
Blood Red Sky (2021)
Blood Red Sky is a film that took me by utter surprise. It can be hard to find a vampire horror film that plays up not only the apex predator nature of vampires but can also have a profound emotional impact on the audience. Blood Red Sky for the most part, achieves this.
Following a mother and son on a flight, the mother is travelling to seek treatment for what appears to be leukaemia. Unfortunately for the mother and son, as well as the passengers, the flight is hijacked by terrorists. But for all the souls on the plane, it is not the terrorists that will be invoking fear, as we come to see the transformation of a human into an ungodly being that is more akin to the vampires in The Strain than traditional ones.
Day 12
Afflicted (2014)
Afflicted is a found footage horror movie, as someone who is not usually a fan of this subgenre, this style was a perfect match for this story.
Afflicted follows childhood friends Clif and Derek who are travelling around the world and filming their web series. It is the last wish of Derek, who suffers from a condition that could cause his death at any moment. Meeting up with friends, Derek meets a lady and takes her back to his place. However the next morning, they find Derek has been attacked and think this woman planned to rob him.
Soon after, Derek starts displaying weird symptoms, that at first seem like a huge advantage, but they both soon find out that these new abilities are a lot more dangerous than they first appear.
Day 13
Thirst (2009)
Thirst is another vampire film that does not shy away at all, showing the depravity that vampires indulge in.
Thirst follows Sang-hyun, a Catholic priest that as a result of a failed experiment to find a vaccine for the deadly Emmanuel Virus, finds he is craving blood and must avoid the sunlight. Unfortunately for him and others, his new desires end up leading down a murderous path that takes him far from the road of morality. It is when he starts an affair with a married woman, that things come to a head in a way that can only lead to death and disaster.
Watch this space for more Halloween horror recommendations later in the month. If this is not enough Halloween horror, don’t forget to check out my post, 13 Horror TV shows Worth Digging Up
What movies are on your Halloween list this month?
