What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film & TV?

[jefferiestubes8]

What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in TV

A 3-year old cancelled series is re-aired on a broadcast network.

CW is even resurrecting one that was already dead. Well, technically undead, but killed off its original network. "Moonlight," which aired its first and only season on CBS in 2007, will premiere in reruns on the CW on June 3.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sho...cts-moonlight-pairs-with-vampire-diaries.html

 

[Lapis Exilis]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

Didn't emo-pires start with Stuart Townsend playing Lestat?

I thought emo-pires started with Dark Shadows and Barnabas (1966 and 1967 respectively), then were given a shove over the pop culture edge with Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire (1976). I certainly remember reading that when I was 14 and thinking, oh my god, is Louis ever going to stop whining?

Still, emo-pires seem to be the only thing that can sustain the vampire genre these days. Wasn't 30 Days of Night an attempt to revive monstrous, deadly vamps -only to tank at the box office?

Even Buffy and Angel were all about the emo-aspects of immortal undead life. Monster vamps were just cannon fodder, while much angst was spilled around Angel, Spike, Darla, et al.

 

[stonester1]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

I've no problem with "emo-vamps", that is vampires who struggle to hold onto their humanity. Lots of good examples, Dark Shadows, Forever Knight, Buffy/Angel, etc.

The problem is when you do like what you see in any genre show gone bad. Solid storytelling gets sacrificed for tropes and hackery, shallow attempts to lazily appeal to a demographic.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

That reminds me. We should have a remake of Dark Shadows done RIGHT. Not as a film, not as a serious TV mini like they did back in the 90's, but as a cheesy soap opera just like the original. Filmed absolutely live, so every flubbed line, faulty set piece, camera malfunction, etc. gets caught and shown. That's what DS is supposed to be!

 

[KB24]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

The worst, this teeny sparkle romance lame- has already happened. The best thing would be for these Hanson fans to grow up and out of this phase, then the vampire fandom would return to the realm of scary and bizarre. Vamps got popular-that was the worst.

I dare say this might have begun as early as Underworld. That's more a mainstream action effects picture than a vampire flick. Buffy still had a level of geekdom or cult to it, as Anne Rice had a niche-a very big niche, but a selective audience nonetheless.

Yes, the Hanson mainstream has vampires jumping the shark.

 

[KB24]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

I don't think Dark Shadows or Forever Knight count as 'emo vamps' because they aren't in the vein of the grunge teeny appeal. They were tormented before tormented was popular, when the scary vamp was still much in demand. And again, through the 60s up to the 90s before Rice and Buffy widened it- vamps were very much an underground genre. Now it's like the dotcom bubble. Burst already!

 

[Greg Cox]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

I don't really know what "emo" means, but DARK SHADOWS definitely popularized the brooding, reluctant vampire schtick. And that was way back in the sixties.

 

[I am not Spock]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

1. It's already been done. It's called Twilight.

2. The disturbing rumours of a Whedon-less Buffy reboot. It will suck so much without his involvement.

 

[FordSVT]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

I don't think you could call the vampires in Underworld or Blade "tormented EMOs", and I don't think giving vampires emotional quality is a bad thing. They sometimes had the goth/leather fashion sense thing going on (and were often quite sexy) but they were viscous and looked at humans like cattle for the most part. It's when nothing but the tame, romance and drama and lovey-dovey stuff takes over that it becomes boring.

Would rip glittery little Edward and his friends to pieces:

 

[Kemaiku]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

Worst thing? Stephanie Meyer.

This, a thousand times this.

 

[Nathan_Heller]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

Vampires should return to their roots by becoming relentless, soulless predators. Stop the regret crap!

 

[Teelie]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

Vampires were never simple soulless predators with no remorse. They are more complicated than that. Just not Twilight complicated.

 

[Nick Ryder]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

Honestly, I think Joss Whedon did probably the best Vamps, sure Angel got a bit broody and emo at times. Although Spike sort of helped take the piss out of that by actually mocking how broody and emo Angel was "and his hair stands up straight!"

Heck, go back and watch that Angel Season 1 episode with Spike standing on a rooftop watching Angel save a girl and giving his own sort of MST3K treatment.

I would frakking love to see Spike mock those "glittery vampires".

"You go out in the sodding sun and you get... glittery? What the hell is that?! Vampire goes out in the sun and you get roasty, toasty and pop goes the weasel! And come on, what the bloody hell is wrong with Edward? Last I saw he didn't have a soul, why is he so... impotent? Did they put a chip in his bloody head? Its like watchin' a bleedin' movie about Angel and Buffy and being ten times worse! And that yammerin' twat Myers is making how much on all this?I think someone needs to show her what a REAL Vampire is like. She's worse than Ann Rice or Bram Stoker. Although... if I didn't have a soul, I could have a right field day with all them young chippies! Buggah!"

 

[Trekker4747]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

What do you (humorously or seriously) think would be the worst thing that could happen
(and/or already has happened) to the vampire genre in film, TV, literature and why.

If some fourth-rate author made a universe filled with vampires who were angsty teenagers who only sparkled in the daylight, and one of them fell in love with a boring high-school girl with only one, minor, character flaw and the whole thing was just a boring, un-convincing, love-story that subtextualy was pretty damn anti-feminisim and in the process the universe also completely misunderstands what other foklore creatues are, like, say, werewolves.

Something like that would really suck.

 

[KB24]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

Underworld isn't the pouty type, but it is action and effects oriented before the vampirism bits. And Dark Shadows had its brood, but it was also still dang scary in many respects. Vamps aren't dreamy, they are scary.

I've said it before about Twilight. Meyer had a dream about a boy and a girl and then after writing the gist of the sappy, thought, hey I'll toss in vamps and werewolves. It was not her genesis to create a realistic look at vamps or the genre. Whedon did his research. I only hope Burton and Depp get their right heads on for the DS movie. Otherwise it's going to look like Barnabas is riding the sappy Twilight coattails, and I beg to differ.

I just wish the fandom would go underground again where it belongs. Vamps aren't supposed to be popular. What's next, the devil will be hip again?

 

[Checkmate]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

More From Dusk Till Dawn less Twilight, please.

 

[Skywalker]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

What do you (humorously or seriously) think would be the worst thing that could happen
(and/or already has happened) to the vampire genre in film, TV, literature and why.

A VH1 reality show starring a bunch of emo goth kids who think they're vampires.

 

[Jetfire]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

MTV

The Real World "Transylvania"

 

[I am not Spock]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

Honestly, I think Joss Whedon did probably the best Vamps, sure Angel got a bit broody and emo at times. Although Spike sort of helped take the piss out of that by actually mocking how broody and emo Angel was "and his hair stands up straight!"

Heck, go back and watch that Angel Season 1 episode with Spike standing on a rooftop watching Angel save a girl and giving his own sort of MST3K treatment.

I would frakking love to see Spike mock those "glittery vampires".

"You go out in the sodding sun and you get... glittery? What the hell is that?! Vampire goes out in the sun and you get roasty, toasty and pop goes the weasel! And come on, what the bloody hell is wrong with Edward? Last I saw he didn't have a soul, why is he so... impotent? Did they put a chip in his bloody head? Its like watchin' a bleedin' movie about Angel and Buffy and being ten times worse! And that yammerin' twat Myers is making how much on all this?I think someone needs to show her what a REAL Vampire is like. She's worse than Ann Rice or Bram Stoker. Although... if I didn't have a soul, I could have a right field day with all them young chippies! Buggah!"

You're quite right, Whedon did the best vamps. Even his emo-ish ones were done well, because as you say, there was always a character like Spike to take the piss out of them! The shows didn't take themselves too seriously. Remember the ep 'Lie To Me' when there's a cult of emo-vampire worshippers? 'Could you look any dorkier in that outfit?'

When angsty vampires are done in total earnest, like in Twilight, its just woeful.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Re: What'd be the worst thing to happen in the vampire genre in film &

Teen Werewolves
4 minute video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q77sJT8O56E&feature=player_embedded

Nothing new here really. If you watch it without the sound you would think it was 1995 or with that Pete Wentz haircut maybe 2004.