By Philip Etemesi
Vampires have been sinking their fangs into human necks since the Silent Era. The popularity of the mythical creatures can be credited to Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, which has been adapted more than 170 times. The 1872 novel, Carmilla, by Sheridan Le Fanu, also contributed heavily by being adapted more than 100 times.
Though vampires are primarily known for their craving for blood, early cinematic vampires, as seen in the 1913 movie The Vampire, were femme fatale “vamps” rather than undead fiends. Today, vampires can be clearly defined.
Ordinarily, vampire movies are associated with horror, but from time to time, the creatures tend to appear in drama, action, science fiction, comedy, romance, and fantasy stories. In the 2020s, movie directors are still fascinated with vampires, as we have recently seen gems like Nosferatu and Abigail. However, let’s take a trip back to the 1990s when equally great vampire movies were released, stretching across several genres.
#10 HABIT
Handling grief and heartbreak at the same time isn’t easy. So New Yorker Sam (Larry Fessenden) — who has just lost his father and broken up with his girlfriend — is glad when he meets Anna (Meredith Snaider), a seductive woman who seems willing to love him and nurse him back to a proper mental state. However, dozens of minutes into Habit, he suspects she might be a vampire.
Bad Company
Has a budget movie ever looked so good? The film was nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Director at the Independent Spirit Awards. Larry Fessenden did a one-man show here, directing, writing, and starring in Habit, without messing up a single thing. A masterclass in multitasking!
Meredith Snaider is also brilliant. Even though she seems human and empathetic at times, she’s still a scary siren, especially when threatened.
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