Tracking the vampire empire

Garlic aside, nothing can stop pop culture’s bloodsuckers

 

 

 Last week at Comic Con, hundreds of seriously freaking out teenagers lined up for the first peek at the big-screen adaptation of the best-selling young-adult book “Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer. Adding to the freaking out was the fact that Meyer just released her fourth and final volume of the series, “Breaking Dawn.” This kind of adulation is nothing new for the New York Times bestselling author, who to many is J.K. Rowling’s heir apparent, with millions of the series sold. But, in fact, this kind of popularity is nothing new to the blood-thirsty undead. Here’s a look at the past 32 years of sucking.

1976
‘Interview with the Vampire’ hits bookstores
Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire” is one of the first instances in pop culture where the story is told from a vampire’s perspective, a sort of “undead memoir,” if you will. Alternate titles were “A Thousand Little Red Blood Cells” and “How to Win Friends and Then Suck Their Blood.”

1979
‘Bunnicula’ published
The children’s book series written by James Howe is published about a vampire-bunny that sucks the juice out of vegetables. This is also the first and only time a vampire-as-a-bunny appears in print.

1983
‘The Hunger’
“The Hunger” is perhaps the best vampire film ever made (according to this writer). With Susan Sarandon starring as a “sleep and aging” doctor who has a sexy love triangle with a hip vampire couple played by Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie, how could it not be incredible?

1989
‘Vampire’s Kiss’
The second best vampire film ever made, “Vampire’s Kiss” stars Nicholas Cage as an agent who thinks he’s a vampire but not might be (how’s that for plot twist?). “Flashdance” star Jennifer Beals shows up every now and again in skimpy outfits.

1992
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
This precursor to the hit television series of the same name, “Buffy” starred Kristy Swanson and Luke Perry. The only actor appearing in this film whose career didn’t get a spike driven through its heart was Donald Sutherland, who was cast as Merrick, the Watcher who clued Buffy of her destiny (which, sadly, was “no more starring roles for Kristy Swanson”).

1992
‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’
Perhaps realizing that “Buffy,” “The Hunger” and “Vampire’s Kiss” weren’t the best representations of vampires, movie producers release “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” Despite Keanu Reeves’ laughable accent in the film, it garners positive reviews and revives the genre in popular culture.

1994
‘Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles’
Based on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel, the film version starred a very pasty Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt and grossed over $100 million the world over, proving to the world that vampires weren’t just for misunderstood goths anymore. Well, they were, but for a lot more people as well.

1997
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (again)
The cult hit ran for eight years, garnered hundreds of tie-in products and made its star, Sarah Michelle Gellar, a household name. Just in case you were keeping tabs, Kristy Swanson recently became a spokesperson of the Medifast diet.

2005
‘Twilight’ published
Stephanie Meyer unleashes her teen vampire series to the world. “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth book (out last week), sells 1.3 million copies in the first 24 hours.

2008
Vampire Weekend
Four preppy guys from New York City release their self-titled album, “Vampire Weekend.” Subsequently, every single publication in the world writes about them.