Written by Morgan Forbes ; edited by Savhanha Nguyen
Twilight was a big deal. The 2008 supernatural romance film hit screens with a bang, and everyone had something to say about it. Even though the craze for the saga has faded with time, nobody can deny the impact it’s had on teen pop culture. Hitting the peak of its popularity with the final film’s release in 2012, it seemed that every girl had an opinion on whether glistening vampire Edward or broody werewolf Jacob made the better match for Bella. This was the pinnacle of the so-called ‘vampire trend’, which also saw the success of TV series like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. Many look back at this time with nostalgia (even if such feelings are met with ridicule from the actors themselves), but the 2020s are seeing a resurgence in vampire-related content.
First of all, we must ask what makes this genre so successful; why would it even make a reappearance? The answer is simple: it appeals to a broad audience with a select type of fantasy. It’s clear to see there is a target group in mind when it comes to romance-driven supernatural content. As a young girl, it’s easy to picture yourself playing the part of the overtly ‘normal’ human teenager, and how can you resist the mysterious allure of whichever creature has just transferred to your high school? Palpable chemistry and new dangers quickly become apparent between characters, leading to love triangles, exciting adventures, and juicy dynamics that carry through entire franchises. This fuels the fantasies of predominantly young women around the world. The intrigue of a dangerous relationship has never died — we just replaced Edward Cullen with fictional men like Christian Grey. Problematic as some of these character types may be, they lead the sort of far-fetched drama that makes for great entertainment, because such romantic fantasies exist only in dreams (as a relationship with, say, Hardin Scott would never be advisable in real life).
Vampires play the perfect part in all of it, and that’s why they’re coming back. They follow this traditional algorithm of sex appeal and moral ambiguity, but new releases on television have also seen a more modern approach. AMC’s new adaptation of Interview with the Vampire is streaming on Amazon Prime, and viewers have submitted largely optimistic reviews so far. The show’s progressive approach to diversity issues such as race, class and sexuality has paid off, and they’re not the first to receive recognition for this. Leigh Blickley from The Huffington Post (2019) writes that ‘the [vampire movie] adaptations of the 2010s relied on relatable, humane vampires to propel the genre. These iterations speak directly to people who feel like an outsider — be it through their sexuality, economic status, race or gender — and give them a character to relate to.’ The Vampire subculture has come a long way since Nosferatu’s terrifying debut in the 1920s. And while it’s true that many have pondered over a horrifying life of drinking blood in the shadows, it is refreshing to have some relatable, human elements in an otherwise fantastical storyline.
There are other reasons we find comfort in the vampire category. Amongst the mundane routines of lockdowns and quarantines, the early 2020s were a time to return to and reflect on things once loved. Stephenie Meyer released a new Twilight book told from Edward’s point of view, titled Midnight Sun. At one point, Netflix was even rumoured to be continuing The Vampire Diaries, years after the final episode concluded the show in 2017. When times are tough, it helps to feel in tune with something familiar — perhaps that’s why vampires were all the rage around 2008 with Twilight’s release, the same year as a notorious financial crisis. “We’re finding out about all this fiscal malfeasance and the inability of the government to protect us. The world was becoming a very scary place,” claimed Eric Nuzum, podcaster and author, in The Huffington Post, “so we kind of leaned into the vampire... a fantastical creature with supernatural powers who can confront the forces of reality.” (Blickley, 2019)
And the world is still a scary place fifteen years on. Following Brexit, a worldwide pandemic and a long list of government incompetencies, the value of the pound has dropped significantly, causing many ordinary UK households to suffer under the cost of living crisis. There’s no taking away from the hardships faced in recent years, but there are always small things to find pleasure in. Admittedly, it’s not just vampires, as other mythical creatures have taken the stage one by one, patiently waiting their turn for a slight turnaround in pop culture. HBO profited when The Walking Dead brought back zombies and Game of Thrones incorporated a complicated cast of monsters and fantastical beings. The fantasy genre as a whole sucks viewers into unlikely universes where they can forget about their everyday troubles.
But some elements of the vampire genre in particular make for timeless entertainment, and the most prominent example of all is Count Dracula. Bram Stoker’s most infamous creation has appeared in over 200 movies (second only to Sherlock Holmes). He’s appeared in the most unlikely corners of vampire subculture, such as Hotel Transylvania and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy; depictions are also noted in otherwise unrelated shows like The Simpsons. Steven Moffat went into the 2020s with a three-part BBC/Netflix adaptation of the horror classic, receiving positive reviews from audiences. It seems that every time the world forgets vampires exist, a certain Transylvanian bloodsucker bears his fangs, demanding another look.
So what can be expected in regard to future vampire content? Renfield, starring Nicholas Cage as Dracula and Nicholas Hoult as his assistant, will premiere in April this year. Fans of Vampire Academy have taken to Twitter to insist on a second season. There’s even another Monster High movie set to air this year with Nayah Damasen reprising her role as Draculaura. Of course, if your thirst for blood is too great to wait for these new releases, there are plenty of reasons to revisit the Cullen family – they are among the many things that never grow old.
Image courtesy of Insider
References:
Blickley, L. (2019). ‘The Coffin Is Closing On Vampires, At Least For Now’, Huffington Post [online]. 28 December. Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/vampires-of-the-2010s_n_5dea8f70e4b0d50f32b3089a (accessed 19/01/23).