Movies
500 Years of Blood: The History of Vampires in Legend and Film
The idea of vampires, these undead creatures subsisting off of the life force of others, has been around for centuries. Though the image of the bloodsucking creature of the night has changed considerably over the years and continues to change, for horror’s sake, that change may be for the better.
The Legend of Vampires
Dating from the probable first historical example of a vampire to the advent of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the truth may be scarier than fiction.
History’s First Vampire
The person believed to be the first historical reference of a vampire is Jure Grando Alilović in the late 1500’s/early 1600s in Croatia.
For the 16 years following his death, he is rumored to have terrorized the village where he used to live. At night, his ghoulish form would wander the town streets, knocking on doors as he walked. Apparently, those who had their door knocked upon meant that death was soon to come for them.
The story goes that the wife also suffered horribly, as she claimed her husband’s decaying, ghoulish figure would force himself into her room at night to torment her. Referred to by villagers as Strigon (fans of FX’s The Strain will recognize this as an ancient term for vampire), after sixteen years of terror, the mayor reportedly ordered a group of young men to the grave of Jure Grando. He was exhumed and allegedly beheaded.
Though the story is horrifying, there is little evidence to back it up. Moreover, the Middle Ages were notorious for jumping to conclusions.
The Madness of the Medieval Times
Just as the Salem Witch Trials notoriously saw people being unfairly accused as witches, the Middle Ages and beyond saw that same ignorance-fueled paranoia led to people being called vampires.
In this period where diseases ran rampant, those afflicted were often believed to be vampires, thus explaining the cause of disease being spread. Moreover, the blood disorder porphyria (skin that blisters when in contact with sunlight) is believed to be the origin of vampires’ aversion to sunlight.
Since medical advances were nowhere near what they are now, people didn’t understand that illness spread through germs, so when close contact would spread disease, they assumed it must have been because of ill intent. Though this was the reality of the Middle Ages, the most recent infamous example occurred in Rhode Island in the 1800s.
The Tale of Mercy Brown
When tuberculosis was raging through the population, there was a rumor swirling. The story indicated that if all of the members of the same family began to die of consumption, it was because one of the previously deceased family members was siphoning the family’s life force from beyond the grave. A family with the surname Brown is a legendary example of this.
The mother was the first to die of tuberculosis. Then came the death of the oldest daughter. Another daughter, Mercy Brown, and son followed behind not long later. Then the father became ill as well.
The town, fueled by the rumor, exhumed the bodies of the dead family to find the life-sucking culprit. Three bodies were exhumed, the mother, Mercy, and her sister. While her family members were dug from their graves as skeletons, Mercy was perfectly preserved. While she had not been dead as long as her familial counterparts, that did not matter to the town: they found their vampire. They burned Mercy’s heart and liver and fed the ashes to the father to cure him. Spoiler alert: it did not cure him, and he joined the rest of his family in death not long later.
While a lack of knowledge fueled rumors that would become vampire legends back then, this still happens today, but differently than before.
The Myths Circulating Dracula
As an article in Time magazine extensively covered, Bram Stoker allegedly sought inspiration from true stories when writing Dracula. Of course, those familiar with Vlad Dracul, also known as Vlad the Impaler, tend to correlate his existence with the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. After all, Vlad Dracul was renowned for the violent, impaling way he killed and is even rumored to have dipped bread in the blood of his enemies, devouring it. That, coupled with the Dracul surname, surely must refer to Dracula. However, some Stoker experts urge that this was not the case whatsoever.
While the history behind the Vlad the Impaler inspiration remains muddled, according to research conducted by Dacre Stoker (the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker) and his writing partner J.D. Barker original copies of the Dracula manuscript allegedly urged that everything within the pages was true.
According to Time Magazine, caskets filled with earth were brought aground, with a mysterious black dog who immediately ran to a nearby cemetery. Over one hundred pages were cut from Dracula, heavily believed to be the text portion where Bram Stoker insisted that what followed were actual events.
While the previous makes for fantastic story-telling, it would not be the first or last time rumors about the novel were created. In fact, new stories are still appearing today.
Vampire Bats and Other Blood Suckers
According to Tumblr legend, the connection between vampires and bats comes from Vlad the Impaler’s war history. Legend says that during battle, Vlad led the enemy into a valley where facing Vlad’s army meant staring directly into the setting sun. Then, Vlad’s men released rabid bats, which fled the sunlight and attacked the unsuspecting enemy. The loss of a visual on the men plus the bat attack caused the attacked to believe that Vlad and his men had turned into bats.
The true story, however, is not as glamorous. The truth is that bats of that caliber are not native to Romania and were frankly impossible. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the first-time vampires were associated with bats, and experts believe he was inspired by the nocturnal nature of the winged mammals and the blood-drinking vampire bat.
Speaking of bloodsuckers, did you know that it was a long-held belief that the smell of garlic repels mosquitos? This form of mosquito repellent is strongly believed to be the reason that vampires would also be deterred by garlic. Essentially, what’s bad for one bloodsucker is bad for the gander. (Though, according to this study, garlic turns out not to repel even the tiniest of bloodsuckers.)
Notwithstanding the rumors, the fate of Bram Stoker’s novel was sealed and would see a resurgence of popularity in the following century.
Twentieth Century Vampires
Armed with Bram Stoker’s legendary novel for inspiration, the film Nosferatu brought the horrific creature to audiences of the 1920s. The 1930s saw the Universal Monster treatment of the classic Dracula emerge in 1931, with Bela Lugosi acting in the titular role. Lugosi would star in other vampire films, such as Mark of the Vampire in 1935, followed by House of Dracula and The Devil Bat in the 1940s.
From there, the characteristic image of the vampire was set. The words vampire and Dracula became synonymous with one another. The pale-faced, intricately dressed undead creature who bites the neck of his victims was revamped (pun intended) with hundreds of Dracula-inspired productions, spanning the entire 20thcentury
It was not just horror films that saw the presentation of Dracula. Numerous comedies (such as the 1990s Dracula: Dead and Loving It) and children’s cartoons such as Pink Panther in 1975’s “Pink Plasma” and Looney Tunes’ 1963 short “Transylvania 6-5000” would go on to depict the legendary vampire. This dilution of the once repulsive creature picked up steam into the 21st century, creating a much different depiction than the monster who haunted the dreams of generations before.
Modern Vampires
The modern treatment of vampires is typically wealthy, attractive-looking creatures with fangs. Whether its True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, Underworld, Twilight, Daybreakers, Queen of the Damned, American Horror Story: Hotel, Night Teeth, What We Do in the Shadows, etc., the modern look of vampires is tirelessly overdone. While the decades before lent a hand in creating this version of vampires, dating back to Bela Lugosi, the era after 2000 ran this trend into the ground.
Although the vampire image tends to be bastardized into the personification of tween fantasy (which, for the record is perfectly fine in small doses), I know that horror is not done with these undead creatures of the night just yet. Morbius was at least bestial, and with films like Salem’s Lot on the horizon, there is still hope that the upcoming generation will view vampires as the nightmarish ghouls they were from the beginning.
My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time watching my favorite app. Luckily, Shudder is not taking it easy on us this holiday season, so I may meet my quota this January. The streamer is bringing in the new year with quite a few bangers. We have classics from icons, a new title from the first family of indie horror, and a couple of lesser-known films that have finally found a home. So, I am obviously living for this month’s programming and think most of you will too. I have picked the five films that I believe deserve our collective attention the most. Get into each of them and start your 2026 off on the right foot.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Carrie (1976)
A sheltered teen finally unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated for the last time. Carrie is the reason I thought proms might be cool when I was a kid. This Brian De Palma adaptation is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. It is also an important title in the good-for-her subgenre. I cannot help rooting for Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) when I watch her snap at this prom and then head home to accidentally deal with her mom. The only tragedy of this evening is that Carrie had to die, too. I said what I said, and I will be hitting play again while it is on Shudder. This recommendation goes out to the other recovering sheltered girls who would be the problem if they had powers. I see you because I am you.
You can watch Carrie on January 1st.
Marshmallow (2025)
A shy 12-year-old gets sent to summer camp and finds himself in a living nightmare. While Marshmallow did not land for me, I know plenty of people who love it. Which makes this the perfect addition to the Shudder catalogue. I am actually excited to see more folks fall in love with this movie when it hits the streamer. If nothing else, it will help a few folks cross off another 2025 title if they are still playing catch-up with last year’s movies. It also gets cool points from me for not taking the easy route with the mystery it built. I hope you all dig it more than I did, and tell your friends about it. Perhaps you could even encourage them to sign up for the app.
You can watch Marshmallow on January 1st.
Chain Reactions (2024)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre cemented his horror legacy over fifty years ago. So, it is long overdue for a documentary where horror royalty can discuss its impact on them and their careers. I have been waiting for a couple of years to hear Karyn Kusama and Takashi Miike talk about Hooper’s work and how he inspired them. So, I am super geeked that Shudder is finally giving me the chance to see this film. The streamer is also helping the nerds out by adding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986) this month. If you are also an overachieving couch potato, I will see you at the finish line next week.
You can watch Chain Reactions on January 9th.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
An insurance investigator discovers the impact a horror writer’s books have on people. I love chaos, and John Carpenter chaos happens to be one of my favorite kinds of chaos. While we talk about The Thing and Halloween all the time, this maestro has given us plenty of horror to celebrate. In the Mouth of Madness is very much one of those titles vying for a top spot among the best of his filmography. To sweeten the batshit pot, this movie features Sam Neill. You know that he only shows up in our genre if the movie is going to be legendary. You cannot tell me this is not a Shudder priority this month.
You can watch In the Mouth of Madness on January 10th.
Mother of Flies (2025)
A terminally ill young woman and her dad head to the woods to seek out a recluse who claims she can cure her cancer. The Adams Family has been holding court on Shudder for years, so it feels right that Mother of Flies is a Shudder Original. More importantly, this fest favorite has one of the best performances of 2025. Which makes it a great time for people to finally get to see it and get in line to give Toby Poser her flowers. Whatever you think your favorite Poser role is, it is about to change when you see her as Solveig. I am being serious when I say that this movie might be the first family of indie horror at their best.
You can watch Mother of Flies on January 23rd.
New year, but same Shudder. I would not want to go into 2026 any other way, personally. I hope these horrific recommendations bring you the good kind of anxiety. Or at least distract you from the state of the world for a bit.
I’m happy Netflix knew I would be back on my bull shit. Now that we’re in January, and the end-of-year lists are done, I’m trying to cram as many 2025 titles into my eyeballs as I possibly can. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s sadly a yearly tradition now. No matter how many titles you cram into a year, there are always a ton more you missed. Because I am broken, I need to know if I missed anything that should have been on my lists ASAP. Then I can drag myself for not getting my eyeballs on things sooner. Or worse, seeing titles that came out after my deadline and would have definitely been on there. I need to feel resentment for their schedules not letting me be great.
Luckily for me, the streamer has dropped quite a bit of new stuff recently. This includes movies and shows that I put off, or that legitimately premiered a couple of weeks ago. So, now I can spiral in the comfort of my own home as I binge all of these titles like a maniac. If you are also trying to walk into the new year stressed out, then maybe this streaming guide is for you, too.
City of Shadows (2025)
When a burned body is put on display on the facade of an iconic building, two inspectors must work together to solve the crime. I don’t know much about this Spanish thriller, but I know winter is the time for an unsettling mystery. The show is based on the first book of the Milo Malart tetralogy written by Aro Sáinz de la Maza. So, if it’s as good as I hope it is, there is a whole world with this inspector awaiting us in print. I’m ready to take all six of these episodes in one setting if the streaming Gods allow.
Frankenstein (2025)
Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Christoph Waltz are among the names in this newest adaptation of the beloved Gothic horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clearly one of the top priorities this month. While I skipped it in festivals because of the runtime, I knew I would have a date with it on Netflix this winter. While it has been on the streamer for a minute, I wasn’t able to dedicate two and a half hours to it. I also had watched my friends’ mixed reviews come in, and couldn’t take another disappointment last year. So, I saved this treat for the holiday. Fingers crossed, it is better than people are saying it is.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
A new group of friends is tormented by a new stalker in this sequel to Kevin Williamson’s other ’90s slasher. I’m indifferent to the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies. Some are less awful than others, and I think this one was fine, but I know the original source material. Which means I know just how far they stray from what the original author, Lois Duncan, was about. So, I look at these movies and the flimsy premise they repeat differently than a lot of my friends. I think it’s an interesting look at how IP gets handled in Hollywood, but I don’t usually get much out of these. Which is another reason I’m kinder to this Jennifer Kaytin Robinson film than some people. While I won’t be rewatching it this January, I think a lot of people who missed it in theaters are going to have fun with some of these kills now that it’s on Netflix.
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)
The long-awaited conclusion to Stranger Things is finally upon us! Will Vecna take out some of this ridiculously large cast on the way out? I hope so. Will we pretend to be surprised when Eddie Munson gets a few seconds of screentime? I refuse to play this game. However, are we all going to tune in to see how this epic ride ends? You betcha! I hate that they’re breaking this final season up into three chunks, but I will be sitting for all of them.
The first four episodes hit in November. The next three landed on Netflix on December 25, and the finale premiered on December 31. I don’t know what to expect, but I know I am so ready to close this chapter of my relationship with Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. If it is even half as good as season four, then I will be a very happy nerd.
Troll 2 (2025)
A new troll awakens, causing Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris to find new allies to take it down. This Norwegian monster flick almost got by me, so I’m happy Netflix dropped the trailer for this one. I’m using this as an excuse to finally watch the first one. I’m thinking a double feature is in order, so I can spend a whole day with these trolls. This is not my usual type of party, but after Troll Hunter won me over, I figure anything can happen. So, I will not judge you if you’re not feeling this out of left field pick. Just know that I’m running at it with an open mind and hoping to see some carnage as a reward.
These are just the Netflix titles I’m prioritizing. This is in no way a complete overview of all of the new shows and movies they’ve added this winter. We also know that they usually have a ton of international bangers that they refuse to advertise. So, I end up stumbling over Korean titles every January and then trying to tell people we missed some really excellent stuff. So, pick up your remote and turn your phone off. It’s time to Netflix and Chill in the less sexy and more nerdy way.
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