Stoker's sources on Tepes and Transylvania were very poor. He, for example, had never been there. Polidori's Ruthven is a much bigger influence on Dracula than Tepes, who I think Stoker latched onto only because of his reputation and the distinctive, exotic quality it would add to the story. I think though that Byron's bipolar and fear of intimacy caused him to look much more vampiric to Polidori than the way he treated women. Ruthven treats Polidori's protagonist like Byron treated Polidori.

Holy shit. I've never met anyone else who knows or will discuss this information. This may not be the right thread in which to do it, however.

(You're definitely right about Byron's total lack of ability to commit, however, he did tend to feed off of women, sexually. The relationship between Polidori and Byron was very similary to Ruthven and Polidori's protag., however, do you recall the speculation that Byron and Polidori might have been lovers?) ...Okay, I'm really sorry:( I'll stop.

I'm surprised nobody has mention "Santa Sangre" a surreal slasher drama...
and of course "The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover" a exellent theatrical surreal drama

I thought The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover was really cool when I saw it years ago. I really should give it another watch. I've been meaning to see Santa Sangre but I haven't come across a copy yet

It all makes sence in the end (Or, if you read the plot summary that came with the set, it's all explained in advance)

Have you read Byron's fragment of a vampire novel?

His Augustus Darvell character is fascinating. But it is, tragicall, a fragment - 3 pages...makes you really wish he finished it as it was engrossing from word one.

Some titles not mentioned yet:

IF
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063850/

The Magic Christian
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064622/

Work Is a Four Letter Word
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062503/

Koyaanisqatsi
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085809/

Okay, none of them fit a strict definition of surreal, but they're all pretty weird.

one of my all time favorite movies .. i was fortunate enough to score this one on laserdisc..

The forgotten
Donnie Darko
Hellraiser 5+6
Natural Born Killers

If you are into torrents I'm soon gonna make one....a dvd rip...