Chrono's Horror Movie Marathon Week 3: VAMPIRES
 

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All right Girls and Goons... Next week will celebrate ANOTHER iconic monster... One that has come in MANY forms over the years (most recently *ahem* sparkly)... I used to have an utter LOVE for vampires and the tales of Dracula and Vlad the Impaler... But recently I have been interested in different retellings of the tale (Byzantium, for example was epic and excellent)...

My viewing list for next week contains three such movies that stray from the Dracula archetype...

Vampyr (1932) - Thank you to a fb friend for bringing this to my attention - I was originally going to rewatch Nosferatu (which is utterly stunning, creepy, and incredible), but I've decided to go with something I haven't seen before. Viewing time will be Sunday, September 28th at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Interview with the Vampire (1994) - This I have to rewatch. I haven't seen it since I've been in middle school and at the time I was OBSESSED with this movie. I am honestly curious as to how well it aged and if it can still capture me. Viewing time will be Tuesday, September 30th at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) - This one has been on my radar for a while now; I've heard nothing but good things and I cannot WAIT to see it. Viewing time will be Thursday, October 2nd, at 8:00 p.m.EST (I hope that going back to the 8:00 time still works!)

For those of you who may want to participate remotely - Do you have Skype? It's just a free download away AND will support video and non-video chat. Just a thought to replace meetings.io.


For those of you who can't participate OR would rather watch something else... What's your favorite Vampire movie? What would YOU watch during Vampire week? Can't wait to hear about this topic especially.

WTF...no Twilight



This sucks

What? No London After Midnight?


This really really sucks.

This selection actually kinda sucks! Vampyr is a great flick and except that personally I've no interest to revisit or see the other 2 flicks. Seen Interview once and didn't like that much. And I've actually heard nothing but disappointing things about OLLA and particularly after V's recent review I've no interest on it.

Surprised to see you didn't pick LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, Martin, Shadow of the Vampire or Guillermo del Toro's Cronos!!

Gotta say never seen any of these. I'm surprised you picked Interview though.

The only night I'll be able to participate is Thursday, and I'll watch my favorite Hammer Dracula movie, Taste the Blood of Dracula. I won't be able to participate on Sunday (Eagles start at 4:30) or Tuesday.

And, I watched Only Lovers Left Alive not too long ago. Suffered through it is a better description.

Wow guys.

Do you feel ganged up on? I felt it for you!

Vampyr: Absolutely love this movie. Bit slow and not exactly an easy watch, but so much style its well worth a watch. Aesthetically as good as anything.

Interview with the Vampire: I have a bit of a soft spot for the over acted, camp vampire flicks of the 90s. A few great acting performances from Dunst, Rea & Cruise then a few that are just far too cheesy, like Banderas & Pitt.... The whole homoerotic subtext is so pronounced that its laughable at times. A little subtlety might have made the movie a bit less cheesy, but probably not half as entertaining. If you look passed what its lacking though, its actually a really nicely shot gothic/ romantic horror with a decent story... In short, I think its a good flick.

The main reason I wouldn't really recommend it though, is that Bram Stoker's Dracula ('92) does everything a little better. There are some stronger acting performances (Oldman) some more ludicrously hammy acting performances (Reeves) and overall its just a more opulent, camp, visceral and beautifully shot flick. And its got Cary Elwes in it, so what more do you want?

Mostly agree with Roshiq's suggestions too, some great flicks there that play around with a genre that falls into cliché far too often.

I am really excited about the Sunday viewing, I have been wanting to see Vampyr for a long while, I actually purchased it a couple of months ago, but did not watch it. From what I have heard, it is an absolute classic and a must-see

As for Interview with the Vampire, I mean I like it, but there are many other vampire films that are so much better. I know that you want to visit it because you were obsessed with it, but maybe you could replace it with one that you have not seen. I mean it's up to you, it's just a suggestion. I do think it is a solid film and I love that alot of the setting is in New Orleans because I love that city (went there for vacation this past July).

As for Only Lovers Left Alive, I have no real opinion of it. The cover makes me think it is not good, but covers can sometimes be misleading (though some of the people here seem to think it is quite dreadful). I will watch it though, if it is kept. Maybe I will like it. You have mentioned that you have heard many good things about it. Strangely, I have heard absolutely nothing about it until now, good or bad.

If you do decide in favor of a replacement or replacements, I would like to second what some of the posters above have said. You should consider adding a Hammer film, Horror of Dracula is really highly reviewed one, which I know you mentioned before wanting to see. That would be a good selection. I know you seen it a long time before, but the original Nosferatu would be another good selection (which I know you originally had). The remake to Nosferatu (1979) would also be an excellent selection. I know you have never seen it and it is quite magnificent, in my opinion. I would also recommend the original Dracula, though I know that is another one you have already seen, though I am sure it has been a while.

Roshiq made some excellent suggestions as well, Martin would probably be really hard to get though.

Don't care; with the exception of V and HF, I've only heard good things. And, even if that wasn't the case, I am still desperately interested in it.


Saw it (loved it), still need to see it, saw it (was disappointed), and saw it (thought it was just OK)



It's more of a tribute to preteen Chrono. I was really really into vampires at the time and had consumed a HUGE variety of Dracula-themed films (Bela Legosi's, Frank Langella's, Gary Oldman's to name a few), so when I went to see Interview at the movies, it seriously BLEW. MY. MIND. It was the first time that I had seen a retelling of the vampire mythos that strayed from The Count and I was absolutely swept up in its epic romanticism... I'm pretty sure I haven't seen it since I was twelve, so I'm using this marathon to pay tribute to little vampire-obsessed me. Also, I am honestly just curious as to what Adult Chrono will think - Will I roll my eyes? Will I yawn? Will I still SWOON at Brad Pitt?? I can't wait to find out!


Oh, I absolutely LOOOOOOOVED Bram Stoker's Dracula too - I just think that preteen me just connected more with Interview, which is why I chose it as a self-tribute.

That being SAID, it doesn't mean I WON'T be watching Bram Stoker's Dracula this week... I really really want to revisit it - It's on Netflix Instant which makes it easy for me to watch at my leisure.


If you don't want to see them - No worries! Watch something that you haven't seen and/or something that you just love! Honestly, I'm loving all movie talk relating to the weekly theme, even if it's not something that I'm watching.


...


By the way, guys - Waking up and checking into HDC first thing in the morning to be confronted by 3X YOUR MOVIES SUCK... Kinda sucked, especially coming from folks who have not, cannot, or have no interest in participating in these viewings at all in the first place.

When I was considering movies for this marathon, I knew there were a few routes I could go - The "Popular" choices, the "Classic" choices, or just movies that I personally wanted to watch. Sure, sometimes there was overlap (obviously with Frankenstein and The Wolf Man weeks) but with this time around, it was a bit of a struggle siding with "Popular/Classic" choices vs. movies that I just want to watch next week - I went with the latter because, despite what you may think of these movies, I just really really want to see Interview and Only Lovers Left Alive.

What I've liked about these threads (the Frankenstein thread in particular), is that people have taken it as an opportunity to talk about and/or watch other movies within that theme and then talk about them - So you may not have interest in watching these movies - Watch a different vampire-themed movie and post about it!

I look forward to seeing/discussing what everyone is watching this week.

Newb, in particular, I look forward to your rousing dissertation on Twilight.

It's not so much that I do not want to see them, I was just recommending alternatives that would be good for you to see or consider. Don't take it the wrong way or anything, this is your thing, you get to decide what the films for the week are. I and the other posters here, whether it is realized or not by some, can only make personal recommendations. No, I am totally fine with watching them as part of your event. I love the whole watching the same thing at the same time thing. I think it is cool.

I'd give Interview with the Vampire a 7/10.

It's the first time I've watched it since I was 7 years old. I guess it's alright; vampires have never been my favorite movie monsters, so maybe that's why I wasn't "wowed".

On a lighter note, yes, I agree. We are going to have to force ChronoGrl to see some Hammer. It is unforgivable, especially since she is close friends with someone with the username hammerfan. Just to be clear, I am only kidding around with you, ChronoGrl. But, you do need to see some Hammer...lol

I've already told her I'm coming to MA, tying her to a chair, and force-feeding her some Hammer movies ::stick out tongue::

Newb was joking and so was I. The film I mentioned is a lost film that no one has ever seen, ever. Lighten up and LAUGH A LITTLE BIT!

I was actually just wondering to myself why I have such a blindspot for Hammer Films... Just as I had a blindspot for 80's films...

Oddly enough I think it comes down to my parents...

My dad LOVED a lot of the old black and white horror and scifi movies... Through him I saw the majority of the Universal horror films (Dracula, Frankenstein, Mummy, Creature), along with Vincent Price movies (House on Haunted Hill) or other creepies like the original 13 Ghosts and The Innocents... For scifi he introduced me to Thing from Another World, the original Fly, The Incredible Shrinking Man the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the like...

So I was wondering, How is it that I've seen so many of what people consider "classic" horror films but I have a blindspot for Hammer? I think that maybe my parents just didn't like Hammer. It's not that I specifically avoided it or that they told me they weren't good movies - I was just never introduced to them and never sought them out.

Same thing with 80s horror - I distinctly remember my Dad saying of The Fly, The Thing, AND the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remakes, "Yes, they remade those movies, but they weren't very good..." So it took me a while to FINALLY watch the remakes - I LOVE The Thing, and The Fly (still need to see Body Snatchers though)...

And I'm pretty sure that he did NOT like slashers... While he showed me the Alien movies, he avoided Halloween, Black Christmas, and etc.

As for my Mom, well, she could suffer through the classics BUT couldn't watch more modern horror - Hated being scared.

Anyway - It's not that I've specifically avoided Hammer Films; I think that that's why they've never really been on my radar.


Newb's didn't bother me (made me chuckle)... And oddly enough, yours not as much because it was an amusing follow-up to his comment PLUS you're usually an ornery old coot, so it was in-character. ::stick out tongue::

"Back in the day" Hammer movies were considered very "sexy". Maybe that's what your Dad didn't like? A total guess on my part.

I'm sure I'll get some ridicule over my choice of movies for my marathon as well. Especially with my next selection

Now you have me curious! ::wink::

They're just not what anyone would call classic movies. I'm not trying to do a marathon of the best. Just what I want to watch which is what Chrono's doing as well I'm sure.

Hammer movies were on the TV so much when I was growing up it was hard to miss them. My parents really never had an issue with me watching horror and most of my early horror memories are watching horror flicks with my folks. Mostly hammer, amicus, old ghost stories, that kind of thing.

I don't really like recommending movies to people, because everyone has their own tastes, but its a shame for any horror fan to miss out on a bit of hammer. Such a unique style, great acting, directing, atmosphere and familiar casts that make them a genre all of its own. Peter Cushing is and always will be the epitome of cool to me.

OMG!! Maybe that's why - LOL!!

I'm really curious now too.

this is what I do....make woman chuckle

and not always when I want them to

Ya, Newb, like Billy says, "leave a tender moment alone".

It'll happen. Again, it's not that I'm avoiding them purposefully. I wish that they were streaming, though - Prior to this marathon I was watching the majority of my movies on Netflix Instant.

So I was pleased to see I can watch Vampyr off of YouTube.

Interview haters rejoice!

I don't think that the DVD will come in time for Tuesday so the option is spend money to rent it OR watch Bram Stoker's, which is on Netflix Instant streaming.

I think I'll go with the latter since I've been wanting to see that again anyway. I'll still send away for interview as long as it doesn't get in the way of other viewings.

I'm going to assume that that's OK with everybody. ::wink::

I may be able to join you after all on Tuesday. And, I own the DVD of Bram Stoker's Dracula! Are we still doing 7:00? Or, was that a one-time deal?

Oh sweet! We can watch it together! Is 7:00 still ok with you?

7:00 is perfect! Better than 8:00 for me. I have an old lady bedtime, too. Especially on a "school night". I get up at 5:30 for work. ::big grin::

I have an old lady bedtime too! Staying up for last week's killed me! Haha

While I would have certainly been fine with Interview with the Vampire, I have to say that I absolutely love Bram Stoker's Dracula. I will definitely be looking forward to the Tuesday viewing at 7.

If it's 9 o clock, I'm with ya.

Too late for us old folks! ::stick out tongue::

Do we want to do Facebook chat again? Seems to work best when it's just the 3 of us.

Not a fan of that one. Love Oldmans performance but the rest of the movie is too over the top for me

Yes, that would be great. I might have missed this, but don't you have shows on Tuesdays?

Sweet! I'll toast you with some warm milk! ::wink::



Yeah, let's do that; probably for the best.