I watched Twilight last night after procrastinating about it for over a week. I just wasn't sure I wanted to commit to two hours of vampire movie, but I am glad I did. It isn't the best movie, but it was everything a vampire movie is supposed to be; filled with tension, love, passion, violence, and innocence.
It got me thinking about all of the other vampire fiction and films that I have consumed over my lifetime. I had an early fascination with Dracula as a kid - I did a report on him during my third grade summer for fun. I loved the violence and the mystery that surrounded him, but what I really think I loved was the idea of being consumed by another. At 8 I didn't know that, but now I do.
The fascination for women with vampires seems to me about the idea of having that unending passion with another - something both terrifying and yet amazingly satisfying. We don't have that in our everyday lives. In fact, most of our lives are rather dull and lacking. And although romance novels could squelch that need I think it is the violence and the tension between that which is impossible to have and wanting the impossible that draws us to vampire stories.
The line that reflects that most is when he says the lion is drawn to the lamb. - Ok it doesn't hurt that vampires are played by ridiculously beautfiul people.
Although everyone will tell women that drawing towards that which is wrong for us (wrong in so many ways) is not where healthy strong relationships lie - some of us have a weak spot for the mysterious or forbidden. If we fulfill that with a vampire or two no harm - with real men, well, there is probably real danger.
I have loved many vampires in my life: Dracula, Lestat, Kiefer Sutherland in The Lost Boys... which have you loved? Here is a great Vampire Movie list for the uninitiated.
