Mariana Alarcon has always loved fantasy books but amidst the fairies and werewolves, vampires stood out.
“Vampires are exciting because they are dangerous. You see people who write about these conflicted good guys that just have to drink blood, which sucks,” she said.
Alarcon, an SMU senior, reads the “Twilight” novels, watches the movies and follows HBO’s “True Blood,” but she is not alone in her love of the mythical creatures.
In 2008, “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer sold 22 million books, more than any other author that year. She also managed a feat that J.K. Rowling, author of the popular “Harry Potter” series, could not. The first four slots on the 2008 best-seller list were all “Twilight” novels.
Writers seemingly hope to cash in on this trend by adding new twists to great classic novels. The extensive reach of this fantasy phenomenon inspired books such as “Vampire Darcy’s Desire: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation” by Regina Jeffers and Mr. Darcy and “Vampyre” by Amanda Grange, both based on Jane Austen’s great romance “Pride and Prejudice.”
To date, the “Twilight” movie has grossed over $382 million worldwide. HBO’s “True Blood” amasses over 3 million viewers per show. These numbers have inspired Hollywood to jump on a veritable vampire bandwagon.
This fall, CW will show a series titled “Vampire Diaries.” In October, director Paul Weitz will release his vampire movie “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant.”
So what is it about vampires? Movie buff Chase Cusack says that he can offer an outsider’s perspective into the trend. Cusack does not read any vampire books, but has watched a few episodes of “True Blood” and has a working knowledge of the “Twilight” series.
The SMU senior says that the vampire trend is an interesting one because vampires are not new. In the 1990s, big vampire movies, like “Interview with a Vampire,” also had big stars, like Brad Pitt. But somehow it wasn’t until the “Twilight” series that vampires exploded in the Hollywood scene.
“Twilight’s popularity with women is what has made it something different,” Cusack said. “The books are basically romance novels that just happen to have vampires in them.”
Cusack thinks that the books are also about sexual discovery and a romantic, cunning guy. The book’s main character, Edward Cullen, is a dream guy but because he is also a vampire, a forbidden aspect comes into play.
Alarcon agrees. She thinks that this dangerous aspect is what makes vampires sexy.
Cusack said that “Twilight” also stands out because it’s not scary. “Vampires used to be scaring and menacing. They had huge fangs and sucked your blood,” he said. “In Twilight, the main character is the most handsome guy in high school. He doesn’t wear a cape. You don’t throw garlic at him. It’s on a more relatable level.”
Cusack believes a large part of Twilight’s success can go back to the “Harry Potter” series, fantasy novels about a hidden, magical world. According to Cusack, like “Harry Potter,” “Twilight” is about ordinary children who just happen to come from a vampire family.
Alarcon enjoys is enjoying the trend, but thinks it can go a little too far. When asked about purchasing a life-size Edward Cullen doll, Alarcon laughed and said, “What dork would do that?”
But it isn’t just Hollywood that has been sucked into the vampire craze. Famed Korean director Park Chan-Wook, who directed “Old Boy” in 2003, has come up with “Thirst,” a movie about a priest who becomes a vampire.
“Thirst” seems to be slightly removed from the American vampire craze. Already a box office hit in Korea, “Thirst” won the Prix de Jury Award at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival.
When a blood transfusion goes awry, priest Sang-hyun (played by top Korean star Song Kang-ho) is transformed into a vampire. Dealing with a new lust for blood, this formerly selfless priest now comes face to face with the seven deadly sins.
Cusack, who is familiar with “Thirst” director Chan-Wook’s work, thinks that the movie will be creepier and scarier than the vampire movies that have inspired the trend.
“‘Thirst’ will appeal to people who are into the old school vampire stuff. This seems gothic and horror-based, with blood and gore. It seems to be more for guys than for the 15-year-old girl who read ‘Twilight’,” he said.
Thirst opens in select Dallas theatres on Aug. 28. To learn more about the movie, go to ThirstMovie.com.
Kelsey Adams contributed to this story.
