“Nosferatu,” the 1922 adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, is widely regarded as the ancestor of modern films about vampires. This silent and sinister masterpiece describes the experiences of Thomas Hutter, whose trip to Transylvania becomes a bit unpleasant when he discovers that his host, Count Orlok, is in fact the “Bird of Death,” Nosferatu. Orlok goes on to terrorize Hutter’s hometown, and the events that follow grip the audience’s attention until the story culminates in a chilling fashion.

A more lighthearted approach to the subject is seen in several movies in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly the 1985 “Fright Night,” which manages an appropriate mix of horror and humor. The movie follows the escapades of Charley Brewster, a horror movie-loving teenager who inadvertently enters a nightmare when he discovers that his new neighbor, Jerry Dandridge, is a vampire. Charley tries in vain but without success to convince everyone that Dandridge is a vampire.

“30 Days of Night” is adapted from a comic book series by the same name. In it, the locals in a town far north of the Arctic Circle are accustomed to the 30-day period of darkness that comes once a year, but they are not prepared for the horrifying threats that arrive with it.

The final installment in the saga will undoubtedly attract hordes of teenagers captivated by the storyline and the romance between Bella and Edward (not to mention Taylor Lautner’s abdominal muscles).

More recent films tend to include more violence, more blood and mindless vampires whose favorite pastime is consuming human flesh. It’s important to remember that thousands of these films existed before “Twilight” did, even if some of them are best forgotten. While the second part of “Breaking Dawn” is expected to be the hottest new vampire flick, there are definitely more to come.

Looking for more vampire movies? If so, then check out some other recommendations:

“Dracula: Dead and Loving It” – 1995
“From Dusk Till Dawn” – 1996
“Bram Stoker’s Dracula” – 1992