#best dracula incarnation

[grassbreads]

I've been doing a lot of reading lately about the history of vampires in fiction and how the vampire as we know it today first entered literature, and the subject is honestly fascinating. The traditional folklore around vampires and vampire-like creatures is largely very different from what we'd think of as a vampire today, and it's also very different from how vampires appeared in even their earliest literary incarnations.

For one thing, there's nothing particularly alluring about most traditional vampires. They're bloated corpses that have crawled out of their graves, not dashing mysterious counts in lonely castles. They're not a particularly stylish or sexy monster.

However, from pretty much the moment that western literature first turned to the vampire myth for inspiration, writers saw something in the concept to sexualize. The poem "Der Vampir" (The Vampire) by Heinrich August Ossenfelder is often cited as the first ever true literary depiction of a vampire (published 1748!), and it is about a man corrupting a chaste and religious woman through his unwanted kiss/vampiric bite. John William Polidori's 1819 short story "The Vampyre" is widely seen as the first work to truly codify vampire fiction, and the titular Vampyre Ruthven is in large part inspired by the womanizing Lord Byron. Le Fanu's Carmilla depicts an intense attraction between Carmilla and her victim Laura. Stoker's Count Dracula is a man with overly flushed lips and hair on his palms, marks of Victorian fears of sexuality.

From the very start, vampires in literature have been a sexual monster. They're emblems of the seductive and terrible—the kiss of death that you can't help but be drawn to anyway. A violent forced intimacy that will corrupt you and drain away your very life force. There's a great deal of xenophobia and fear of the un-christian in early vampire fiction as well, but the fear of sex and sexual assault have always been a driver of literary vampires' horror and allure. Writers seem eternally split between desire for the vampire and revulsion at that very lust, even from the moments that the creatures first graced the page.

There's a great tradition of vampiric fiction both using vampirism to evoke sexual predators and making vampires themselves desirably sexy. Thus, given that it is very concerned with sexual assault and bodily autonomy as themes, often uses predation by a vampire to evoke sexual violence, and is deeply horny about vampires and blood drinking, Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas is actually one of if not the best modern successor to the canon of early vampire literature. In this essay, I will

[heavenlymorals]

The Vampire and the Stag: A Look Into the Symbolic significance of Dutch Van Dir Linde and High Honor Arthur Morgan

Warning: This post has spoilers for Red dead 2

Symbolism is one of the most important visual and literary elements used to push the narrative of Red Dead Redemption 2. The game is chock full of biblical references, animal symbolism, and references to other famous works. Hell, I might've even found a Blood Meridian reference via that Judge Meredith Holden letter, but that might be a reach. In any case, this game uses symbolism to push the story further and I want to do a short little retrospective on my two favorite characters of this game and what they represent in the literary sense.

Let's start with Dutch.

Dutch Van Dir Linde is many things. He's a violent idealist, a romantic, a gang leader, a notorious outlaw, and a legendary gunslinger in his own right.

He's also an allegory for the vampire, and by vampire, I mean the European literary symbolism of the creature.

Let's start off with looks. Right from the get go, Dutch is differentiatued from the rest of the gang members by his luxurious and eccentric appearance, something that the vampire usually has. He had gold chains, personalized gold rings, one with a D and another with a lion. His jacket seems to be velvet, he smokes cigars rather than cigarettes, and his hair is done up in ringlets as we know his actual hair texture is straight rather than curly (Guarma, epilogue, RDR1).

His color scheme is also very stereotypical of the more modern vampire. While other characters usually have a more diverse color scheme, Dutch is suited in reds and blacks the entire main game.

The nature of the undead is also with Dutch via his horse, the Count. First of all, there is just the name the Count that gives off vampire energy (Count Dracula) but there is also the fact that Dutch's horse shouldn't exist. Foals born with albinism, which is the coat the Count is said to have, die because of lethal white syndrome. The Count should have died long ago but it's still alive somehow- he cheated death like a vampire. That's also not mentioning death in the sense that death comes riding on a pale horse.

Vampires in classic literature are never just about vampires as these charming blood sucking creatures almost always exist to convey a deeper meaning of consumption. In the 1800s, this idea of consumption, with the most famous visualization of it being the older vampire man sucking the blood of young, usually virginal women, is often an allegory for selfish sex and defilement. Vampires in old media could very well be a criticism of wealthy men taking advantage of younger women, taking their virginity, and then tossing them aside and being virtually fine while the women lose everything from respect to family to even lives, which can also be the case with Dutch and Molly, but overtime, the vampire became less an allegory to write sex without outwardly writing sex in the 1800s, and became more a symbol of personal consumption at the expense of others.

The wonderful Professor Thomas C. Foster puts it best: "That's what this figure (the vampire) really comes down to, whether in Elizabethan, Victorian, or more modern incarnations: exploitation in its many forms. Using other people to get what we want. Denying someone else's right to live in the face of our overwhelming demands. Placing our desires, particularly our uglier ones, above the needs of another. That's pretty much what the vampire does, after all." - "How to Read Literature Like a Professor"

Dutch is basically that. He consumes people for the sake of his own goals, his own dreams, and his own delusions of grandeur. He will believe in people as long as those people believe in him, but their belief in him is more important to him than his belief in them.

Dutch seems like a Messiah to the disenfranchised, a Jesus figure of sorts. He seems charming, empathetic, cultured, and different from other men, like the vampire. People are enthralled by him, become obsessed or loyal to him, like the vampire's victims. However, these people, like Arthur, John, Molly, Bill, Javier, etc., are used and Dutch, the vampire, doesn't return the favor as he only consumes for his own favor.

And in the end? People suffer or they die and Dutch moves on to his next victims, even if he did love these people.

Dutch is the embodiment of the vampire in every possible way except in the most literal way, which is the blood sucking.

Now let's move on to Arthur Morgan.

Arthur and the stag are one in the same when it comes to Red Dead's symbolism. If one were to mention a stag in the Red Dead universe, more likely than not, people would think of high honor Arthur Morgan. The Stag is Arthur's symbolism, but let us dig a little deeper into what the stag could symbolize beyond just high honor.

When it comes to animal symbolism, stags are almost as iconic as male lions with what they are meant to represent. All throughout various cultures, the stag usually represents a noble creature. It can represent honor (duh), strength, virility, grace, and regeneration, amongst other things, but I want to focus on interpretations of the stag from a few cultures and how they ultimately relate back to Arthur Morgan.

Considering that Arthur has Welsh heritage, or so we assume, let us start with the interpretation of the stag in Welsh culture and mythology. The stag has a huge presence in Welsh culture and mythology, with even some gods and higher beings taking the image of a stag. However, I would like to focus on the stag as a messenger, a messenger between worlds, which is what Arthur becomes in a sense to John Marston.

John's world for such a huge part of his life as the gang. The gang raised him, fed him, taught him to read, taught him morals, taught him many skills, and gave him a purpose. The gang is his world and for such a huge chunk of his life, it was the only world he knew. Sure, Abigail gets pregnant because of him, but she was a part of that world too.

Arthur was able to see other worlds. Mary wasn't a girl who was downtrodden like Abigail and thus would take on well to the life they lived. She was a normal girl and he was not a normal man. Eliza wasn't part of his gang life either, and neither was Issac. They lived in a different world, in a world of civilization, in a world where they didn't or shouldn't have had to keep one eye open to stay alive. Arthur would jump over to their worlds, even if just for a short amount of time, and then back to the gang- he has seen and experienced both of those worlds.

Arthur then gives John the message that he should leave and be a man and provide for his wife and protect his child by leaving the gang life that destroyed the both of them. Arthur becomes a messenger from one world to another- from gang life to normalcy. And with that message, John experiences a change- a change of character and motives.

The Stag is a messenger and Arthur is a messenger. A messenger to not only John, but to everyone else he tried to get out of there for he experienced two worlds and one is better than the other.

Another interpretation of the stag is the selflessness of sacrifice, which can be shown through the Greek culture of story and mythology and explained perfectly in the story "Iphigenia at Aulis" by Euripides. Iphigenia goes to her father and tells him that she will offer herself as a sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. Sacrifices must be made to keep the gods happy and the people alive and happy. Iphigenia offering such a thing shows her selflessness, her want of wanting others to be safe and sound, even at the expense of herself.

Sound familiar?

Reminds me of a certain dark romantic cowboy.

By the end of the story, Iphigenia's selflessness was rewarded by the goddess, and as Iphigenia's father was about to slit her throat, the girl got replaced by a stag while Iphigenia was escorted to live amongst the gods for her selflessness.

The deer becomes the sacrifice and in a way, Iphigenia and the deer become one and the same. The deer is sacrificed for the sake of others- the stag becomes a symbol of noble selflessness, much like Arthur. Arthur sacrifices himself in order to save John, Abigail, and Jack- a noble cause, a noble sacrifice.

The stag being a noble sacrifice is also associated with certain Native American cultures (I cannot for the life of me think of which tribes they were exactly, but once I find them, I will edit this post). The stag must be killed for people to eat, thus the deer is a noble creature. The consumption of the stag is an allegory of people living better lives or having better days because of the sacrifice of a person. Because of that, the stag is a heavily respected creature.

And given that Dutch's vampire is all about consumption, Arthur's symbolism of being a stag is perfect for their dynamic since the deer is all about sacrifice and nobility and the vampire is all about selfishness and despair.

In any case, the deer represents many things across many cultures, from being a messenger to being a sacrifice, but one thing for certain is that the stag is synonymous with honor and nobility- the person that Arthur tried to be in the end.

Yapyapyapyapyapgodifuckinglovesymbolism-

[idkaguyorsomething]

Best companion does not necessarily mean they have to get along with the Doctor the most, challenging each other in interesting ways could also count.

Explain in the tags who you voted for, with which incarnation, and why!!

[bidrums]

Isabel Adomakoh Young’s Mina is so warm and I love it. Of course this is because she’s writing to Lucy, but it’s still a wonderful quality to hear just like with Jonathan you can hear the absolute love and adoration in Mina’s voice when she talks about learning shorthand and going to read her fiancé’s travel diary and wondering if they’ll see the world together and her excitement in sharing her journal plans with her best friend and making travel plans together and the way she asks about Arthur (the curly-haired gentleman, for those of you who haven’t read Dracula before) like they’re at a sleepover I just- AAAAAAAH

THE REASON JONATHAN LIGHTS UP WHENEVER HE TALKS ABOUT MINA IS BECAUSE MINA QUITE LITERALLY IS SUNSHINE INCARNATE THAN YOU FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK

[anarcheamor]

So... About Erzebet...

I'm pretty sure most people agree that there is something a tad underwhelming about Erzebet and a few have waxed poetic about why but I want to add a couple of things.

For one, to get the distaste out of my mouth, there's something about a European woman being the incarnation of an Egyptian goddess and being serviced by a dark-skinned priestess that rubs me weird. It's... Fine, given that she herself isn't a goddess proper, just knows powerful magic and the association with a goddess seems to be closer to being a matter of delusion of grandeur rather than an actual truth about her. It really just comes down to the fact that none of the big powerful vampires in the first show needed any association with deities to be at all threatening. Big Daddy Drax and The Spice Girls were just outright badasses on their own and we're met with immediate displays of their power and not even in combat. Dracula had a huge fucking castle built with machines and magic that he ran on his own with no help at all and Carmilla pops into the scene literally silencing an entire room with her mere presence. Miss SekhySekhySniperwolf needed a whole two episodes for us to finally see how powerful she is and this is after we've all grown tired of different characters sucking her whole ThunderCats-looking puss-puss (that probably meows) while one of them has us praying on her downfall cuz there's no way the writers thought having an indigenous person acting against her was gonna have us still somehow intimidated by her when he was told to bow and he still only did it half-assed at best.

But, for me, and this is the second thing that bothers me, there's this thing about messianic characters being super powerful entities that ruins the point of the whole thing. There's a reason why it fails when it pops in superhero media and that's because the whole point of a (Christian, have to specify because Jewish messianicism doesn't follow the same standards and sure as hell isn't being represented in mainstream media) Messiah is that they are weak and powerless. Literally, Jesus. Just look at Jesus. Home slice wasn't out here boxing with legionnaires and straight up said if he did get slapped, he would turn the other cheek. Plus there's the whole revolutionary aspect that's conveniently forgotten about. Jesus wasn't a Messiah because his morals were just that great and he had god-given superpowers, he was given that title because he was challenging the powers that be at the time. The Vampires in Castlevania are the fucking elite! They don't need a damn messiah, they're just throwing a tantrum because they can't eat din-din at the time they want to. So whole thing just feels shallow when a vampire messiah would be a great source of atory-telling. Imagine if Erzebet wasn't some grandiose vampire queen but a humble lady who is somehow working a now vampire underclass back into the fold of the world because they've been hunted down to such dwindling numbers that humans have went beyond the realms of resisting being food but now have just settled back into their own oppressive ways. Sure that would get rid of the ever-so-satisfying trope of "vampires = upper society" but I would rather trade that for a more compelling villainness who isn't some less- compelling redo of Dracula or The Sisters.

[beevean]

hiii i dont really have anything to say this is just an invitation to ramble if you ever want to. for freebies. talk at me ill take notes. rattle on about anything ill be quite gleeful about it. this is your free talking ticket (not that you need one per se but i thought the note that i like reading about your thoughts might be nice if nothing else)

Awwwww I appreciate the free ticket a lot 🥰 you're right, it's always nice to have confirmation that others care about your ramblings, so thank you :3

I'm using it because brain got stuck on a random thing: while I was in my phase of gorging on CoD fanfics, I found interesting how different fans interpreted the in-universe reasons for Isaac's appearance.

(sir. sir why do you look so good in a random ass mobile game)

He clearly cares a lot about how he appears. He styles his hair in a certain way, he wears eyeliner (red eyeliner that matches his hair even, which implies he put thought into the best color), he wears impractical but stylish high heels, and in the MF manga he's shown having long nails: while I interpret this as him striving to imitate vampire claws, it still would take a lot of manteinance, and he even hides them under his gloves. I have also pointed out that in PtR his uniform is kept more prim and proper than Hector's, weirdly enough. And with the exception of his uniform for obvious reasons, Isaac still puts care in his appearance after going insane with the Curse.

But what does it say about him?

Some fans seems to simply think he's kind of a peacock. He's vain, he's flamboyant, he knows he's the hot stuff, maybe he's really trying his hardest to hit on Hector lmao. It fits with his arrogant attitude. Maybe he's even a bit of a perfectionist/tryhard: he doesn't need to waste time putting on eyeliner, but damnit, he wants to look his best to work. A king, if you ask me.

Others seem to think it's a sad form of overcompensation. Isaac is not particularly pretty, especially compared to the very beautiful Hector. He has traits that others might see as ugly, like slanted eyes, a large mouth and a big nose. Even worse, while silver hair is obviously unnatural but can be seen as fascinating, red hair in that era was 100% seen as the mark of the devil - and Isaac's red is bright, attracts even more attention. It's not impossible that Isaac was abused for how he looked like, and has some sort of complex about it. In fact, we all know Isaac is the incarnation of the inferiority superiority complex: he has an arrogant, cocky attitude, but he's also extremely insecure about himself, his skills, and being seen as second best/not good enough. So maybe he spent most of his childhood hiding and being ashamed of himself, but now in the place where he truly belongs he has rebounded in the opposite direction: oh, you think I'm unsightly? Have all of me in glorious display! You think my hair marks me as a demon to extirpate? Why yes, I am a demon, and I'm not letting you forget it!

With this mentality, no wonder he'd cover himself head to toe in demonic tattoos that prove his utter loyalty to Dracula, and no wonder that, after he dies, he lets his clothes rot off his back to show even more of his self. He has nothing to hide anymore.

And he still wants to hit on Hector, obviously :P

[scottpaladin]

I've seen a lot of "Muppet Princes Bride" discussion and I feel like it fundamentally misunderstands how best to utilize the muppets. Our felted friends are, by their very nature, extremely tongue-in-cheek. They are a parody incarnate. And thus the best possible target for a muppet version is a story that is self-serious, earnest, and in need of the relief from itself.

Dude, The Princess Bride is already a parody of the swashbuckling romance genre. It doesn't need the muppets to parody it; it's already got all the comic relief and wit and sarcasm and winking at the audience you could want. The muppets poke loving fun at the story they tell and you just can't make fun of a clown. What are you going to do, point out how big his shoes are?

You want a proper target for the muppets? Shelley's Frankenstein, Stoker's Dracula, Melville's Moby-Dick, Hugo's Les Miserables. Properties where their seriousness makes them hard for younger, or more casual audiences, to digest. That's were you need Gonzo and Rizzo to hold your hand and crack jokes at the narrative and point out the themes a little and make it all fun enough that you can get it.

Fuck man, Twilight is a better target for the muppets than TPB. Can you imagine? Kermit the frog stepping into the sunlight and being like "this is the felt of a killer".

[thenightling]

I love classic monster mash ups

Something that seems to be making a slight comeback in pop culture in the wake of superhero fatigue is monster mashups. I love monster mashups. Going back to the original Universal monster movies with House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, and Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein I have loved crossovers that allow different monster characters to co-exist, particularly the classics such as Dracula, Wolfman, and Frankenstein's Monster. Recently Asylum made their own called Monster Mash, which was cheesy yet fun. And now Universal Studios has made a deal with Mattel for a high budget Monster High theatrical movie (not to be confused with the TV musicals from Nickelodeon or the direct to video animated movies). The show Wednesday puts Wednesday Addams in a school that is mostly inhabited by factions made up of gothic monsters. And there have been a few attempts to reboot The Munsters in recent years, including a new one in the works. I love that the Superhero shared universe fatigue has given way to the first major franchise crossover- classic monsters. Universal did this first back back in the 1930s and 40s and now it seems to be happening again. Here are some great monster mashups (Note, I'm doing humanoid monsters, no Kaiju. The list would be too long.) House of Frankenstein House of Dracula Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein Monster Squad Legion of Monsters (comics) House of Frankenstein (1997 version) Drac Pack (animated series) Gravedale high (animated series) Scooby Doo and the Ghoul School (animated movie) Monster High (various incarnations) (children of the classic monsters)

Being Human (UK version is best. Features vampires, werewolves, and ghosts) Tru Blood (Features Vampires, were-people, ghosts, skinwalkers, and faeries) Hotel Transylvania (Four movies and an animated series.) Wednesday (Netflix series) The Munsters (Various incarnations) Monster Mash (Asylum movie)

[twistedtummies2]

Top 10 Spirits of Chaos

Chaos is one of the most unusual concepts in the universe. It’s a difficult thing to try and understand and approach. Generally speaking, most people don’t like chaos in their lives: human beings rely on a sense of order and structure, and we typically try our best to get along harmoniously, if only for our own senses of self-preservation. We want things to go the way we plan, and we want things to work the way they should. Yet for as much as we try to fight against chaos, there are also times we feel the need to embrace it: the thrill of exploration, the joys of creativity, and the urge for celebration, many would argue, all come from our inner chaotic elements. Even science can show the fine line between these two ideals: science is a study all about finding a sense of order and understanding in the universe, but for all the study one can do, I think even the most ardent scientists will admit that there are just some things you can never properly explain. And even if you CAN, not everyone will ACCEPT that explanation, because we humans are always fascinated by the unknown and the fantastical. In fiction, just as there have been personifications of other ephemeral concepts or ideals - such as death, light, or various elementals - chaos, too, has been personified on numerous occasions. I’m not talking about characters such as the Joker, who are “Agents of Chaos,” nor am I talking about different alignments, such as “Chaotic Evil” or “Chaotic Good.” I’m talking about chaos ITSELF, personified in a character: tricksters and villains with incredible powers who exist for the sole purpose of sowing the seeds of mayhem and anarchy, with little rhyme or reason beyond that. I’ve always found such characters and creatures to be particularly fascinating, so I decided it was time to give a shout-out to some of my favorite interpretations of this concept. From the wild and the wacky to the purely destructive and wicked, these are My Top 10 Spirits of Chaos!

10. Chaos, from Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow.

Like I said before, we humans generally don’t like chaos in our organized lives, whatever we perceive that as being. As a result, it’s fairly common that chaos is depicted as an antagonistic presence. (In fact, I think almost every character on this list is or was at one point an antagonist in their respective source material.) Not all versions of chaos are outright EVIL, mind you…but this one certainly is. In “Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow,” our hero - a teenaged lad named Soma Cruz - discovers he is the reincarnation of Count Dracula himself. Many many moons before the story of the game, Dracula made a bargain with the Devil, which gave him the power to control and manipulate chaos. As a result, Chaos itself now seeks to turn Soma into Dracula proper, and use him to bring about the end of the world. The final boss of the game has Soma facing against Chaos incarnate, which first appears as a trio of strange statues, before revealing its true form, which is an abstract array of demon-like…THINGS, surrounding a black Sun. Chaos doesn’t have much actual personality in the game; it’s more of a force of nature than a proper character. However, when I think of the idea of a chaotic entity, this is one of the first things that comes to my head, so I felt it was deserving of placement, all the same.

9. Majora, from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.

I’ve never actually played “Majora’s Mask,” but I do know the game fairly well, from a sort of layman’s standpoint. The title, of course, comes from the main villain of the game: a mysterious entity known as Majora, who represents chaos and destruction incarnate. Possessing the mind and body of the Skull Kid, through a mask that contains their spirit, Majora uses his power to try and destroy the land of Termina, by drawing the Moon closer and closer to the surface of the world. The heroic Link thus goes on a quest to stop Majora and save Termina, before time runs out. Majora is a thoroughly motiveless villain, with a mercurial personality: a childishly amoral creature who literally creates worlds just so they can blow them up. It seeks to destroy and wreak havoc simply because that’s what it DOES, and its forms of trickery range from the relatively harmless and silly to the genuinely terrifying and cruel. A representation of primal madness, with multiple forms to do battle with, Majora’s origins are as unfathomable as its purposeless villainy. That, in a nutshell, is what makes this nefarious trickster so iconically creepy.

8. Dormammu, from Marvel.

Marvel is home to a LOT of characters who could, in some fashion or another, be seen as representatives of Chaos. Few such characters, however, are quite as powerful or ruthlessly destructive as the mighty Dormammu. The arch-enemy of Doctor Strange, Dormammu is one of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel canon: the overlord of the Dark Dimension, he has been referred to as the Great Enigma, the Dread One, the Lord of Darkness…and, yes, the Lord of Chaos. Dormammu was once a being of pure energy, who was banished to the Dark Dimension: a place where the laws of physics do not naturally function, and where mortals experience Hellish torment untold. Over time, this entity of chaotic evil assumed a corporeal form, and found a way to harness the power of the Dark Dimension. He thus made it his own kingdom in the universe. Dormammu’s ultimate goal is to conquer all worlds and make them part of his Dark Dimension, one by one, till only chaos is left. While he’s probably most famous now for his meme-worthy appearance in the MCU, Dormammu has appeared in various Marvel properties - from TV shows to video games - not to mention a great number of comics. He is one of the most unpredictably evil villains in the Marvel universe, as he is just as capable of conjuring up long-running schemes as he is impulsively destroying for the sheer sake of it. When you combine that unpredictability with incredible mystical and cosmic power, it’s no surprise he’s widely regarded as one of the most diabolical characters in supervillain history.

7. Chaos, from Aladdin.

Voiced by Matt Frewer (who actually has played a few trickster figures, including another character on this list), this incarnation of Chaos only made a single appearance in the Disney animated series “Aladdin,” a spin-off of the popular film of the same title. But while Chaos only had that one episode, many fans agree it’s one of the best and most memorable episodes of the show. Inspired by the Cheshire Cat, Chaos is a winged sphinx-like creature who is said to have “more magic in one little whisker than a palace full of genies.” It’s his level of power that makes Chaos so memorable, since, at first glance, he seems harmless: he’s small, silly, even kind of cuddly-looking. The problem is that Chaos has a temper, and when someone rubs him the wrong way, things can get nasty real fast; not even Mirage, an entity of pure evil, dares to risk making Chaos mad. On that note, while the past few characters have all been outright villains who represent evil and destruction as much as chaos itself…Chaos in “Aladdin” is different. He’s not evil, he’s just…chaotic! While he can be dangerous, he’s not necessarily out looking to deliberately harm anybody: he just doesn’t like things getting too repetitive or predictable, so he does whatever he feels is necessary to stir things up and have some fun. The issue is that what he finds “fun” isn’t necessarily always fun for everyone else, and he gets bored and/or cranky quite easily. You’re never quite sure where you stand with him, and the twist ending about his true motives in the story only adds to the uncertainty. It’s a shame he never showed up again, but I guess when your entire being revolves around not repeating the same game twice, maybe that’s the only fitting case.

6. Puck, from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I debated whether or not Puck - a.k.a. Robin Goodfellow - really earned placement on this list or not…I didn’t debate LONG, mind you, but I DID debate it. Easily one of the most iconic tricksters in both theatre and literature, Puck is, I would argue, the prototype for characters like Chaos and a few others who have yet to appear on this list: powerful troublemakers who aren’t necessarily evil, but delight in causing mischief with their skills and abilities, and don’t seem to mind much even when things go wrong. In Shakespeare’s classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Puck is the jester of the fairy king, Oberon; while Oberon can be a bit of a prankster himself, Puck seems to take particularly relish in playing tricks on both mortals and fellow fairfolk alike. It doesn’t matter who it is; the Fairy Queen, a human nobleman, a dimwitted peasant…Puck will do just about anything to anybody for the sheer pleasure of it. He even has a monologue where he talks about some of his favorite ways to play pranks on mortals, and some of the things he describes (such as changing shape) sound very much like the sorts of things later chaotic tricksters would pull off with delight. While he’s never outright identified as an ACTUAL spirit of pure chaos, that’s certainly the role he fulfills; there’s a reason characters like Chaos can be described “Puckish.” So, even if it is a slight stretch, I still think he counts for this list.

5. Eris the Goddess of Chaos, from Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. This is the last pure evil Spirit of Chaos on the list. Eris - based on the Greek Goddess of the same name - is the main antagonist of the Dreamworks picture “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.” Voiced by Catwoman herself, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eris is one of the most beloved villains in the Dreamworks catalogue: her whole existence revolves around causing trouble for the sheer sake of it, and anytime one plan goes awry, she always has another to back it up. Her greatest goal is seeing the entire world reduced to a chaotic wasteland, similar to her home realm of Tartarus. In the movie, she creates an elaborate scheme to steal the Book of Peace, and get the faithful Prince Proteus killed. If her dusky personality and crafty mind don’t make her an appealing villain, though, the animation on the character definitely will. Seriously, the animation on Eris is some of the most breathtaking I’ve seen in ANY animated motion picture: she’s a being seemingly made of smoke, and the way she MOVES, the way she changes her shape and size, and everything else that goes with it all just makes her so enthralling to see in action. Combine that with Pfeiffer’s glorious vocal performance, and she steals the whole show from top to bottom. This is one of my favorite Dreamworks pictures, and a big part of why is just because of Eris. There have, admittedly, been a couple of different portrayals of this strange and sinister Goddess over the years, but my guess is that when most people think of the Mistress of Chaos, this is the version they think of first…well, that or “Billy & Mandy,” but that’s another story.

4. The Cat in the Hat, from Dr. Seuss.

Much like Puck, most versions of the Cat don’t outright REFER to him as a spirit of chaos, but it is made clear that’s essentially what he IS. In the original books, he has a habit of appearing and disappearing at random, and seems to be able to do things that defy the laws of even Seussian physics and logic. Later adaptations and reimaginings of the character would continue this trend and expand on it: in “The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss,” the Cat is a seemingly omniscient figure who occasionally pops into the stories to create the conflict. “In Search of Dr. Seuss” features Matt Frewer as a mysterious Cat that others seem to fear for his power and mischief, but is generally friendly. By far my favorite example is “Seussical,” where the Cat outright IS a spirit of chaos, who acts as the main antagonist of the story by generating all sorts of problems, which the heroes then have to solve and get through. I’ll even throw the God-awful Mike Myers movie a bone (and you have no idea how SICK I feel TYPING those words), by saying even they did some interesting stuff with the concept, by giving the Cat his own chaotic pocket universe and playing with the concept of anarchy he represents in some unique ways. For everything the film did horribly, HORRIBLY wrong (which is…99% of every FRAME in that abhorrent disgrace of a motion picture), it at least understood that much about the Cat and found a way to toy with it. However, while our previous pick, Eris, is one of the most evil incarnations of this concept, I would say the Cat is the closest thing on this entire list to being a good guy: a consistent element with most versions of the character is that, no matter how chaotic he may be, he’s not by any means a villainous character. In fact, he’s an example of a character who uses chaos to teach a lesson: most stories with the Cat have him causing trouble of some sort or another, but he also always makes sure things turn out right in the end. Even his catchphrase seems to indicate this: “It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how!” For everything that goes wrong when the Cat appears, you also know it will turn out alright in the end. Chaos isn’t evil, it’s just hard to control, and that’s the best description of the Cat in the Hat one can ever offer. 

3. Mr. Mxyzptlk, from DC.

One of my absolute favorite Superman characters, Mr. Mxyzptlk has been a thorn in the Man of Steel’s side almost as long as Lex Luthor (though not quite as long as two other tricky Super-Rogues, the Prankster and Toyman). A resident of the mysterious and cartoonish 5th Dimension - sometimes outright touted to be the God of Chaos (not kidding, look it up) - Mxy is a being of pure magic, and the source of many famous fables and fairy-tales. Stories of imps, leprechauns, and troublemaking genies, according to him, all stemmed from his long history of pranking people on Earth just because…well, why not? While massively powerful and usually an antagonist of the Man of Steel, Mr. Mxyzptlk isn’t necessarily an EVIL character. Some versions make him nastier or nicer depending on the needs of the creators, but even a lot of the meaner versions of Mxy make it clear that, before anything else, he’s a guy who just wants to have fun. Sometimes the ways he seeks thrills can be dangerous, sometimes they can be thoroughly harmless, but they are ALWAYS entertaining to see. He also makes for a great opponent for Superman, because he’s one of the few Superman enemies who is actually more powerful than the Last Son of Krypton will ever be: his near-omnipotent magical capabilities make him a force to be reckoned with, as he can go from just making someone slip on a banana peel to creating world cataclysms literally with the wink of an eye. Superman has to use his wits to outfox the wily Mxyzptlk, usually by making him say his name backwards, which banishes the little rascal back to the 5th Dimension for about three months. You can be sure, however, that once those three months are up, Mxy will be back in business. The character has been so popular, he’s made it into nearly every form of Superman media there is, outside of motion pictures, and various other comic book characters - such as Batman’s Bat-Mite, and the Impossible Man over at Marvel - are essentially copycats of the same concept. Mxy came first, though, and has been infinitely more popular than any later versions: when I think of hyper-powerful tricksters and spirits of chaos, this dandy gremlin is one of the first I imagine. 

2. The Cheshire Cat, from Alice in Wonderland.

In the original book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” the Cheshire Cat is an enigmatic character. He’s actually one of the more helpful and friendly figures Alice meets on her journey: he’s never rude to her, doesn’t do anything to harm her, and even gives her advice. HOWEVER, he seems to enjoy terrorizing and causing trouble for the King and Queen, doesn’t seem bothered by the lunacy of the Duchess’ house, outright claims to be insane (telling Alice, famously, “We’re All Mad Here”), and Alice admits to being a bit scared of him, mostly due to his “VERY long claws and a great many teeth.” As a result, while he SEEMS generally friendly, there’s this decidedly dangerous edge to him that makes him difficult to pin down. Later adaptations and reinterpretations of the Cheshire Cat have REALLY played with this idea: I think the version that really popularized it most, though, and brought the concept to a zenith would be Disney. In the Disney version, the Cat is a seemingly omniscient, eternally perplexing character who gets Alice into trouble just as often as he helps her out. He gives her directions, and she DOES eventually get home by FOLLOWING these directions, but it’s an extremely roundabout manner of working. It’s also worth pointing out that his directions aren’t necessarily the safest routes: going to the Mad Hatter and the March Hare eventually leads to Alice being hopelessly lost, and visiting the Queen - combined with all the tricks the Cheshire Cat pulls while there - nearly gets her KILLED. This is the Cat that most people recognize nowadays: some versions are nicer or nastier, but most of the best versions of the Cheshire Cat play with this sort of chaotic quality to the character, which was really only hinted at in the books. Again, like Puck and the Cat in the Hat, the Cat is never outright referred to as a Spirit of Chaos in the books OR the Disney movie, but that is essentially the role he plays, and other interpretations have made that element more or less overt. I frequently refer to characters who play this kind of trickster role as “Cheshire-Cat-esque,” and that fact, alone, is all this big kitty needs to get second place.

1. Discord, from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic AND Q, from Star Trek.

I decided to lump these two together in first place because a.) both are played by the same actor, and b.) it’s kind of hard to talk about one without discussing the other, in my mind. The aforementioned actor in question is John DeLancie; Q was the first of these tricksters he would portray, appearing as a major recurring antagonist in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Q is the member of a race of all-powerful, all-seeing beings simply referred to as “The Q Continuum.” He starts off the show as an out-and-out villain, who uses his powers to play deadly games with the crew of the Enterprise and put them through various trials. However, things changed in the episode “Deja Q,” where Q is stripped of his powers and forced to live a human life. His experiences cause him to change his ways once his powers are restored, and he becomes less of a true villain and more of a mischief-making antagonist whose attempts to help out tend to lead to conflict. Q may not LITERALLY be a Spirit of Chaos, in the truest sense, but at the same time…he actually kind of is: his powers are stripped BECAUSE he causes chaos, and he is even referred to at one point as “next to kin of Chaos.” That sounds like qualifying evidence to me! Discord in “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” is directly inspired by Q, and has a similar setup: he starts off the show as a nigh-omnipotent villain, and it’s implied throughout the series he can be a LOT more dangerous than he often seems. However, in the episode “Keep Calm and Flutter On,” he forms a friendship with one of the main characters, and this causes him to change his ways; while he remains a constant presence, and usually an antagonistic one, he goes from a pure evil monster to more of a playful trickster. DeLancie plays both characters brilliantly, each having decided similarities but also some definite differences (I would say Q is a bit more “slick” than Discord, in several ways), and when I think of chaotic entities, I usually find these two are the first ones I imagine. And, alongside Puck and the Cheshire Cat, they’re probably the most quintessential examples of the idea I can use when talking to people. It’s hard for me to say which I like more, to be honest: I prefer “Star Trek” overall, and Q is my favorite character there. However, I actually think Discord is probably my favorite visual representation of a “God of Chaos” I’ve ever seen, and while I’m not a huge fan of the show he’s from, I’ve watched and enjoyed every single episode he appears in, just about. So, yeah…considering they’re played by the same person, and considering DeLancie’s experience with these two has actually led to him playing a few other somewhat similar characters over the years (such as Mephistopheles), I can’t think of a better option than to name both Discord and Q as My Favorite Spirits of Chaos. “What fun is there in making sense?” ;)

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

Havik, from Mortal Kombat. (Not sure if he really counts, which is why he’s not on the list.)

The Black Guardian, from Doctor Who.

Bezel, from Chikn Nuggit (Webtoons).

Azathoth, from the Cthulhu Mythos.

[luna-loner]

🎃 A Happy Halloween With The Big Five 🎃

Gakushuu

Much to everyone's surprise, Gakushuu actually likes Halloween. Name a better occassion to show off his splendid sewing skills.

Him and Yukiko decide to dress up as a vampire couple.

They design the costumes by themselves. Gakushuu, being the perfectionist that he is, obsesses over the smallest of details! It is imperative his costume captures his elusiveness and charisma. He's gotta look stylish, too!

He even uses gel to smooth back his hair, giving himself the classic Dracula look. This is possibly the first time the Big Five have seen him in a different hairstyle. They know how paranoid he is about anything happening to his hair; did Yukiko somehow convince him to do it?

Since he's naturally pale, there's no need to powder his skin. Plus, he's confident he'll look horrendous with it anyway.

Of course, he's not forgetting the fangs. Those are crucial!

His cape barely reaches his ankles so he doesn't have to worry about it getting dirty. However, he has to lift it up whenever he sits down.

This perfectionist idiot spends a good deal of the party worrying about his damn costume that his date and friends have to constantly stop him.

Seo and Araki

These two also decided on a common theme every Halloween. It's a best friend thing.

For this year, it's superheros. They're going as Batman and Superman.

Araki proposes more original idea: How about they attend as Bruce Wayne (Seo) and Clark Kent (Araki), and they pick the DCAU incarnations since they're very popular? Seo likes it and agrees.

Except...people keep asking who they're supposed to be. He's lost the number of times he's yell, "Bruce Wayne! Bruce. Frickin'. Wayne!!"

Araki isn't as bothered because he's too busy taking a picture of the lovey-dovey vampire couple every 2 minutes. Makes you wonder if he dressed up as a reporter just to bring his camera.

He doesn't care if people don't know who hr's supposed to be. He just grins and opens his shirt tp show them the Superman T-shirt underneath.

Not that he has to do it often, thanks to his "Clark Kent" name tag. His camera has a DIY Daily Planet sticker.

Seo is never listening to Araki again.

Seo tries to put on a playboy millionaire act so people can get a damn clue on who he's supposed to be, but they think he's Tony Stark and tell him he got the costume wrong.

Ren

Prince Charming

No one's surprised, for as long as the Big Five have known Ren, he's mostly dressed as handsome male characters that are popular with the ladies.

His costume is store-bought, so no effort on Ren's part. Gakushuu is judgemental.

For most part, they leave him with his Cinderallas and Snow Whites.

Then he spots the evil witch herself, Hazama and runs. Not a very charming thing to do, but Ren is not dying on Halloween! Never!

Koyama

Being a huge Fantasy fan, Koyama decides to be a wizad.

He too put a lot of effort in his costume. Gakushuu is pleased to see someone else so dedicated, and Yukiko has to stop him from going full critic mode.

His costume has classical and modern elements and gets a lot of attention from everyone, especially girls. (No, Ren is not jealous. So what if half his princess harem left him to gush over the mysterious, terrifyingly hot wizard?)

Even Aarki's taking pictures of him like crazy!

Out of everyone, Koyama has the most fun at this party. Who knew having a civil conversation with people was more fun than yelling and looking down on them? Huh...

When some people ask about book recommendations, he won't shut up! This boy is a self-certified, self-proclaimed Fantasy encylopedia.

Ren wonders if Koyama, with his magic and fantasy obsession, can protect him from you-know-who. Before he can ask, he's shocked to find his supposed savior happily chatting with Hazama!

Bonus: Karma

By pure coincidence, which Gakushuu is highly skeptical of, we have another vampire.

It looks like Karma's barely put an effort into his costume. Guy just showed up with ripped jeans and a black T-shirt, plus some piercings. The only indication that he's a vampire are his fangs. This is your modern day blood-sucking bad boy.

And Gakushuu, never has he been offended in his life! This minimalistic style is an insult to the long (and unnecessary) hours he's spent on his own costume! What was Akabane thinking? Has he no shame?!

So Gakushuu spends a good hour or so critiquing and nitpicking Karma's so-called costume. It leads to one banter after another, until the two banter over every little thing. They're even competing over who's the better Dracula.

Gakushuu thinks he's the winner by defualt because unlike his uncultured rival, he's actually read the book!

Is Karma going to give up? No, he's going to imitate every popular Dracula incarnation in the media.

Yukiko sits a few steps away, reading Koyama's spell book out of boredem.

She later drags her boyfriend away by the cape after politely threatening to have Hazama curse Karma if he tries annoying Gakushuu again.

Don't mess with an angry vampire lady and her date, Karma.

[fearsmagazine]

RENFIELD - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures

SYNOPSIS:  Renfield is the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula. Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after about 100 years of servitude, Renfield has found a new spark and is ready to see if there is a life beyond the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. As part of a support group he is trying to figure out how to end his codependency.

REVIEW: Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ridley take on the age old story of master and servant as they take Stoker’s “Dracula,” shift it 100 years into our time, and deliver a hilarious gorefest that hits all the right notes, in the tradition of “Evil Dead 2” or “Shaun of the Dead.” It largely falls on the shoulders of writer Ryan Ridley whose name might be familiar to you as a writer on the “Rick & Morty” series.

The script is fantastic. It's loaded with a great plot, fun jokes and tons of visual gags. While it is Renfield’s story, Dracula gets his fair share of screen time. The screenplay lays the groundwork for what’s transpired for all those unfamiliar to the story, and adds some nice touches for those diehard Universal Monster fans. After that, all best are off as this thrill ride is balanced with a character arc that serves up an instant horror classic.

In terms of cast, Hoult and Cage are great together, but Cage steals the show. Both deliver performances of a lifetime, but Cage is on fire. His Dracula is comparable to Campbell’s Ash in the “Evil Dead” franchise, and earns its place in the catacombs of horror film history. Awkwafina and Ben Schwartz have a bunch of memorable screen moments, but Holt and Cage get more screen time and totally rock the film. The fantastic thing is that the entire cast is channeling the feel of the film that makes it a fantastic ride.

The production values are dazzling. Dracula has a wardrobe to rival Cher and it pays homage to all the incarnations of the count. I loved Dracula’s coffin design, the lair of the gangsters, Dracula’s lair and the restaurant where Renfield encounters the Lobo gang. The film is loaded with practical effects that deliver all the delightful gore. The visual effects enhance and complement them seamlessly and just ramps up the energy of the film. RENFIELD is simply a feast for the eyes.

Nicely wrapping all this up is a contemporary soundtrack and a sensational score by Marco Beltrami. The best way to describe it is that it adds a baseline to the film. It underscores the action and adds to the emotional intensity to the film.

Universal has been struggling to revitalize their monster franchise for a contemporary audience. They’ve had some okay films, such as 2014’s “Dracula Untold,” and some misses like 2017’s “The Mummy,” with Tom Cruise. Kirkman, Ridley, McKay, Cage and Holt get it and come together to deliver, I believe, an unsurpassable genre fan pleaser and I think a real crowd pleaser. If the fans are lured to the theaters this could be the shot to reinvigorate the Universal Monster Franchise. If there is a sequel, it’s going to need to be a reteaming of those in front and behind the camera. Otherwise, they could easily do a new film in a similar theme called “Igor!” On my radar to see again.

CAST: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Adrian Martinez. CREW: Director/Producer - Chris McKay; Story/Producer - Robert Kirkman; Screenplay - Ryan Ridley; Producers - Bryan Furst & Sean Furst; Cinematographer - Mitchell Amundsen; Score - Marco Beltrami; Editors - Ryan Folsey, Giancarlo Ganziano and Mako Kamitsuna; Production Designers- Julie Berghoff & Alec Hammond; Costume Designer - Lisa Lovaas; Special Effects Supervisor - Matt Kutcher; Special Makeup Effects Artists - Steve Costanza, Dan Crawley, Alex Rondon and Brian Sipe; Visual Effects Supervisor - Andrew Byrne; Visual Effects Companies - Crafty Apes, Skulley Effects, ILM and Pixel Magic. OFFICIAL: www.renfieldmovie.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/renfieldmovie TWITTER: www.twitter.com/renfieldmovie TRAILER: https://youtu.be/qZjAPG9uY3c RELEASE DATE: In theaters April 14th, 2023

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[wraith-of-thiodolf]

What's the show about and why don't you like it?

I'm glad she's feeling better

im glad too c:

its about vampires. based loosely on the games. so my major points of contention:

one of the villains has pink hair and wearing those gods damned hoof shoes like shes lady gaga. this is set during the french revolution and she looks like a tumblr oc

she apparently she was an egyptian priestess. wrong ethnicity

too much pro revolution rhetoric about france. because of course the viewer is supposed to forget about how nightmarish that all was. reign of terror and all that

there is a ex slave from haiti as a main character. video game version noticeably not haitian. she is full of revolutionary rhetoric and hatred of the monarchy. likewise the fist in the air was a little too spot on

trite lazy anti christian rhetoric

nobles, slavers, and the church are also all conveniently in league with the vampires

there is a character this supposedly is an opera singer. he sings poorly and frequently

there is an aztec vampire talking about how the christians came and killed his people in the thousands. an aztec never has the moral high-ground. weve also again conveniently forgotten the natives that allied against the aztecs

in the first castlevania series dracula is mad at the world and wants to kill all humans in revenge for his wife. other vampires point out that this means no food and starvation. in nocturne the grand plan is to make an eternal night. which is just an overcomplicated version of the same but no-one points out the obvious

the main villain (elizabeth bathory) is also supposedly an egyptian and is the incarnation of sekhmet. who i seem to recall a loyal defender of the sun but whatever

her design is questionable at best

the 'night creatures' were in the original shew were created by pulling random souls from hell into corpses. now apparently they keep their own souls. this is purely for some drama as the singing character is an ally that gets made into a night creature. who sings

probably more but those are the standouts

[vintage1981]

Dracula Studio Hammer Films Acquired by Renowned British Theater Mogul John Gore

Iconic British horror label Hammer Films and Studios has been acquired by renowned British theater producer John Gore.

Gore, a 20-time Tony, Emmy and Olivier-winning entertainment producer, is known for his live theater company the John Gore Organization, which owns Broadway.com and Broadway Across America – a leading presenter, distributor and marketer of Broadway theater worldwide. The company was one of the producers of three of 2022’s big Tony winners: “A Strange Loop” (best musical), “The Lehman Trilogy” (best play) and “Company” (best revival). Gore is listed in Variety500 – an index of the 500 most influential business leaders shaping the global media industry.

Gore will lead a new team as chair and CEO.

Founded in 1934, Hammer Films is synonymous with horror, after defining the genre in Britain with classics such as “Dracula” (1958) “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957) and “The Mummy” (1959), which made stars of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing while spawning numerous sequels successful across the globe. It also produced such classics as “One Million Years B.C.” (1966), starring Raquel Welch, and “She” (1965), starring Ursula Andress. It has a vast library of content including “The Woman in Black” (2012), “Let Me In” (2010), “The Abominable Snowman” (1957) and “The Quatermass Xperiment” (1953).

In 2021, the U.K.’s Network Distributing signed a deal with Hammer Films to form Hammer Studios Ltd. After the death of managing director Tim Beddows in 2022, Network was liquidated.

Under Gore’s management, the plan is to invest significantly in Hammer Films to breathe new life into the studio, blending the nostalgic charm of Hammer with modern cinematic style and innovation, while preserving its heritage and library. A new slate of films and projects will be unveiled imminently.

The first film of the new incarnation of the studio to be released is B Good Picture Company’s “Doctor Jekyll,” starring Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers and directed by Joe Stephenson. It is due for a theatrical release later this year.

Gore said: “Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve been enchanted by the magic of Hammer Films. Its stories, its characters and its unique place in British heritage and cinema have been a source of inspiration and wonder. Today, as I stand at the helm of this iconic studio, my commitment is twofold: to celebrate and preserve the unmatched legacy of Hammer and to usher in a new era of storytelling that captivates audiences worldwide. With significant investment and a fresh creative vision, we will ensure that the spirit of Hammer not only endures but thrives in the modern age.”

[beevean]

Don't tell Isaac about the little girl who defeated Dracula with the help of birds and animals. And about the new mortal incarnation of His Lord...

No, it's best if we don't :)

It's funny to imagine Isaac loving and worshipping Dracula, but seething with hatred for Mathias and Soma. "No! You're not my real Lord! You're nothing but a bunch of fakers! Get away from me!"

(Soma be like "is this... the kind of company I enjoyed in my past life...?")

[docrotten]

LOVE AT FIRST BITE (1979) – Episode 184 – Decades Of Horror 1970s

“What was that maniac drinking? Tastes like the Volga river at low tide!” Muddy water turned to wine? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out the Tanned One as the undead Count in Love at First Bite (1979).

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 184 – Love at First Bite (1979)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

When the Communist regime ejects the Count from his ancestral home, he and Renfield go in search of the current incarnation of Dracula’s true love, a fashion model living in New York City. The Count finds it difficult to adjust to life in the Big Apple in the late 1970s, but true love triumphs in the end.

  Director: Stan Dragoti

Writers: Robert Kaufman (screenplay); Mark Gindes (story); Bram Stoker (character Dracula) 

Selected cast:

George Hamilton as Count Vladimir Dracula

Susan Saint James as Cindy Sondheim

Richard Benjamin as Dr. Jeffrey Rosenberg/Van Helsing

Dick Shawn as Lieutenant Ferguson NYPD

Arte Johnson as Renfield

Ronnie Schell as Guy in Elevator

Isabel Sanford as Judge R. Thomas

Sherman Hemsley as Reverend Mike

Barry Gordon as Flashlight Vendor

Bob Basso as T.V. Repairman

Bryan O’Byrne as Priest

Ralph Manza as Limo Driver

Michael Pataki as Mobster

Susan Tolsky as Model Agent

Join Doc, Jeff, Bill, and Chad as they go disco dancing with George Hamilton’s Count Dracula as they review Love at First Bite (1979). For a time, this comedic take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula was the highest-grossing independent film of all time. But, it is actually… funny and the Grue-Crew are here to share their thoughts. If nothing else, it has a great cast. Alongside Hamilton are Susan Saint James, Richard Benjamin, Arte Johnson (doing his best Dwight Frye!), and Dick Shawn. Enjoy!

At the time of this writing, Love at First Bite is available to stream from YouTube and on a Scream Factory Blu-ray disc as a double feature with Once Bitten (1985).

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next episode, chosen by Jeff, will be Death Race 2000 (1975) starring David Carradine, Simone Griffeth, Sylvester Stallone, Mary Woronov, and Martin Kove. Roger Corman is the producer so you know stuff is gonna ‘splode.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Check out this episode!

[vampirezogar]

Gabriel Van Helsing and Count Vladislaus III Dracula were in love.

Van Helsing 2004

Look at my queer blorbos.

They definitely knew each other in the 1400's and probably fought in the same battles just going by what Dracula says about their shared past. They've likely discussed Gabriel's ptsd symptoms, since Dracula knows about his nightmares. But in the final battle, Dracula explains that the person who murdered him in 1462 was Gabriel himself. After his death, Dracula makes a covenant with the devil to give him new life, and instead of just killing him a second time, Gabriel takes Dracula's signet ring and conveniently has his memories erased, "as punishment for past sins," according to the cardinal.

Maybe Gabriel was just upset that he cursed the Valerious bloodline by accidentally creating a vampire out of Valerious the elder's son, so he took the ring as a memento. But why would the literal human incarnation of the archangel Gabriel, left hand of God, be struck with amnesia about if he was not particularly personally fucked up about it?

Also, does Dracula even know that he can only be killed by a werewolf? He keeps a cure for lycanthropy in his castle, but he is entirely unthreatened by Velkan Valerious' transformation into one, and that dude is sworn to defeat Dracula in order to let his entire ancestry into heaven. But when Dracula sees Gabriel transform? He's upset about it at first, saying, "this cannot be." But he quickly starts trying to get Gabriel on his side. "We are part of the same great game, Gabriel," he says. "We need not find ourselves on opposite sides of the board! You have been used, as have I. But I escaped, so can you! Don't you understand? We could be friends. Partners! Brothers in arms!"

If Dracula was keeping the cure as a safety measure, he would have dipped to go get it as soon as Gabriel's transformation began, unless of course the sight of his Hugh Jackman lookin amnesiac gay lover undergoing a painful physical transformation into a very large and sexy werewolf was emotionally effecting him.

His last words are, "don't be afraid, Gabriel. Don't be afraid. I shall give you back your life, your memory." Dracula isn't begging for his life. He's begging to have Gabriel back.

And why wouldn't he? His brides are effectively disposable to him. When the first of them, Marishka dies, he cries out her name dramatically, but tells the others not to worry because he can just replace her. Verona asks, "have you no heart?"

"No," he replies, "I have no heart. I feel no love, no joy, no sorrow. I am hollow." Then, for some reason, he adds, "and I will live... forever."

He doesn't care about them, and he knows he never will. They're as afraid of him as everyone else and he pleads with them not to be. They're not like him. They play at being alive still, but they're just... not. Igor and the Dwergi are the closest he has to actual companionship and they're, well, just kinda fucked up little guys? No, the best shot is animating his children who were born dead. Actually giving something life instead of killing them, like Victor Frankenstein did for his Monster. That's all he has left, it has to work.

Until he hears the steady heartbeat of a man who is not afraid of him. "Usually, when I approach, I can almost dance to the beat; strange that yours is so steady." But it isn't strange. It's familiar.

He knows Gabriel's heartbeat because Gabriel's heart knows him.