1897 – A theatre manager supplements his income writing sensationalist novels and changes horror writing – and later paranormal romance – forever. And we couldn’t be more grateful.
To celebrate in this, the spookiest month of the year, we’ve taken sixteen screen Draculas and ranked them against each other to determine the ultimate vampire question: who would you rather share a coffin with?
- Max Schreck – Nosferatu (1922) He may have set the screen for all vampires to come, but those sharp nails don’t look conducive to a bit of coffin cuddling.
- Udo Kier – Blood for Dracula (1974). He might have Andy Warhol’s approval, but this Dracula is unhealthily obsessed with virgins, and that’s just a little creepy.
image via dailydead
- Lon Chaney Jr – Son of Dracula (1943). The first Dracula to change into a bat on screen does earn him some cred, but the character being called Alucard (read it backwards) is just a bit too cute.
image via Blogspot
- Langley Kirkwood – Dracula 3000 (2004). Set in space, this Dracula should have been out of the world, but he’s upstaged by a fanged Coolio who is working against racial stereotypes and wooden dialogue.
image via ShamelessPile
- Leslie Nielsen – Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995). There’s definitely something to be said for vamp who can make us laugh, but when it comes to capes, other Dracula’s wore it better.
- John Carradine – House of Dracula (1945). We love the mustache, but tassles on the ties of his cape? It’s a bit much, Dracula. Less is more.
image via Classic Movie Review
- Bela Legosi – Dracula (1931). The man who brought Dracula from dirty to dapper and inspired every well cut suit that came after. Thank you, Mr Legosi. Thank you.
- Dominic Purcell – Blade: Trinity (2004). Full points for the sexy shaved head and deep U-neck. Points lost for the obnoxious name change. Drake? Really?
image via 8Ball
- Gerard Butler – Dracula 2000 (2000). Certainly one of the prettiest Draculas ever, but do we really want to hop into a coffin with a vampire with better hair than ours?
- Rudolf Martin – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000). He might be on the best TV show of all time (fight us!), but he does still owe Spike money and also told the world how to defeat vampires so he clearly can’t be trusted.
- Frank Langella – Dracula (1979). Langella once described Dracula as “a kind of doorway to sexual abandonment not possible with a mere mortal”. Tell us more…
image via aknextphase
- Marc Warren – Dracula (2006). A bit younger, a bit more broody, and apparently able to cure syphillis. This Dracula comes with hidden talents.
image via CineHouseUK
- Gary Oldman – Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). Make sure to clarify that you’re sharing with his younger incarnation. Make him utter I have crossed oceans of time to find you to you all night long.
- Gloria Holden – Dracula’s Daughter (1936). Not technically the Dracula, but a Dracula and makes it on to the list not just for her amazing eyebrows, but also because she played a lesbian on screen in the 30s, long before it was socially acceptable.
image via imdb
- Luke Evans – Dracula Untold (2014). The only Dracula who is technically still alive on the list, and there’s a lot to be said for a warm body. And cut cheekbones. And unruly hair. A five o’clock shadow. Piercing blue eyes. Muscles from sword fighting…
- Christopher lee – Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970). Suave. Debonair. A little bit cheeky. A little bit kinky. Sure, the 1960 and 70 Dracula movies are more cult favourites than haute cinema, but the organ music and flashing lightning just enhance our enjoyment. Add in the sublime Christopher Lee, and we’re sold – our necks are yours!
By Kate Cuthbert