Lore describes vampires as ancient creatures, but did you know that they have only really been codified in the minds of humanity in recent history? Sure, vampiric creatures have indeed been staples in folklore for a very, very long time, but the version we understand today is quite young. Vampires quickly became a feared symbol in literature and in life; however, in comparatively little time, vampires have transformed from gnarly creatures of terror to “yassified” hotties. With their luminescent skin and alluring gazes, vampires are staple monsters within the horror genre. In this blog post, we’re going to explore where they came from, the state of vampires in the current literary landscape (HINT: you’re more likely to date one than be afraid of it), and where they’ll go from here.
What is Vampire Horror?
Vampire Horror is as simple as it sounds: It is any horror novel that features vampires in a predominant role. While modern audiences may be more familiar with the vampires of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight or Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, the originators of the genre were much more fearsome. Vampires emerged in the literary landscape during the vampire craze that raged through Serbia in the early 1700s. The original creatures of the night were less suave. They were commoners with a hefty blood lust and no “pretty privilege” as we would say today. However, it is notable that even in their earliest iterations, vampires were always written with heavy sexual undertones. With fear of the creatures so strong in the zeitgeist, vampire horror found a place among other notable Gothic works of the time.
For examples of some of the most prominent early examples of Vampire Horror, try reading classics like J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla or Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In their original versions, these stories framed vampires as true monsters—blood-sucking creatures that had no mental capacity beyond their next meal. Vampires in these stories were meant to be truly horrific, but it is this editor’s opinion that we have lost that terror in the modern vampiric concept. Modern authors of vampire horror have worked to humanize these creatures, showing that in many ways being turned on and terrified are really two sides of the same emotional coin. Vampires have also become a mainstay of the paranormal romance subgenre. Consider how vampires function in Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series. By virtue of being able to easily take someone’s life, the vampires of these books are quite scary, but that terror is often short-lived. Instead, vampires serve as creatures who provide both pleasure and panic.
The editors here at Snoozine love all styles of Vampire Horror, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eager for a return to the roots of the genre. Where do I want to see Vampire Horror go from here? I want to see the intelligence of modern vampires with the deadly bloodlust of their ancestors. Let’s put a little horror back into Vampire Horror.
What Are Common Tropes in Vampire Horror?
Distilling a subgenre with such a rich history into a handful of tropes is incredibly difficult—there are just so many! To make it easier on us all, let’s discuss the tropes we see the most often nowadays, and maybe a few that could use a resurrection.
- Love Is in the Air: Of all the ways that paranormal romance changed Vampire Horror, one that I appreciate is how it helped vampires transform from objects of abject eroticism into intelligent creatures capable of love. Vampires are no longer simple creatures that solely respond to their base instincts. While many aspects of humanity have been leeched away by immortality, the capacity for love is not one of them when this trope is in the game.
- Vampire Virus: Vampirism is often portrayed as something that is passed along like a contagion. Originally playing on the fears of tuberculosis and other contagious diseases, this trope has persisted in most vampire media even today. Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend is a great example of how this trope can be used in a unique way. If you’re considering how to pathologize vampirism, try giving it a few unique symptoms!
- The Thrall: In recent years, it seems like the concept of a vampiric thrall is more prominent in video games like Skyrim or television shows like What We Do in the Shadows. The definition may differ slightly depending on who you ask, but vampire thralls are humans who have drank vampire blood to gain powers in exchange for becoming loyal servants. This trope, which has been eclipsed by more romantic tropes, deserves a second life, even if it’s an undead one.
What’s so Great About Vampire Horror?
I’ve always loved the concept of vampirism. Vampires are technically immortal, but only if they continuously leech the life out of living people. To me, that creates space for us to question what true immortality is. And then we can ask ourselves again—is it really worth it? Does feeding on humans become nothing more than a simple hunt? A sport? Many vampire novels have attempted to answer this question, but I don’t feel that we’ve reached a consensus yet. There are so many ways to examine these questions by exploring vampirism as a medium. Beyond their roles as monsters, vampires can represent the lengths humans would go to survive. When does our quest for survival cross a line that cannot be uncrossed? If you’re eager to explore any of these questions, Vampire Horror is a good subgenre for you.
Why YOU Should Explore Vampire Horror
Are you thinking about injecting a bloodsucker into your story? First remember that vampires inherently drain life, not necessarily blood. Use your creativity to figure out what sources of life your vampire may steal from the living! Consider how this lines up against the thematic implications of your story. If you need help thinking of some big picture ideas to tackle with your creature of the night, here are a few ideas.
- Immortality: Personally, I’m obsessed with stories that explore immortality because they carry some pretty heavy philosophical questions. How would you respond to eternal life? Would you embrace hedonism or would you turn into a complete nihilist? Vampires tend to do one or the other, but there are so many different ways they could respond. If you’re writing about a vampire, see if you can reassign meaning to everlasting life.
- Infection: Vampirism is a disease at its core. One that alters a person irrevocably. How would you treat vampirism? Is it self-contained or is bloodlust so uncontrollable that the disease runs rampant? Even more, what happens when everyone gets it?
- Isolation: Many times the more morally conscious vampires will withdraw from society. Other times, those who wish to conceal their illicit affairs will sequester themselves and their prey away from any eyes that might try to stop them. Consider how isolation impacts your vampire. Do they love it or hate it? Is it self-imposed or a societal constraint?
Vampire Horror Book Recommendations
Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson is hands down one of the best books I have ever read, and I don’t say that lightly. This reframing of the traditional Dracula story through the lens of his first wife perfectly analyzes how love, abuse, and immortality are inextricably fused with vampirism. Be warned, there are numerous triggers listed on the front pages of this novel, so read it with caution if you are particularly vulnerable. If you’re willing to dive in, though, I hope you’ll come to love the very human experiences these monsters can have the way I did.
Horror books and I don’t really get along, but one of my favorite vampire horror games is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. In it, you play as Gabriel, a member of the Brotherhood of Light, who is searching for his wife’s soul after she was brutally murdered. If you love puzzles and platforming, this game is for you! Vampires are one of the main baddies you fight and if you enjoy the game enough, move on to Lords of Shadow 2 where you get to play as Dracula, who must fight and defeat Satan to find his eternal rest. You can currently find both of these games on the Xbox store and Steam, but if you have an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, then you can play them on those consoles, as well!
I realized I avoid books with vampires in them—especially the darker ones—probably because I have a VERY irrational fear of parasites. I did however love Carmilla (as Jessi mentioned earlier) and loved the webseries remake and the movie of it, very much. If you’ve already seen the movie and web series, just know that the book is darker. Much, much darker. However, if you’ve read a great vampire horror I’m all ears, eyes, and fangs.
Jessi already suggested a return to the darker elements of vampirism, and this is something I agree with completely. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice is an excellent place to start in this journey to the darker side of vampirism and the bloody impact of their existence. The characters in this book walk that line of base instinct and torment at the consequences of their actions, and they truly showcase elements of existential horror at what it means to live forever.