Two Goths and a Coffin

Two Goths and a Coffin Pick Their Favorite Pieces of Vampire Media

With shows like Interview with the Vampire and What We Do in the Shadows captivating audiences and upcoming films like Nosferatu and Sinners set to release within the year, it feels like we’re in the midst of a vampire renaissance—and for good reason! Vampires continue to fascinate, thrill, and seduce us with their immortal mystique and allure, providing us a mirror to explore themes of morality, death, and otherness. Whether they’re of the statuesque, eternally beautiful variety or are weird, funky creatures of the night, our obsession with vampires and the horror they fill us with continues to intrigue us. 

With Halloween upon us, we’re excited to share our ultimate list of vampire media favorites—perfect for anyone looking to cozy up with a vampire this season.

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The Lost Boys (1987)

After moving to the small California town of Santa Clara, teenage brothers Michael and Sam find themselves at odds with the vampires that have been terrorizing the area for decades.

Jude: “This movie honestly has informed so much of my taste as an adult. The vibes, the clothes, the music, all of it was just so formative to baby Jude’s development as a goth. David is the reason I started wearing single-dangly earrings. I wanted to be him so bad.”

Ganja & Hess (1973)

In this experimental, arthouse film, anthropologist, Dr. Hess, develops a thirst for blood after being stabbed by a ceremonial blade. 

Amari: “I wish I could explain the feelings that this film conjures up for me. It’s a beautiful, stylish film with very ethereal, dreamy shots and a very intentional, loving depiction of Blackness through a vampiric lens. It feels poetic and you can feel Bill Gunn’s artistry and his intentions on creating something subversive to what white critics expected of him and we love him for that. Also, Marlene Clark ate up every single outfit!”

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Vampiric lovers, Adam and Eve, ponder their existence in the modern world that no longer has a place for them.

Jude: “One of the first arthouse films I ever watched as a teenager that changed the way I saw storytelling. Love how moody this film is and the soundtrack is insanely good.”

Blade (1998)

Blade, a half-vampire, half-human vampire hunter sets out to stop the immortal, vampire threat to humanity.

Amari: “This movie is just fun! The blood rave scene at the start of the film changed my life and stands as one of the coolest opening scenes. There’s a reason why this movie paved the way for the MCU and Blade will forever stand as one of the most iconic vampire movies.”

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines

Based on the tabletop roleplaying game, you play as an abandoned fledgling who gets caught up in the grimy politics of vampire society in LA.

Jude: “Another moody one! I love the grimy, angsty vibes of this game, it’s such a snapshot of that era of gothy media.”

Castlevania & Castlevania: Nocturne

Animated series based on the classic, popular video game. The first series follows Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard Tepes as they fight against Dracula and his demon forces. The second series, Nocturne, is set during the French Revolution following Richter Belmont, Maria Renard, and Annette as they try to prevent the rise of the Vampire Messiah. 

Amari: “Sometimes television or film adaptations of video games can go really poorly, but Castlevania made the characters feel full and kept the action moving. Isaac was a standout character for me in the first series, and I was so excited to see an Indigenous vampire in the second with Olrox! There’s a lot of great character design and I’m looking forward to the next season!”

Let the Right One In (2008)

Lonely social outcast, Oskar, finds companionship with the strange girl who lives next door, only to discover she’s a vampire.

Jude: “Child vampires are such a source of horror due to the inherent wrongness of that action but I love how empathetic the narrative is to Eli. The bond between her and Oskar formed through their shared status as outsiders is so rich.”

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

Short Description: The Girl, a lonely vampire,  haunts the streets of the Iranian ghost town, Bad City.

Amari: “I love the moody atmosphere and the black and white cinematography of this film and the way it works with this feeling of loneliness. It’s slow-moving, but it adds to the richness and I felt like I was being slowly courted by the film itself. Also, love a morally complex, vengeful vampire and a subversive role-reversal.”

AMC’s Interview with the Vampire

Based on The Vampire Chronicles series, the vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac reunites with journalist Daniel Molloy to recount his immortal life story.

Jude: “Obviously. It’s one of the best-written shows in general, let alone vampire shows. Being able to see complex vampires of color after spending my entire life feeling simultaneously drawn to and excluded from the genre has made this show so special to me. I love it dearly and these characters hold such a special place in my heart.”

Amari: “This show feels extremely personal, giving me the opportunity to see two full, complex, queer Black vampires portrayed on screen. Additionally, it has some of the best episodes of television ever supported by brilliant acting, costuming, and intentional set design that brings the show to life.”

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There is obviously a lot of other wonderful vampire media out there, but these are just a few of our favorites! Did we name any of yours? What else would you add to this list?