Hollywood’s blood money: Vampire Movies

Interesting article from Variety:

With a $283 million worldwide opening weekend, “Twilight’s” vampires have once again reminded us that there’s plenty of life in the undead.

While Anne Rice’s books helped Hollywood focus on the sexual-romantic angle of vampires, film and TV plans for the coming year offer further proof there’s fresh blood on the way.

“The interest in vampires is cyclical,” says Alloy Entertainment CEO Leslie Morgenstein, exec producer on the CW’s hit series “Vampire Diaries.” “That being said, I’ve never seen a cycle have as much lasting power as the one we’re in now, which (started) with (2008’s) ‘Twilight.’?”

I know vampires are part of the whole undead community, but seriously how long will this trend undie? Here is a partial list of vampire related projects currently in production or upcoming:

Underworld Awakening [Jan. 20, 2012]

Dark Shadows [May 11, 2012]

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter [June 22, 2012]

Hotel Transylvania [September 2012]

Byzantium [starts shooting next month]

“Dracula Year Zero” [development]

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” [remake / development]

“The Hunger” [remake / development]

“Harker” [development]

“A Discovery of Witches” [development]

Then there’s “Vampire Diaries” on CW and “True Blood” on HBO…

Evidently the thirst for fang films is undiminished.

And so my question to you: Why? What is the seemingly magical allure of vampire movies? From a psychological point of view, what are the key points of emotional resonance with movie audiences? From a writing perspective, what is it about vampire stories that makes for a compelling narrative backdrop in which to set a narrative? How long do you think this vampire trend will continue?

Since zombie stories have also demonstrated legs at the box office and on TV, here are some bonus questions: What’s going on with this subgenre? Why its appeal? In terms of tone, psychology, writing, how do zombie stories differ from vampire stories? And how long do you think the whole zombie thing will last?

For more of the Variety article, go here.

UPDATE: Screenwriter Mike Le (@DFTVYP) passed along this link to a 2009 New Yorker article: “In the Blood.”

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