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VAMPIRE SH*T FOR THE AGGRESSIVELY UNSERIOUS VAMPIRE CHICK

Over the years, cinematic vampirism has taken many forms: gothic horror classics, gnarly superhero fare, twisted love stories, glittery early-2000s swoon-porn, and my personal favorite, the deeply unserious bloodsucker with a flair for theatrics. These creatures of the night have a haunting appeal that naturally lends itself to the silver screen. They’re dangerous, seductive, dramatic, and, when done right, just campy enough to make the whole thing delicious.



So, in honor of Interview with the Vampire's 3rd season dropping (retitled The Vampire Lestat), keeping the genre beautifully moody, messy, and well-dressed, I'm taking a slightly lighter detour through some Black-led vampire films that bring the fangs without going full nightmare. From gothic thrillers to drag queen vampire battles, these are some of my favorite films about those irresistible creatures of the night.


Stream on: Netflix



Jamie Foxx plays a vampire hunter posing as a pool cleaner, which tells you almost everything you need to know. This is less gothic and more action-comedy, but it works as the popcorn pick: fangs, fight scenes, Snoop Dogg (obviously), and vampire business in broad daylight.


Stream on: Hulu



Nathalie Emmanuel leads this glossy gothic thriller as Evie, a woman who discovers distant relatives, inherited wealth, and a nightmare wedding situation all at once. It has candlelit estates, suspicious rich people, bloodline drama, and enough vampire romance to make it a perfect Interview with the Vampire follow-up.


Stream on: Tubi



This is the Anne Rice cousin who came to the function in body glitter, leather, and a bad attitude. Aaliyah’s Akasha isn't on screen nearly enough, but every second she's there, she eats the movie whole. It’s gothic, messy, sexy, deeply early-2000s, and exactly the kind of vampire camp you want if you like your camp with a little kink.


Stream on: Tubi



This might be the campiest pick on the list, praise be. Written and directed by Jem Garrard, Slay follows a group of drag queens who accidentally end up performing at a very wrong, very hostile bar and then have to help fight off vampires. It’s big, silly, queer, bloody, and built for anyone who wants their vampire viewing with lip syncs.


Stream on: Pluto TV



Eddie Murphy as a vampire. Angela Bassett as the detective caught in his orbit. And Brooklyn as the hunting ground. This one is strange, sexy, theatrical, and very committed to doing the most. It’s horror-comedy with a little gothic melodrama and a lot of extremely ’90s energy.


Stream on: Netflix



Vampires vs. the Bronx is a charming, spirited, and socially conscious monster movie that feels like a modern tribute to classics like The Goonies. A group of Bronx kids realize vampires are moving into the neighborhood under the cover of gentrification, and the whole thing plays like a fun, fast, family-friendly creature feature with a point. It’s goofy, charming, spirited, and socially conscious. What more could you want?



Whether you’re here for the gothic romance, the blood-soaked camp, the drag queen heroics, or Aaliyah ruling the undead, there’s no shortage of vampire films that know how to have fun with the genre.

 
 
 

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