By Leslie N. Dees
The Star Herald
KOSCIUSKO —
In the 60s and 70s there was “Dark Shadows” with vampire Barnabus Collins on the tube and the re-incarnation of the show in the early 90s which did not fair so well.
America’s love of the blood sucking creatures has been going on for a long time with the film “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer” (1992) and the TV series spinoff, staring Sarah Michelle Gellar which ran for several seasons starting in the late 90s.
And once again, vampires are all the rage as the third installment of the “Twilight Saga,” broke the all time record of a film opening on a Wednesday night at $68.5 million.
As a reader of the four novels written by Stephenie Meyer, I can attest that they are addictive. Both female teens and adults have been sucked into the world of Bella, Edward and Jacob.
The age-old conflict between vampires and werewolves unfolds in the Twilight books and films.
At the heart of every vampire incarnation, at least on the small screen, is the male lead vampire wanting to be good and wanting to be human again.
Take a look:
–HBO’s series “True Blood’s” leading vampire is the southern gentleman Bill Compton, who’s been a vampire since the Civil War. He finds love in young human, Sookie.
The relationship between Bill and Sookie Stackhouse is only a small part of this hit series. The other cast of characters on the bayou of Louisana makes for an interesting hour of TV. As an added bonus, werewolves are being introduced and they are in Mississippi. The show is based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.
– On The CW Network, they have produced the ultimate teen vampire show – “The Vampire Diaries.
The show deals with two brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvator, also turned by their lady love during the Civil War, in modern day times. The relationship between Stefan and his human love Elena is at the forefront of the show. I see a love triangle forming in season two with the brothers and Elena.
– ABC’s summer series, “The Gates,” recently debuted. A brief overview says Nick Monohan and his family move from Chicago to a quiet, upscale planned community called The Gates, where he will be chief of police. They soon realize that their neighbors are not whom they seem to be.
Here’s looking to more vampire shows to come.
Leslie N. Dees is the managing editor of The Star Herald.
