5 Vampire movies to watch if you can’t wait for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners

Ryan Coogler's Sinners has created considerable buzz among fans as the Michael Jordan starrer vampire thriller is all set to hit theaters soon on April 18. The film is an addition to a genre of horror that has been loved by the audience for years, and has a special place in the eerie corners of cinema, thanks to a legacy created by vampire-oriented films that came years before.

Although most horror films focus more on other supernatural beings that are scarier, in contrast to the human-like bloodsucking creatures who could be lurking in anywhere. The most scary part about films focusing on vampires is exactly this: their humanness and how they hide in plain sight. As we prepare ourselves up for Ryan Coogler's horror flick, here are five vampire movies to watch out for before you tune into Sinners.

Salem's Lot

Stephen King has been one of the central inspirations behind many masterpieces in the field of horror, and Salem's Lot is a proud member of the club. There are two films made on King's short story but Lewis Pullman and Makenzie Leigh starrer 2024 version gives ten times the chills.

The story revolves around Ben Mears, a writer who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem Lot where he desires some peace and quiet as he works on his next written project. Things take a turn for the worse when murders start happening in the town, and as a newcomer, he becomes the prime suspect amidst all of it.

The film is chilling, and manages to capture King's true horrors, as it brings to life the quiet, creeping evil of Jerusalem. Salem's Lot rarely depends on jump scares to bring it's horrors to life; instead the unsettling score and scenes bring a sense of dread to the audience that lingers long after the credits roll.

Interview with the Vampire

Horror movies rarely get to take home nominations in major award shows, and 1994's Interview with the Vampire was one of the first films in the genre of horror that was nominated for two Oscars and a Golden Globe award.

The film revolves around reporter Daniel Molloy who is interviewing Louis de Pointe du Lac, who is a vampire. Molloy initially refuses to believe his claims but as Louis describes his mortal life and the circumstances under which he became a vampire, the reporter eventually believes his story. His motive behind leaving his mortality was his dissatisfaction with his human life, and with the help of a vampire Lestat, he embraces the life of immortality.

The film follows Louis' encounters with vampires, and how his struggle with morality, loss, and love shapes his dark, eternal existence. Brad Pitt's portrayal as Louis and Tom Cruise's as Lestat is quite commanding in the film, which establishes a less horror but still spooky world of the scary immortal creatures.

30 Days of Night

Quite possibly one of the scariest films that feature vampires that proves that blood-sucking fiends are no less scary than other horror entities. 30 Days of Night follows the town of Barrow where the town goes into a month-long polar night, creating trouble for it's inhabitants as a group of vampires led by a vampire named Marlow attack everyone. Wiping off most of the population with thirst, they detach the town from the outside world.

The film follows Sheriff Eben Oleson, his estranged wife Stella, and a small group of survivors hiding in an attic, as they get by without any help and evade the attackers. The scarier part of the film is the fight for survival the townfolk of Barrow struggle with, where every move can turn fatal and every action can lead to a massacre. Unlike many other films that portray vampires, 30 Days of Night stands out in it's animalistic, truly scary and remorseless portrayals of the demons. With it's dark visuals and eerie soundtrack and quite convincing vampires, this one is a pretty scary watch.

Bram Stoker's Dracula

Bram Stoker's Dracula is a gothic romance that twists the conventional vampire story and brings something new to the table. With an emotionally intense premise and stunning visuals, the film takes a different take on the character of Dracula, exploring his origins of evil and mortality.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the film revolves around Prince Vlad Dracula who is returning from a war in 15th century Romania. Upon his return he gets to know that his wife Elisabeta has committed suicide. Engulfed in agony and pain, he turns into a vampire and lives in evil immortality for many centuries. In 1837, he meets Jonathan Harker, a London lawyer whose fiancée, Mina, looks a lot like Elisabeta. Under the belief that she was a true reincarnation of his wife, he embarks on a violent journey, hurting and attcaking those who came between him and his desires.

Nosferatu

Lily Rose Depp's Nosferatu needs no introduction. Based on the 1922 film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, the remake takes a fresher take on the iconic horror movie, with even scarier visuals and a stunning ensemble who are so convincing in their roles that they blur the line between nightmare and reality.

Depp's eerie allure as she portrays the devastating, lonely and vulnerable Allen is the core of the film. Married to Thomas Hutter who leaves her in the care of other people, she dreams of death and desires company. On the other hand, Hutter finds himself in the company of a count named Orlok, who coerces him into giving him a locket that has a lock of hair of Ellen. Orlok is also shown to have supernatural abilities, further exacerbating Hutter's suspicions of the count.

On the other hand, Ellen's situation worsens and she experiences seizures and very frequently sleepwalks. Upon further investigation it is revealed that she is possessed by a demonic vampire called Nosferatu. Later on, it is revealed that Nosferatu is actually Orlok, who has an intense desire to consume Ellen.

As his predation continues, Ellen realizes no one else but her can stop the bloodthirst and kill Nosferatu. In a final act of sacrifice, she lets him feed on her till sunrise, after which the sunlight kills him.