For every “good” vampire (the hopelessly romantic at heart brood over) that struggles with their remaining humanity, they are seemingly outnumbered by the “evil” vampire who has a different idea of what a Bloody Mary should be. Why do we seem compelled to root for the “good” vampire? Is it because we see vampires for what they are, killers and beyond redemption because they tend to see themselves as having no soul (at least those who stop to ponder such things, because the “bad” ones don’t seem to give much thought to the impact of their actions)? The vampire is humanity at its very worse. They must kill to survive. Where they are different than a zombie then you ask? They really aren’t much different from a zombie who loves to munch on their former best friends, but vampires can feel bad about it, where as a zombie looks up from lunch with only one thought on his/her mind “MORE BRAINS!”
Literature and the movies don’t lack for “bad” vampires. Barnabas Collins from Dark Shadows, Dracula and his upteen movie variations, the stripper vampires of From Dusk Till Dawn, the creepies in Lifeforce, seductive Jerry Dandrige in Fright Night, Salem’s Lot, The Night Flier, and oodles more feature a bunch of meanies who’d just as soon slash your throat as say “howdy-doodie” to ya. But for being so outnumbered, our valiant, brooding, and tormented blood lusting vampiric heroes outshine them.
The anti-villainous vampire seems to appeal for a select number of reasons. One, they are always male- thus opening up the romantic/obsessive storyline. Two, they are always good looking males- thus ensuring a romantic/obsessive storyline. Three, they are brooding and tortured, tormented by their state of being as they wallow in self-loathing. Fourth and finally, they fight evil, either on a large scale for the greater good as a kind of atonement for their past transgressions or even just for the sake of saving their love interest.
Whatever motivates them, one last theme ties them together: Veganism. Or they make a very good attempt at obtaining it…
The most obvious vegan or in style one right now is the tormented Edward Cullen of Twilight fame. Although it must be pointed out that he doesn’t refrain from blood all together, just human blood; he and his family choose to hunt wild game in the forested mountains surrounding their home in Forks, Washington. His eyes turn black from thirst, and transform to a luscious golden hue once his hunger has been slackened. Edward strives to behave, yet has not totally overcome his desire for blood, but is remarkably controlled, even in the face of having to suck the venom of another vampire from his soul mate Bella (which is an oxymoron to Edward, as he fears he is basically a damned soul-less monster).
New to the small screen and sure to rise in popularity is Stefan Salvatore of The Vampire Diaries. This series on television seems at first to be a blatant Twilight rip-off. And quite possibly the series itself is, though the three original books (from what I have learned online- B&N is holding the first 2 books in a double pack for me tonight) in the franchise were published some 15 years before Twilight. From the pilot episode all that can be learned about his eating habits is that he was ridiculed by his vampire brother Damon who loves to hate and eat the humans- to feast on the blood of the vicious sciurus carolinnis, or common squirrel. Like Edward, evidence of his desire is seen through changes in and around his eyes, and Stefan looks rather creepy when he’s hungry compared to the Cullen’s whose eyes simply turn black.
Caleb Colton is a little known vampire from the 1980s movie Near Dark. He’s turned against his will by a lonely beautiful vampire named Mae, though it’s never actually acknowledged in the film that they are vampires. No one comes out and says it, but Caleb figures things out quickly when he runs away from Mae and chokes on a candy bar he buys from a vending machine. He grows weaker and one can only assume near death until he stumbles back to her and she feeds him from her wrist. That is the only time he drinks blood, he’s repelled by the actions of Mae’s vampire family, and ultimately causes their demise (except for Mae- they are both saved by Caleb’s veterinarian father who more or less runs their blood through a Mr. Coffee filter and gives them transfusions).
Mick St. John was the vampire star of Moonlight, which didn’t even see its entire season of 16 episodes air. He’s a quasi-vampire, perhaps most likened to the serial killer Dexter Morgan, because while Mick is not a total vegan, he likes to think he has standards when he satisfies his inner desires. He refuses to drink from women, children or innocent men. He attempts to redeem himself by working as a police detective that only works the graveyard shift, his main focus on hunting down other vampires who lack his style of self-control.
Nineteenth century brooder Louis de Pointe du Lac from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles was turned by Lestat who never seemed to have much luck in the “making an undead best buddy” department. Louis longed for a release from his depression and sadness, Lestat promised him such, but Lestat’s idea of happiness and Louis’ would prove to be very different. Louis feasts on rats and wild animals while Lestat has no qualms with wiping out entire families and enjoys playing with his food. Lestat’s vanity is his is his biggest flaw, and his ultimate undoing at the hands of Louis at the end of the first book, but hey, the guy is “undead” and you can never count out someone who has nothing to loose!
William Thomas “Bill” Compton or Vampire Bill for short is the bloodsucking hero in Charlaine Harris’ universe that features vampires- The Southern Vampire Mysteries series that has now been brought to the small screen by HBO. In Vampire Bill’s world, the Japanese (who create everything that’s really worth a darn) have produced a synthetic alternative (called True Blood and there’s even different blood type alternatives for the discerning blood thirsty palate) to human blood for the recently out of the casket vampire citizens of the world. Vampire Bill chooses to refrain from human blood for a means of survival, but will drain a human to kill them, mainly those who threaten his lady love, Sookie Stackhouse. He also will drink from Sookie, who offers herself freely to him, so whether or not he’s a “true” vegetarian is open to debate….
*Angel of Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Blade from Marvel comics are also “good” vampires- I didn’t want to leave them out, but didn’t feel like expounding upon them…
