‘Eli Roth’s History of Horror’ Recap: ‘Vampires’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Of the many, many, many, MANY monsters that populate the horror genre, it is outright safe to say that none of them are quite as famous as the vampire. For this ancient creature has been a fixture in storytelling for millennia, and its incredible nature is why this bloodsucking creature of the night continues to captivate us after all this time. Because there is truly something fascinating about an immortal being that lurks in the darkness and feeds upon the essence of what it once was and that simple description of a surprisingly complex monster has allowed for creative minds to dive deep into their world and their culture for generations on end, and that’s why it is a wonderful thing that this creature served as the focal point of the next episode of Eli Roth’s History of Horror.
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Because ‘Vampires’ did a fine job of putting these stories into perspective so that we all have a better understanding how these creatures resonate with us and one way that they make that happen… is by offering up a relatable examination on the more sour parts of the human psyche. Because often times, the more classic vampires, like Dracula, are portrayed as tortured beings. The kind that that could never move on from the loss of someone they loved, or they saw an opportunity to seize control of the universe and play god, or they were outright afraid of death and saw this as the perfect way out from ever having to deal with it, regardless of the cost. And it is that wonderful commentary on the human condition and the warnings that these characters provide that allow for us to be captivated and enthralled by a genuine monster. Since we share in those fears. But what matters more, is that these explorations also laid the foundation for deeper examinations of who we are as a people. 

For as the years rolled along, the vampire found a way to satirize the taboo nature that people associate with human sexuality. Because for a long time now, people have viewed sex as a 'filthy' act, and these creatures poke fun of that silly perspective by presenting vampirism as a road to sexual freedom, and it is fascinating to realize that sex and vampirism are so deeply connected and thanks to the openness of modern times, this satire was able to blossom and grow into so much more. Because stories such as Interview with the Vampire or True Blood were able to reflect upon the nature of homosexuality and how others view it incorrectly as a great evil and that makes modern vampire stories quite powerful and poignant since they are truly going into bold and uncharted territory. The kind that is quite frankly, long overdue. 

But while it is fascinating and wonderful to know that there are writers out there that are using this genre to push the envelope and force us to have quality conversations about equality and openness. It is important to talk about the fact that the classic romanticism of falling for a tall and dark and mysterious stranger that could potentially cause one great danger, is still alive and well in this genre as well. Since Twilight took the vampire world by storm when it hit the market by making that a focal point of its plot and while these movies are indeed a tad on the cheesy side, one cannot deny the fact that they clearly resonated with their audience by connecting to something fundamental. However, while plenty of folks will shun that particular series because of the fact that it is a little too mainstream for their liking, the good news, is that there is still plenty of raw and visceral vampire themed entertainment out there, to satisfy fans of this iconic genre. 

In the end however, this might actually be the most intriguing chapter in this grand exploration of horror. Simply because this one really dove deep into the more philosophical nature of the vampire, and how well they actually tie into our everyday lives and that is just something that we haven’t seen on this series to date. But when one takes into consideration how they are created, it makes sense as to why we are able to connect with this creature. For they were us and wish to be us in again in some capacity and there is something quite primal and relatable about that, since people have or will see others they care about ‘turn’ into someone else when illness or severe trauma strikes. Which perhaps makes the vampire the most horrifying creature of all, since it genuinely represents our fears of the unknown. Until next time.   

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