One of my least favorite sub-genres in horror films is
vampire movies, and when I saw the topics I was not excited. In my experience,
vampire movies seem very gloomy, uneventful, and boring. However, after watching
the films for this week, I was surprised. Although the genre is still not my
go-to, I have a much deeper respect for it as I now understand all the
underlying values that these movies trying to hit on.
I really enjoyed the connection between the vampire movies of the 70s and its connection to homosexual relationships. During this time period, people within this community had to hide their sexuality and essentially become “creatures of the night.” In comparison, vampires are portrayed as sensual beings with drinking blood almost equating to sex for them. However, the way that these creatures have to hide and are shown as nearly not human is similar to how people in the LGBTQ community had to hide and how they were shamed for their orientation. These people were able to find groups in which they could be themselves. I really liked how the “Our Vampires Ourselves” the chapter was able to discuss that vampires were a manifestation of expression for queer individuals as they “renewed themselves by retreating back into the shadows” (182). Being gay in the 60s and 70s forced people to operate under the streets of society and be secretive. In order to truly be themselves and not face prejudice and discrimination, they literally had to retreat into the shadows of society to be fulfilled.
Furthermore, vampires at their core represent sex. Instead of actual lust, they have this bloodlust component. The “Our Vampires Ourselves” article discusses that vampires have represented “an apparition of what we repress, traditional Eros” (182). Traditionally, being sexually active is often looked down upon and those who enjoy pleasure are marginalized by society, jus like a vampire tends to live in isolation. However, in What We Do in the Shadows, we can see the manifestation of sexuality in Deacon Brucke as he is the most outspoken and more sexually inclined and he shows it through his flamboyant dancing. I think people see the person that they want to be within Deacon as he acts on a care-free attitude and even breaks the fourth wall at the end of the movie by trying to hypnotize the audience.
I really liked the ingenuity of What We Do in the Shadows. Creating a mockumentary about vampires is something that really transverse boundaries as most vampire movies tend to have that melancholic and dark feel, but this movie was much more light-hearted, and a refresher form the popular melodrama. It was also able to use clichés in a way that made the movie a much better experience as it was able to both poke fun and tell a cohesive story. I found it similar to Near Dark in the sense that the genre was unconventional, but it was still able to tell a good vampire story.