3. Nosferatu The Vampyre
Count on Werner Herzog of all filmmakers to ensure that his take on a vampire film would be absolutely nothing like the ordinary. With its heavy visual symbolism, gorgeous cinematography, and a predictably, brilliantly bonkers performance from longtime collaborator Klaus Kinski in the lead role, this is a vibrant, highly imaginative take on the classic tale, tearing away decades of cobwebs and making the tale very much Herzog's own. Beautiful though the film looks, most of its success is down to Kinski, who imbues Dracula with a wealth of sadness and longing rather than mere viciousness. If too many horror follow-ups suffer from over-sympathising their protagonist (take the various prequels, remakes and sequels to Halloween, Silence of the Lambs and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Dracula is a character who sorely needs it; an inherently inhuman character is palpably humanised in an arresting and thoroughly compelling manner.