20 Vampire Movies You Must See Before You Die

17. Thirst (2009)

Of his 2009 vampire film, South Korean director Park Chan-wook - perhaps most famous for his dark thriller Oldboy and the recent dystopian sci-fi flick Snowpiercer - said: "This film was originally called 'The Bat' to convey a sense of horror. After all, it is about vampires. But it is also more than that. It is about passion and a love triangle." Watching the film, it's clear that the director set out to produce a different kind of vampire movie, its plot centered on a young priest who finds himself caught in an unexpected transformation in the wake of a vaccine experiment gone wrong. The picture follows said priest, played by actor Song Kang-ho, as he partakes in disturbing acts of sex and violence, driven by romantic obsession. There's also a rather unforgettable moment with a flute. It's hard to define Chan-wook's picture, as it brings in elements of the horror, noir and serial killer genres, and then throws them into one big melting pot. The results aren't consistently successful, but for fans of vampire movies, this is an essential work of the sub-genre.