25 Best Vampire Movies Ever Made

Directed by E. Elias Merhige (who was best known for directing gruesome arthouse project Begotten and a handful of Marilyn Manson videos), Shadow Of The Vampire asks the question what if Nosferatu actor Max Schreck was actually a vampire. The result is a darkly comedic, emotive, and experimental foray into the mindset of the vampiric actor.

As much of a homage to this piece of film history (and cinema in general) as it is a fascinating example of what a vampire film can be, Shadow Of The Vampire has gallons of fun with its premise as Schreck gradually begins to devour the film crew against the director’s (John Malkovich) wishes.

Made all the better by a deliciously unhinged performance by Willem Dafoe in the starring role that saw him nominated for an Oscar, the script hits plenty of emotional beats throughout. If you don’t sympathise with Orlok when he watches a sunrise on film for the first time, then you’re probably a vampire yourself.