Exploring the History of "Vampire Secrets" by Larson Hill
What is it about vampires and vampirism that makes people go nuts? Forget about the traditional literary legacy of the mysterious nocturnal revenants, vampires have been so popular on the big screen over the decades that there are now literally hundreds of movies about the elusive bloodsuckers. And just when you think Hollywood has driven a final stake into the heart of the cinematic vampire, along comes an author like Stephenie Meyer with the novel series Twilight that reawakens the public's romantic lust for blood both on both the page and the silver screen. With so many fans falling in love with Twilight, actor Robert Pattinson, and lead vampire character Edward Cullen, A&E is releasing the 100-minute HISTORY doc on March 17, 2009 as a stand-alone disc to give a romantic public the back story behind the legacy of the famous two-fanged Transylvania tomcats.
Previously released as part of the A&E Haunted Histories Collection, and narrated by Cory Burton, Vampire Secrets cracks open a creepy coffin of folklore to put a human face on one of history's most mysterious and misunderstood creatures. People have had a longstanding fascination with vampires and Vampire Secrets explores the history of vampires from front to back, covering not only the early days of Vlad the Impaler and the origins of vampirism in Romania from a European perspective but also the forensic qualities of vampires as related to the death of humans. Not only will you learn the history and origins of vampires but you'll also discover how eerily similar vampires are to people after they die.
The most unique and interesting aspects of Vampire Secrets beyond a history that predates Bram Stoker's Dracula by 1000 years and speculation that the character was based on a Bohemian Princess is its angle on modern culture with thoughts from a variety of vampire scholars and true-to-life vampires that bring the 19th Century fanged entities into the world we live in today. Most notable, Vampire Secrets also delves into the dark minds of vampires with a focus on those that have killed in the name of vampirism.
Although the thought of vampires conjures up images formed mainly around various movie and literary versions of such figures as the conventional caped Dracula with fangs, Vampire Secrets delves deep into the folklore by showcasing how vampires played major roles in other cultures beyond Eastern Europe and had mythological relevance in various countries around world, including Greece, China, and India. But the mystery of vampires has also been deepened by the many interpretations and perceptions that transformed the classic image of a traditional vampire following ancient blood rituals, social fascinations with the occult, and the sex appeal of vampires.
With the big screen adaptation of the Stephenie Meyer based Twilight already on the way to a sequel in New Moon, Vampire Secrets comes at the perfect time to educate those who don't know the "real" back story behind vampires. It's a history that came at the twilight of a much earlier and darker period in human history that still serves as inspiration for cinematic vamps, including characters like Edward Cullen of Twilight. However, since Vampire Secrets reveals the rich traditional legacy of vampires and the conventional image of the caped bloodsuckers, it's clear vampires will continue to evolve in new and exciting ways in the hands of authors like Stephenie Meyer who follows in the footsteps of writers Bram Stoker and Ann Rice.
What is it about vampires and vampirism that makes people go nuts? Forget about the traditional literary legacy of the mysterious nocturnal revenants, vampires have been so popular on the big screen over the decades that there are now literally hundreds of movies about the elusive bloodsuckers. And just when you think Hollywood has driven a final stake into the heart of the cinematic vampire, along comes an author like Stephenie Meyer with the novel series Twilight that reawakens the public's romantic lust for blood both on both the page and the silver screen. With so many fans falling in love with Twilight, actor Robert Pattinson, and lead vampire character Edward Cullen, A&E is releasing the 100-minute HISTORY doc on March 17, 2009 as a stand-alone disc to give a romantic public the back story behind the legacy of the famous two-fanged Transylvania tomcats.
The most unique and interesting aspects of Vampire Secrets beyond a history that predates Bram Stoker's Dracula by 1000 years and speculation that the character was based on a Bohemian Princess is its angle on modern culture with thoughts from a variety of vampire scholars and true-to-life vampires that bring the 19th Century fanged entities into the world we live in today. Most notable, Vampire Secrets also delves into the dark minds of vampires with a focus on those that have killed in the name of vampirism.
With the big screen adaptation of the Stephenie Meyer based Twilight already on the way to a sequel in New Moon, Vampire Secrets comes at the perfect time to educate those who don't know the "real" back story behind vampires. It's a history that came at the twilight of a much earlier and darker period in human history that still serves as inspiration for cinematic vamps, including characters like Edward Cullen of Twilight. However, since Vampire Secrets reveals the rich traditional legacy of vampires and the conventional image of the caped bloodsuckers, it's clear vampires will continue to evolve in new and exciting ways in the hands of authors like Stephenie Meyer who follows in the footsteps of writers Bram Stoker and Ann Rice.