Vampires: Thirst for the Truth

Diabolical. Seductive. Immortal. Vampires have been an icon of evil in folklore and popular culture for more than three centuries, yet only one name still personifies the ultimate aristocrat of bloodlust. Now join the world’s foremost experts on Dracula – including academics, authors and horror historians – as they explore the untold story of the Transylvanian Count, from the legend of Vlad The Impaler and Bram Stoker’s celebrated novel through its landmark stage productions and classic movie adaptations.

FELIZ 200!

A history of the famous vampire of books and movies, using film clips, previews and other methods.

Mark Gatiss explores and celebrates Dracula, an icon of popular culture, asking just why we keep coming back to the count.

Documentary directed by W.K. Border, that which dives into the aspects of contemporary Gothic subculture, vampirism, and BDSM culture. Filmed in 1997 in California.

A documentary look at F.W. Murnau's iconic — and unauthorized – 1922 vampire film, and its influence on bloodsuckers in film.

A compilation of film clips and trailers showing the evolution of vampires in films.

Three tales from Sacramento's lurid past. The Vampire of Sacramento, The Batgirl and Palm Sundae.

Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey threw himself into the race for Minnesota governor on January 13, 2006. His "coming out" to the media as a Hecate Witch, Satanic Dark Priest and Sanguinary Vampire grabbed international attention, and his candidacy marked the beginning of the largest amount of media coverage ever given to an unknown third party candidate running for governor in American history.

Using clips from classic horror films and contemporary interviews, this cable-TV documentary tries to separate truth from fable in discussing vampires and werewolves -- a task that often proves impossible. After noting that fear of the supernatural stems from mankind's basic terror involving darkness and awe of the moon, the film ticks off several documented cases of "actual" blood sucking and lycanthropy. Among those interviewed are weapons experts, scientists, sociologists, and movie buffs, as well as a few hardy souls who claim to be genuine Dracula and Wolfman clones. Originally slated to air during Halloween weekend in 2003, Fang vs. Fiction: The Real Underworld of Vampires and Werewolves was moved forward two months as an extended promotion for the upcoming theatrical feature Underworld, which, of course, dealt with the same terrifying subject matter. [Hal Erickson]

This investigative documentary follows a team of archaeologists searching for the hard evidence behind chilling vampire myths, from the discovery of bodies staked into their coffins on the island of Lesbos to the New England vampires who died from tuberculosis.

From myths to monsters to Twilight. Where did 'Vampire' come from? Where is it today? And where is it going next?

Abel Ferrara directed this thirty-minute documentary that interviews the cast of his film THE ADDICTION.

A Short Film About John Bolton is a darkly hip and hilarious film explores the question that torments artists of every medium: "Where do your ideas come from?" Renowned artist John Bolton's paintings of voluptuous she-vampire nudes have earned this quiet eccentric a reputation for having a "damaged imagination." BBC radio personality Jonathan Ross buys his pieces, which leads interviewer extraordinaire Marcus Brigstocke to find out what the appeal is in Bolton's beautiful (but terrifying) artwork. Why does Bolton demand that his gallery "monsterpieces" speak for themselves? What does he do with that ornamental knife that he carries everywhere? Will Marcus ever learn how to operate the camera?

A documentary exploring the legends of vampires, using books, paintings and early films on the subject.

Though most people knew her as Vampira, a late-night, creature-feature host in Los Angeles, Maila Nurmi was so much more. From her relationships with James Dean and other Hollywood luminaries to her significant contributions to the eventual Goth craze, Nurmi was a multifaceted woman, with more than a few amazing stories to share. Having befriended Nurmi while she was still alive, Greene finds himself perfectly situated to give us the complete story on this fascinating individual, blending extensive interviews with remarkable found footage of Nurmi's long and varied career. Whether being groomed by a major Hollywood director or making a surprising foray into music, Nurmi proves herself to be so much more than a scream queen. Still, when it comes to snappy one-liners cracked at the stroke of midnight, it's certainly safe to say that no one did it better than Vampira.

A documentary from Universal about the movie "Dracula" (1931) starring Bela Lugosi.

An atmospheric essay, which is an alternative version of Count Dracula, a film directed by Jess Franco in 1970; a ghostly narration between fiction and reality.

A live-event TV special exploring the reality and legend surrounding the story of Dracula. Ancient European castles associated with vampire legends are visited; vampire experts are interviewed; and people claiming to be vampires are featured.

Discover the truth behind the popular story the media pushed since the 1970s and the real consequences journalism had on a small Ontario town.