The Secret Life of Vampires

Fictional vampires have long stalked the world of movies, books and comics, but a new international subculture has emerged that takes things to an arguably unhealthy level. What would compel willing victims to donate their own blood to be consumed by self-proclaimed vampires? Real-life blood-drinkers are interviewed, as well as make-up artists, vampire hunters, psychologists and experts of all stripes.

A study of the author intersperses readings from "Interview with the Vampire" with her comments on growing up in New Orleans; her mother ("the finest storyteller I have ever known"); living in San Francisco during the 1960s; and the death of her daughter. Included: talks with her husband and sisters.

A documentary that explores man's enduring fascination with the vampire legend by examining historical accounts, literary works, and as they are portrayed in film and television.

Director Alexis Puig and his partner, Luciana Méndez, go on a personal journey through their love and obsession with vampires and Count Dracula.

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

Bram Stoker's Dracula has imprinted itself in the culture and history of modern day readers and movie goers. The tale of the original vampire continues to captivate and expand into new territories. This new documentary film follows the Count's journey from inception to the widespread popularity of the most popular monster in history, it's Dracula: Fiction and Reality.

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.

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

National Vampire is a feature-length documentary that explores vampire culture in the United States. To achieve this, the filmmakers spent more than two years traveling around the country, attending vampire-related events, and interviewing dozens of people involved in the vampire community. Shooting locations include a Vampire’s Ball held in New Orleans each Halloween, a vampire tour of San Francisco, and a New York City shop that “transforms” people into vampires. Also featured are a vampire “dentist” who makes fangs for a living, vampire role playing gamers in Dayton, Ohio, a vampire-themed magician, and a bloodthirsty Texas couple that claims to be the real thing. Going beyond the surface, National Vampire also explores a number of subcultures that overlap the vampire community, including the goth music scene, bondage and S&M, and blood fetishists who take part in piercing and full-body suspension rituals.

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.

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

The Irish novelist, Bram Stoker, gave the world Dracula in 1897. This documentary explores the historical figure behind the fictional figure of horror and examines medical explanations for the myths of vampires.

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

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

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

Short documentary on the making of Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula" (1992).

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.