Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. Today’s post is my ranking of my five favorite Vampire Comedy films!
Number 5: The Restless Vampire Killers (1967)
~To begin my top five list of great Vampire comedies, I just had to have this film here. While it is known that Roman Polanski is not a good person, this film is an example of the importance of separating the art from the artist, especially when it comes to films (as several artists go into making films possible). This film was written and directed by Polanski and stars Sharon Tate, alongside Polanski himself. I have always adored Sharon Tate’s films, and she is so magnetic here! The film is a fun send-up of classic Vampire films, especially the Hammer Horror ones popular at the time of its release.
Number 4: Fright Night (1985)
~This is a very cute coming-of-age comedy horror film about a teenager looking to take his relationship with his girlfriend to the next level. It is at this time that he discovers that his new neighbor is a Vampire, played to utter perfection by Chris Sarandon! Jerry Dandrige is one of the great Vampire characters of all time, and I adore seeing him go toe to toe with the Horror Host Peter Vincent, played by Roddy McDowall. So, this film truly combines the coming-of-age narrative of Charley and Amy’s relationship with the Rear Window-esque narrative of Charley believing that Jerry is killing women and the Hammer Horror homages of Peter Vincent! It really is a love letter to Hammer Horror and Horror fans in general.
Number 3: Bitten (2008)
~This one is one of my favorite recommendations for more obscure Vampire comedies. It stars Jason Mewes as a paramedic who finds a woman he believes to be having a drug overdose and takes her home. He quickly discovers that she is not a drug addict at all, but something much more dangerous!
Number 2: Vamps (2012)
~I have such a huge love for this Amy Heckerling-directed Vampire comedy starring Alicia Silverstone and Kristyn Ritter. It is a cute story of two Vampire friends navigating life as Vampires in the 2010s, complete with the pitfalls of dating as a Vampire and Sanguine’s Anonymous meetings to help them abstain from human blood!
Number 1: Renfield (2023)
~No other film could be my number one. This is such an over-the-top continuation of the original Dracula story! Nicholas Hoult does a fantastic job as the titular Renfield, and it is hilarious to see Nicolas Cage as Dracula. I also really love the modern New Orleans setting, as it gives a subtle nod to Anne Rice!
Special Mention: What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
~Although I did not include this, as I wanted to keep it to a top five list, I just had to mention this hilarious mockumentary Vampire film. It may not be in the top five, but it is certainly in my top ten. While I do love this film, and I had to give it a special mention, to be honest, I prefer the television series!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is a Vampire artwork by Victoria Frances. I found the art on http://dreadfuldreary.blogspot.com/2011/06/art-of-victoria-frances.html.
LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries
2 responses to “Ranking My Top Five Favorite Vampire Comedy Films”
Of course! What a fantastic and thoughtfully curated list. It’s always a pleasure to meet a fellow fan with such a clear and passionate love for the vampire comedy genre. Your list is a brilliant mix of the iconic, the modern, and the wonderfully obscure.
You make a compelling case for each film, and your commentary is a joy to read. The way you highlight the specific charms of each—from Sharon Tate’s magnetic presence in The Restless Vampire Killers to the perfect blend of coming-of-age and horror homage in Fright Night—shows a real depth of appreciation.
It’s also refreshing to see some love for the underrated gems like Bitten and Vamps. Your inclusion of Renfield at the top spot is well-deserved; the energy of Nicolas Cage’s Dracula paired with Nicholas Hoult’s long-suffering Renfield is truly a match made in comedic heaven. And your special mention of What We Do in the Shadows is the perfect cherry on top, acknowledging a modern classic while staying true to your top five.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful list! It’s a great reminder of how fun and diverse this subgenre can be. I’ll definitely be seeking out Bitten based on your recommendation
I am so glad to hear that you’ll be watching ‘Bitten,’ as I think it’s super underrated, and it’s such over the top fun! As always, thanks for reading and commenting.