Vampire genre never goes out of vogue, says expert

The release of New Moon, the latest in the popular Twilight series and the recent comedy Cirque du Freak: The Vampire Assistant proves that the genre of vampire films and books is a trend that will never be out of vogue, says an expert.

Amy Smith, an English professor at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, who studies and writes about vampires in literature, has said that the vampire genre is a natural for the big screen.

"That's because the films about the mythical undead creatures also share an ability that vampires have – they can take on many forms, from horror films to romantic dramas and even to goofball comedies. The vampire has really resonated in film and literature because the vampire is probably the most sinister and yet human-like evil creature in modern literature," she said.

Smith, who teaches the popular course 'Living Dead: Vampires in Film and Fiction', added, "They look and act like humans, which allows them to live among us and trick us into becoming victims."

Smith said that according to estimates that nearly 1,000 vampire films have been made in the past century.

And the trend is not limited to Europe or America-films about vampires have been made in Japan, Africa, India, China, and South America.

Vampire movies have been around since the earliest days of Hollywood, says Smith, from 1922's Nosferatu to more than a dozen 'Dracula' films over the years that have reflected themes of every decade they've been released.

The huge appeal of the Twilight franchise among young women has polarised many horror fans, said Smith.

"Although fans of traditional horror and action-oriented vampire films may not like it, Stephenie Meyer's breed of vampire has a deep emotional appeal for women. He's dangerous, but not to her – he's beautiful and seemingly unattainable, but she gets him, nonetheless. He's a man who literally can promise to love her forever," she added.