Movies – Aspasía S. Bissas

26/05/2023

World Dracula Day: Vintage Swag

It’s that time of year again when we pay homage to the monster that brought vampires to the masses, the Count himself: Dracula.

As you can imagine, Dracula has sparked imaginations countless time since Bram Stoker’s novel was first published in 1897. The number of onscreen adaptations alone could keep you occupied for a lifetime. But today we’re focusing on a few of the products that have made it to market over the years– apologies if you have the sudden urge to start scouring flea markets and online ads…

Dracula Cha-Cha, 1960

The cover art alone makes this album by Bob McFadden worth seeking out…

The Dracula Cookbook, 1978

Featuring “authentic Transylvanian recipes” by Marina Polvay. Not gonna lie– I want a copy.

(Someone posted a few shots of the book on instagram, including a recipe for Veal Roast. Take a look here.)

The Dracula Cookbook of Blood, 1993

If you’re looking for something more along the lines of what Dracula himself would eat, Ardin C. Price’s recipes all feature blood. I wouldn’t say no to this one, either (although I don’t think I’d make any of the recipes.)

(There are also shots of this book on instagram, including a recipe for Totoga– Roasted Pig Organs. Take a look here.)

Genuine Soil from Dracula’s Castle, 1979

One gram of soil in a coffin amulet, and it comes with a certificate of authenticity. Just in case Dracula needs to crash at your place and doesn’t have any native soil on him.

Dracula Statuette, 1930s to 1940s

Commissioned by Bela Lugosi himself to give to friends, it’s rumoured that only 25 were made, and of those only a few are left. Happy hunting!

Dracula: A Toy Theatre, 1979

Based on Edward Gorey’s original designs for the set of the 1977 theatre adaptation of Dracula. An updated version of the toy theatre is still in print.

I Vant to Bite Your Finger: The Dracula Game, 1979

I actually got to play this once when I was a kid, and I’ve got to say it’s pretty fun to get a vampire bite– even if it is only red marker dots on your finger. There are other Dracula games out there, but there might not be any better ones.

Dracula Model Kit, 1962

Made by the Aurora company, these were meant to be assembled and painted. Some people like model planes, some like model monsters.

Dracula Dolls, 1980s to 1990s

These are probably the easiest items to find; it would be fun to collect as many variations as possible.

Do you have any of these? Which would you want to get if you could? Share in the comments…

Cheers,

Aspasía S. Bissas

The Count isn’t the only fanged fiend out there– download my books now and meet some new monsters…

Aspasia S. Bissas books: Love Lies Bleeding, Blood Magic, Tooth & Claw, book, books, free book, free books, freebies, freebie, free ebook, free ebooks, vampire, vampires, dark fantasy, dark romance, historical fiction, gothic fiction, gothic fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, horror, dark reads, indie author, indie fiction, strong female protagonist, aspasiasbissas.com

Love Lies Bleeding: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Blood Magic: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Tooth & Claw: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books

If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥

13/05/202313/05/2023

And the Award for Best Effects Makeup Goes To…

This is Doug Jones:

You might not recognize his face, but you probably know him from such roles as…

He also plays Baron Afanas on What We Do in the Shadows. I’ve raved before about how good his makeup is when we first see him, but it gets even better.

Spoilers Ahead

When we’re first introduced to Baron Afanas, he’s a looming figure– a terrifying, ancient vampire coming to check on the progress of Nandor and crew in conquering the New World for vampire-kind. When his coffin opens and we get a glimpse of the Baron, you’d swear you’re looking at a prop, not a person. When he moves, its a thing of beauty; the makeup and prosthetics move with him naturally. Although WWDitS is a comedic show, there’s nothing cheesy or jokey about how the Baron looks. It’s amazing to watch.

Later the Baron is burned by sunlight and apparently dies. The vampires bury him in the garden and move on. Weeks later they hear a voice coming from his grave, and dig up the very-much-alive Baron, although there’s not much of him left, and what is left is pretty crispy. The makeup is different, but just as good. He looks exactly what you’d expect a charred partial vampire to look like. I think the reason he always looks so good is because the focus is on practical effects and makeup instead of CGI. I wish more effects departments would do the same.

Finally the Baron is healed in time for Nandor’s wedding. Not only healed, but also rejuvenated– he’s back to looking like himself in peak condition (much to Nadja and Lazslo’s delight). The makeup is a lot lighter, but just as skilfully applied. The Baron looks creepy but also compelling. If you saw him on the street, you’d instantly know he was a vampire. I can’t wait to see what they do with him next.

Of course the Baron wouldn’t be half as interesting without Jones’s performance. He’s a talented and nuanced actor, and you know you’re going to get something good when you see his name in the credits.

Speaking of credits, here are the members of the makeup department, a group that too often go unnoticed (I copied it from IMDb; clicking on individual names will take you to their IMDb profiles):

Daniel Curet	…	hair department head
Randy Daudlin	…	special makeup effects artist
Suzanne Diaz	…	makeup department head (as Suzy Diaz)
Emma-Lee Hilton	…	Prosthetic lab technician / prosthetic lab technician/artist
Chris Lyons	…	special effects teeth
Carol Mitchell	…	hair stylist
Lukas Press	…	assistant hair stylist
Luke Stalker-Switzer	…	make-up effects
Karlee Morse	…	prosthetic lab technician (uncredited)
Ken Niederbaumer	…	key makeup artist (uncredited)
Brad Proctor	…	special makeup effects technician (uncredited)

This will probably be my last What We Do in the Shadows post, unless someone has a suggestion for a topic they’d like to see? Otherwise, let me know what you think of Baron Afanas, or any other vampire. Who do you think looks most authentic? Share in the comments…

Can’t get enough vampires? Download my books:

Cheers,

Aspasía S. Bissas

20/02/2023

Exploring The Lost Boys (Video)

The Lost Boys is not only one of my favourite movies in general, but it’s my favourite vampire movie. Yes, I’ll take it over any of the Dracula movies (apologies to the Count). It’s the perfect combination of funny and scary, with the kind of charismatic (and slightly unhinged) vampires that draw you in against your better judgment. It’s no surprise that Joss Whedon took inspiration from it when he was coming up with Buffy. If you haven’t seen the Lost Boys, please do (but you can skip the comic books and sequels).

The Good Bad Flicks YouTube channel takes an in-depth look at the Lost Boys that’s well worth a watch (there are major spoilers, though– this one’s only for the fans and the compulsively curious). Give it a watch:

Have you seen the Lost Boys? What did you think? Share in the comments…

Keep the vampire love going and download my books…

Love Lies Bleeding: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Blood Magic: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Tooth & Claw: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books

Cheers,

Aspasía S. Bissas

07/01/202307/01/2023

Renfield

Have you seen the new Renfield trailer yet? Hearing about a movie focused on this character, my first thought was this is a movie that no one asked for. Seeing the trailer, my first thought was that I can’t wait to see it (and not least because Dracula is played by Nick Cage). Take a look at the trailer and let me know in the comments what you think…

Can’t get enough vampires? Download my books now…

Love Lies Bleeding: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Amazon
FREE Blood Magic: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Tooth & Claw: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books

Cheers,

Aspasía S. Bissas

31/10/202230/10/2022

Happy Hallowe’en/Samhain

Wishing you all a happy (and creepy!) Hallowe’en/Samhain! Are you doing anything special to celebrate? Share in the comments….

For me, this year feels sombre. My lost loved ones are on my mind, so I’ll be honouring them today. I’ll probably also indulge in some movies: Nightmare Before Christmas for sure, and possibly something else, as well. Any suggestions for a film on the lighter side of the horror spectrum?

If I have time, I’d also like to make Pan de Muertos, AKA Bread of the Dead. If you haven’t tried it, Pan de Muertos, a lightly sweet bread, is traditional during Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It’s usually shaped into skulls and bones, but you can make it in any shape that suits you. This recipe is very close to the one I use: Pan de Muertos.

If you’re looking for something to read in the spirit of the season, download my books now:

Cheers,

Aspasía S. Bissas

🎃

Dracula Cha-Cha, 1960

The Dracula Cookbook, 1978

The Dracula Cookbook of Blood, 1993

Genuine Soil from Dracula’s Castle, 1979

Dracula Statuette, 1930s to 1940s

Dracula: A Toy Theatre, 1979

I Vant to Bite Your Finger: The Dracula Game, 1979

Dracula Model Kit, 1962

Dracula Dolls, 1980s to 1990s

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