The Tea Party is one of those bands I used to listen to all the time and then kind of forgot about, which is a shame because they’re really good (at least they were back in the 90s/early 2000s, and probably still are). If you want to give them a listen, I suggest you start with their albums The Edges of Twilight and Transmission. And if you’re wondering, their name predates the ridiculous political movement, and they have no affiliation with it (also, they’re Canadian).
One of my favourite songs of theirs is “Temptation.” While it’s not meant to be about vampires, the lyrics are easily interpreted that way. I used to add it to every vampire-related playlist I’d put together (or as we called them back in the dark ages of my youth– mix tapes). What do you think?
I never noticed how much the lead singer is channelling Jim Morrison (The Doors) in this video. Anyone else see it? Share your thoughts in the comments…
By the way, nothing goes with vampire-themed music like vampire-themed books: download mine now!
I came across this video and thought it was worth sharing. You might already be familiar with some of these stories, but all five are fascinating to contemplate. Give it a watch and tell me what you think…
Warning: These stories contain some disturbing details and imagery, including of blood, death, and torture.
Can’t get enough vampires? I’ve got you covered: download my books now!
Well, well, if it isn’t another long-deferred movie sequel. Some of these have been good, like Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and some have been not so good, like Ghostbusters (2016). But I’ve got a feeling that Beetlejuice 2 is going to be a good one. Have you seen the teaser trailer yet?
For some reason, I’m really excited to see this. I say “for some reason” because I didn’t love the original. It was okay, but as with a number of Tim Burton flicks, I find that the aesthetic and visuals are better than the story. But maybe seeing Winona Ryder in her element again, or the fact that Jenna Ortega is in it, or that Catherine O’Hara is back is just what I needed. I’m really looking forward to Beetlejuice 2.
Tim Burton is such a weird director for me. When I like his work, I really like it. When I don’t like his work, I still (usually) enjoy looking at it. If you’re not familiar with his movies, here are a few that I recommend:
Batman Returns: Michelle Pfeiffer is the best Catwoman (sorry, Julie Newmar, et al). The Penguin is weird and creepy, and his circus minions are kind of awesome (less so for the actual penguins, but you can’t have it all). And Christopher Walken’s Max Shreck is the kind of villain who takes his cues from mob bosses and dictators (it’s more fun when it’s fiction). It might not compare to more recent Batman movies, but for me it’s still in the top three.
Sleepy Hollow: Another great cast. The whole movie is just beautiful, but Lisa Marie stands out in every scene she’s in. Christopher Walken is fantastic. The story is a classic one, and I think it’s told well here.
Big Fish: It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but I remember thinking it was one of Burton’s better offerings, story-wise.
Alice in Wonderland: I think this is one you’ll either love or hate. I found it magical. It’s maybe the only movie that was actually enhanced by 3-D.
Big Eyes: A really interesting story, based on true events. Good cast (you can never go wrong with Christoph Waltz and Terence Stamp). It also gave me an appreciation for a whole new art style.
Honourable Mentions:
Edward Scissorhands: I didn’t like it, but Edward looks amazing. How about a sequel to this? Maybe one that suits his looks a little better.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: One of my top three favourite movies, but Burton didn’t direct it. He did write and produce it, though.
Dishonourable Mention:
Dark Shadows: You’d think Burton would kill it with a vampire movie, but instead he just murdered Dark Shadows. I did like a couple of the characters, and I thought Johnny Depp was all right as Barnabas Collins. That’s the best thing I can say about it. Alas.
Are you interested in seeing Beetlejuice 2? What do you think of other Burton movies? Share in the comments…
Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
Missed the vampires in today’s post? Download my books for all kinds of vampire goodness…
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. You can get Bleeding Hearthere. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Have you ever heard an idea so brilliant– yet so obvious– that you can’t believe you didn’t think of it first? Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer came out over a decade ago, and I’m still kicking myself for not coming up with it. Pinocchio, the puppet who longs to be a real boy, turns vampire slayer to get revenge– and he gets his stakes by lying and breaking off his nose.
Is that not perfect?
He also has the advantage of being unkillable by vampires, as well as causing them pain just by touching them. Basically he was made to kill vampires.
Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer is a graphic novel written by Van Jensen and drawn by Dusty Higgins. The artwork (at least in my edition) is black and white, which is fine, but I think some touches of red here and there would have taken it to the next level. The drawing style is great: stark and evocative, with a distinct look for humans, vampires, and Pinocchio. The way the vampires die is particularly nicely done.
The story itself is so good. It starts with a quick re-telling of Carlo Collodi’s original tale, which is far more twisted and bizarre than I was ever led to believe by Disney. I’m a little surprised Collodi himself never thought to add some vampires to the mix. But even without the early introduction, it’s easy for Jensen to pick up the threads and write the next installment. The story flows naturally and at no point do you question the believability of Pinocchio becoming a vampire hunter. The tone can get a little too modern for a Victorian tale, if that sort of thing bothers you, but the humour relies on the updated language, and the book wouldn’t be as good without it.
Even now I still think of Pinocchio as a vampire slayer, rather than a puppet, and his adventures before he started hunting all seem like mere prelude. If you can get your hands on a copy I highly recommend it. For now, take a look at the original trailer, and let me know what you think:
Pinocchio: I love your outfit. It’s so sparkly. Vampire: Why, thank you. I wanted something that took away from the whole morbid undead thing. Pinocchio: [taps his elongated nose] Vampire: Oh…
Who do you think would win in a fight between Pinocchio and the vampires in my books? Download now and decide for yourself…
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! ♥
Aspasía S. Bissas 