Castle and the Vampires

Last night's episode of Castle wasn't Just about Halloween and Vampires. It introduced many viewers to the vampire subculture in a very vivid manner. I'm sure many viewers were surprised to learn that some of men and women who live the life of a vampire have porcelain fangs implanted in their mouths. Even more shocking were the scenes of sanguinarians, or blood drinkers, actually ingesting blood from other people. The writers of the show didn't make this up, it happens to it in special clubs, in homes and apartments, and sometimes-in dark and places out on the street.

Though the show had a campy atmosphere, it was well paced, and figuring out who was the murderer was difficult. The surprise ending, took the viewer to a dark place where a stepmother murders her stepson in order to preserve her secret that she killed his biological mother.

After the show, many people Twittered each other about the episode. How do I know this? When I went on Twitter at 11:20 p.m. Eastern time, Castle was one of the hot topics listed. When I entered, "#Castle," I could see the actual messages going back and forth. The majority of them was from women and concerned Nathan Fillion, the tall, hunky, star of the show, has over 200,000 people following him on Twitter. Nathan, was the star of the short-lived cult science fiction show Firefly. Later, he starred in the movie Serenity, based on the television show.

Old Vampire Movies Never Die: They Just Get Older by Neil Benson

I watched a couple of old, old vampire movies and was disappointed. The original Dracula has become a classic for a variety of reasons, but largely due to Bella Lugosi's campy, over-the-top, performance. His image, words, and style has become "the vampire" for many people for many decades.

This is not true of most of the other early vampire movies. The movie "Vampyr " made in 1932 by Carl Theodore Dreyer, is long on style and short on substance. The director, focused on visual effects, which were very powerful in their time, but not enough on the plot. It is the story of a traveler obsessed with the supernatural visits an old inn and finds evidence of vampires. In a way, it's unfair to compare a movie made seventy-seven years ago with current and recent films. This movie is best enjoyed by aficionados of vampire movies, and other early cinema.

Mark of the Vampire, made in 1935,starred Lionel Barrymore and Bella Lugosi. I found the dialogue to be clichéd and the acting "hammy" even for its time. One critic thought it was amusing. Perhaps it was, but I failed to see it as so. The photography by the famous James Wong Howe captured the eerie atmosphere, but didn't provide anything we hadn't seen in the original Dracula. Only when the script turns everything on its ear at the end of the movie, doesn't rise to a higher quality. The supporting cast, including Lionel Atwell, was talented, but limited by the stylized acting of the time.

The myth of the vampire has become part of world and American culture. It's a shame that movies about vampires aren't seen as potentially premier movies by the powers that be in Hollywood. Then again, the powers that be in Hollywood give us an endless array of cartoon characters in our movies.

Drinking Blood with A Vampire by Neil Benson - free vampire short story

My wife and I went to Asheboro, North Carolina to visit the fabulous zoo just outside the city. We had a great day at the zoo visiting the Africa section.

Gwen had gone to sleep by 10:00pm, tired from the walking we had done. I was in the mood for a couple of mugs of a good microbrew. Asheboro was dry, no alcohol, until July of this year, and doesn't have well-established pubs. I was talking with the hotel manager about this when he told me about some private clubs in the area. He recommended one and gave me a card to get me admitted.

For obvious reasons I can't mention the name of the club. However, I was impressed when I went inside. A long old fashioned bar with well-appointed tables and a jazz trio playing old favorites greeted me.

The bartender had just brought my second mug of a North Carolina lager when I heard someone approach. I turned to see a slender, dark-haired man of middle height. He was wearing a Carolina Panthers sweatshirt, and tan khaki pants. What caught my attention, was his pale white skin. Oh no, not another vampire, I thought.

"I'm glad to see that you recovered from the attack by the female vampire," he said in a local drawl.

"So am I," I replied. "How did you learn to about my attack?"

"I have been following your articles with some interest. Your approach is evenhanded, and you do not condemn us as many mortals do."

"Who might you be?" The vampire' s manner seemed friendly, I was nervous about his intentions.

"John Valerius," he replied, extending his hand.

It was cold when I shook it. I swallowed hard, hoping I wasn't facing another hostile encounter with a vampire.

"I'm glad that our mutual friend in Bucharest was able to help you." He smiled, showing an even row of teeth, without any display of fangs.

"And how do you know our mutual friend in Romania?" I asked.

He chuckled. "I have been in North Carolina for over a hundred years. But I was born in Hungary… some time ago. During my travels I visited Bucharest on several occasions and had the privilege of spending time with our mutual acquaintance."

"You sure have adapted well to the local scene," I said.

"Blending in is a survival mechanism. Modern society makes it easier to do so." He looked at my mug of beer for a moment, then turned his attention back to me. "Please excuse me. While we have been chatting your beer has gotten warm."

John made a motion with his hand and the bartender moved quickly to him. "Please give Neil another mug on the house, and give me a glass of my usual."

"Your usual?" I asked.

He smiled. "I'd be a poor host to allow you to drink alone."

"You own this club?"

"I'm a businessman. In a dry county, I saw an opportunity to make money meeting people's needs. Prohibition was a farce, and men and women will always find places to drink."

A few minutes later, the bartender returned with another mug of beer for me. He put large wine glass, half filled with a red fluid, in front of John.

"Is that what I think it is?" I asked.

"Yes. I always have a supply of blood in the refrigerator. The bartenders warm it up for me so I can drink with the customers." He lifted his glass and touched mine. "To new friends."

"To new friends," I replied. Also, to new experiences. This was the first time I had ever drunk with a vampire.

Desperate Choices by Neil Benson - free vampire short story

Desperate Choices by Neil Benson is a short story about a man who becomes a drug addict in an effort to deal with his depression. One evening, he meets a woman who offers him a solution to his problems that he never imagined. But at what cost?

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1600704

Vampire in Georgia by Neil Benson - free vampire short story

Late one afternoon, I was walking down a mountain trail in the mountains of North Georgia, 20 miles west of the Dahlonega. I tripped over a tree root and fell to the ground. I must have hit my head on a rock, because when I awakened it was dark. Fortunately, I had a flashlight and was able to continue walking to my car. Just before I reached the end of the trail, I heard a snarling noise in the bushes to the right of me.

Bear, I thought and quickly walked to my car. I had opened the trunk, when I heard a noise much closer to me. When I shined a flashlight into the trees, and I saw a man holding his right hand over his face.

"Please don't point the flashlight in my eyes," he said.

As I moved towards him, I saw blood on his hand, his face, and shirt. "Are you all right?" I asked.

"I'm fine," he said. I was close enough to see him lick the blood off his lips.

My God, a vampire. I took a step backward, then another.

"Please," he said. "You're in no danger. I'm sorry I frightened you."

I held my ground, realizing that if he meant me harm, running would do me no good.

He reached behind him and brought forth a flask of water. Then he took out a large handkerchief from his pants pocket and washed his face clean of the blood.

"That's better," he said. He moved towards me until we were less than four feet apart. "I'm Stephen Harklos." He extended his hand.

"Paul Grady," I said gingerly taking his hand.

"This is an embarrassing situation for me. I assure you that I get all the blood I need from a blood bank in Atlanta. However, now and then, I get an urge to taste it from a warm living animal. I take less than a pint from a deer, and none of them die. Is there any way I could reward you so that you wouldn't report me to the authorities?"

"What do you mean?"

"I own a jazz club downtown and am able to obtain tickets to the Falcons, Hawks, and many other sporting events."

I finally let myself relax. "I'm a great basketball fan. A couple of tickets to a Hawks game would be very nice."

"I can do better than that," he said. "I can get you courtside seats for the entire season."

So, Stephen and I became friends and attended many basketball games together. I also visited him at his jazz club whenever my wife and I could make it.