Blog challenge #2: Vampires

So, vampires. I could go into a whole big discussion about them and throw loads of random info at you, but I really can't be bothered to do that, so I'm going to do my blog post on Count Dracula because that's possibly the most famous vampire of all time. He's had many different representations in movies and books, but the general consensus is that he's an evil blood sucking killer.

Some of the basic facts you need to know about Dracula:

• The character was created by Bram Stoker in 1897
• The character was inspired by Vlad the Impaler
• He has been represented in many different movies and books since then
• Dracula is incredibly strong, stealthy and can change form into various animals, most commonly a bat.
• He requires fresh blood which rejuvenates him. Without this, he ages at an accelerated rate.
• Contrary to popular belief, the sunlight does not kill Dracula, merely weakens him.
• He must be invited into a place in order to enter it, but after this, he may come and go as he pleases.
• The only ways to definitively kill him being shooting with a sacred bullet, decapitation and stabbing through the heart with a wooden stake.

Vampires are generally seen as the "undead". They rise from their graves at night to seek fresh blood to drink, but they must return to the grave before dawn. They have recently become popularised in shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it's subsequent spin off series, Angel. Movies such as Van Helsing and the Blade Trilogy have also added to the hype of vampires, making it popular culture for many young people.

Here is a video of the trailer for the 1992 movie interpretation of Bram Stoker's Dracula: