The Mixed Bag of Vampyr
The Mixed Bag of Vampyr (1932) By Logan Tyler Smith Vampires did not have a linear path to being a cultural icon. Vampires have been interpreted in a variety of forms, most notably from the Dracula novel which has been interpreted from FW Murnau (Nosferatu) all the way to Francis Ford Coppola (Bram Stoker’s Dracula) and then beyond. However, one of the more interesting films to me is one that does not really work to the level that some have said the latter two examples have worked. The film I am talking about (the one that doesn’t fully work) is a film by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer; that film is 1932’s Vampyr. Vampyr is a mixed bag for many reasons, notably its atmosphere, acting, and lack of theme. One thing Vampyr definitely succeeds at is creating a creepy, unsettling atmosphere. Everything about the film from the death-related imagery (especially the shots of coffins and shadows) to the choice of music and shot length succeed at making the film conventional...