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Why Dracula?

I’ve always been drawn to horror stories, monsters, and especially vampires. I find the visuals, character designs, costumes, and settings of dark stories to be intriguing and beautiful, much more so than ordinary life. I’m a sucker for a creepy, foggy forest or a dank swamp.

In particular, I love stories with characters that are complex, contradictory, and multifaceted—characters that feel real. Sympathetic villains and flawed heroes. That’s not to say I’m a villain stan, I just like to hear both sides of every story. Every villain has a story and most have logical, relevant motives (excluding the generic “be evil, take over” villains).

Once you understand their perspective, it can be easier to understand their actions and empathize with them—and in some cases, once you see both sides of the story, you might find your allegiances shifting. 

The devils we dare to love. Messy, morally gray, and somehow... relatable.

  • Ben Linus (Lost)

    Ben Linus (Lost)

    If you’ve seen the show, you understand. He’s easy to hate at first, but something changes by the end and you feel for him. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers.

  • The Phantom of the Opera

    The Phantom of the Opera

    This one is possibly the most obvious. Phantom’s life was a tragedy and he became what the world made him—but in spite of that, he loved ardently. How many of us wanted Christine to choose him over Raoul, despite everything that had happened?

  • Dr. Frankenstein

    Dr. Frankenstein

    Not to be confused with his creation, who is also labeled a monster for no reason other than what he is. Dr. Frankenstein himself is the villain, but his motives are understandable, if misguided.

  • The Sanderson Sisters

    The Sanderson Sisters

    They’re awful but they’re also popular for a reason

  • Sarah Fier (Fear Street)

    Sarah Fier (Fear Street)

    I won’t say much to avoid spoilers, but I’ll say this: Sarah’s story is about burning witches, which is already a known blemish in our history.

  • Sweeney Todd

    Sweeney Todd

    He’s a serial killer, but you can’t help but root for him

  • Severus Snape

    Severus Snape

    Love to hate him, hate to love him. Despite his actions, heroic or villainous, he was at his core a bully. Severus Snape is the embodiment of “hurt people hurt people,” but he was also capable of profound love and great acts of valor.

  • Tucker and Dale

    Tucker and Dale

    This movie a great example of why it’s important to hear both sides of a story.

But of all the bad boys, Dracula is closest to my heart. He’s sassy, bratty, and cheeky. He’s handsome and charming. He can be menacing, and he is most certainly dangerous—but his greatest crime is his only means of survival. I can’t think of a more sympathetic villain.

If vampires existed today and you were turned into one, you’d be instantly labeled a monster. Of course you would; people don’t typically like being prey. Aside from your new fangs and a thirst for blood, though, what if you hadn’t changed? Would you think it fair to be seen as a villain for no reason other than what you are? Would you think it fair to be seen as a villain for surviving, no different than what a wolf does?

Dracula is such a mysterious character and we usually only ever see him through the lens of his prey. I’ve always wanted to know more about him. The staying power that Dracula and the Universal Monsters have had allowed me to grow an attachment to this vampire. He’s everywhere, even on Sesame Street. When you grow up with a character like the Count, it’s hard to see him as a monster. 

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