The vampire subgenre in horror cinema is one of those with an admirable following. It even flowed into more questionable territory when the Twilight franchise was born, but once that was over, the fans of the bloodsucking monsters were still there waiting for the next film (or TV show) to make its statement in the genre. Luckily, films like Renfield, The Invitation, and The Last Voyage of the Demeter, are proof that vampires are still profitable.

Chances are you've already watched Bram Stoker's Dracula and The Lost Boys for the fourth time each this year, and you've realized your unhealthy obsession with the greased-up saxophonists and the bloodsucking undead may need a little variety. Well, no fear, because here are some lesser-known, outstanding, and underrated films to add to your regular vamp rotation.

Updated on August 16th, 2023 by Federico Furzan: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

13 Cronos (1993)

Cronos Guillermo del Toro
October Films / Prime Films S.L.

In Guillermo del Toro's first feature film, Cronos, he takes a scientific and parasitic approach to vampirism. An old man and his granddaughter discover an ancient artifact that injects its hosts with a serum that causes them to crave blood.

In true del Toro fashion, the film boasts amazing practical special effects, but also fantastic acting on both the protagonist's (Federico Luppi) and the antagonist's (Ron Perlman) parts. The story is unnerving, emotional, and possibly one of the greatest Spanish horror films ever made.

12 Subspecies (1991)

Subspecies 1991
Full Moon Features / Castel Film Studios

Subspecies is the perfect franchise for vampire lovers that enjoy both classic Romanian vampire lore and great, cheesy effects. The films are made by Ted Nicolau with Full Moon Pictures (Puppet Master, Evil Bong), and have the benefit of being shot at Charles Band's own castle.

There are four Subspecies films and a spin-off titled The Vampire Journals. The franchise boasts fun performances from actors like Angus Scrimm (Phantasm), Melanie Shatner (daughter of Star Trek legend William Shatner), and Anders Hove as the imposing vampire Radu. Be prepared to see awesome decapitations, well-done mummy makeup, fire suits, and tiny little stop-motion monsters. These films go all-out in the fun department.

11 Ganja & Hess (1973)

Ganja & Hess 1973
Kelly-Jordan Enterprises

In 1973, during the prime of the heavy hitters in Blaxploitation, Bill Gunn released a truly unique and beautiful vampire film. Starring Duane Jones (Night of the Living Dead) and Marlene Clark, Ganja & Hess is a gorgeous and stylistic vampire romance film that brings in interesting lore and vampirism brought on by a magical ceremonial dagger.

The film was created as a metaphor for black assimilation and white imperialism and hits both of those points clearly. If you're looking for a film with tons of blood and gore, this one may not be for you, but if you're interested in a gradually-paced piece of beautiful Black art, you can't go wrong with Ganja & Hess. For those of you who may be more in for an updated version, Spike Lee remade the film in 2014, calling it Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.

10 Stake Land (2010)

Kelly McGillis in Stake Land
Dark Sky Films / IFC Films

Think Zombieland but way more depressing and no comedic quips by Woody Harrelson. Stake Land features three strangers that come together to maneuver across the apocalyptic United States after being overrun by feral vampires. The story is emotional, the acting is well-done, and the creatures and gore effects look fantastic.

The film keeps its audience invested well after the watch, as the filmmakers released prequel shorts on Youtube that dive into the character's backstories. The film donned one sequel, The Stakelander (2016) which actually wasn't bad, and it works great in a double bill with this one.

9 Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

shadow of the vampire willem dafoe nosferatu
Metrodome Distribution / Lions Gate Films

E. Elias Merhige's Shadow of the Vampire is funny, spooky, and decidedly different from any other vampire film. We still don't know what to make of it, except it's one director's take on a Hollywood legend that still hasn't been clarified. Did Max Schreck really wear no makeup when shooting F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu?

This film confirms the answer through a hilarious plot that puts Murnau as the director who wasn't willing to sacrifice his movie. Not even if Schreck was actually a real vampire sucking the blood out of the crew. It's an underrated film about artistic drive in the face of a crisis, as non-sensical as it can be.

Related: 15 Best Horror Movies From The '90s, Ranked

8 What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

what we do in the shadows film
Madman Entertainment / Unison/Paladin

Before Taika Waititi did Thor: Ragnarok or Jojo Rabbit, he and fellow Flight of the Conchords creator Jemaine Clement released one of the absolute best horror comedies of all time. What We Do in the Shadows features a mockumentary-style approach.

It documents the lifestyle of several vampire roommates in a New Zealand flat. All the characters are memorable, the jokes are clever and long-lasting, and the theme song is catchy as hell. The film inspired the filmmakers to create an FX show of the same name, which is curiously as funny as the film is.

7 The Hunger (1983)

david bowie The Hunger
MGM/UA Entertainment Co.

Tony Scott's The Hunger is one of those vampire movies that most people haven't seen. A damn shame. It tells the story of a couple of vampires who form a love triangle with a doctor researching the process of aging.

It stars a trifecta of beautiful people: David Bowie, Susan Sarandon, and Catherine Deneuve. Its opening scene, a display of style, is pure fuel for a nightmare, a wet dream, or why not, a wet nightmare.

6 Martin (1977)

martin 1977
Libra Films

Much like the metaphorical meanings behind Ganja & Hess, George A. Romero created Martin as one giant metaphor for drug addiction. Not your classic vampire tale, Martin follows a young man that believes he's a vampire.

However, rather than going through the withdrawals of his blood addiction, he decides to roam the city in search of a way to quench his thirst. This film is more of a message than it is a vampire film, but it does a great job using one thing to tell another. This one is definitely worth a shot if you're looking for more of an artistic film.

5 We Are What We Are (2010)

we are what we are 2010
Canana Films

Jorge Michel Grau made We Are What We Are (aka Somos Lo Que Hay) in 2010, and right from that moment people were in awe. The film told the story of a cannibalistic family forced to continue the tradition after the patriarch and leader passes away.

It's all in the hands of the teenage children now. Technically, not a vampire movie because bloodsuckers are nowhere to be seen, but do blood eaters work for you? This one takes place in the same universe as Cronos, as Daniel Giménez Cacho reprises his role as Tito, the coroner.

4 A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night film still
Vice Films / Kino Lorber

An artsy black and white slow-burn, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is an absolute masterpiece in all the cinematographic categories. English-Iranian-American filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour created a gorgeous "Iranian-horror-western" film chock-full of woman empowerment.

The action might not be there, but the intense and quiet moments of dread throughout the film more than makeup for constant blood and guts. Sheila Vand is stunning as "The Girl" and she perfectly toes the line between alluring beauty and sneaking terror.

Related: 9 Gory Vampire Movies with No Time for Romance

3 Thirst (2009)

Song Kang-ho in Thirst
Focus Features

Directed by the amazing Park Chan-wook, Thirst is nothing like any other film of its genre. Actually, make that "any other film". It tells the story of a Catholic priest who decides to participate in an experiment to find the cure for a deadly disease and ends up becoming a vampire.

Not only that, he also begins to have feelings for a woman, ending his journey as a celibate and dedicated servant, and starting one as a guy in love who can't stand sunlight. Trust us when we say this is a very original film.

2 Near Dark (1987)

night shot Near Dark
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group

Speaking of directorial debuts, Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) released one of the most balls-to-the-wall vampire films ever as her first film. Classified as a "horror-western," Near Dark brings together excellent acting talents like Lance Henriksen (Aliens), Bill Paxton (Frailty), and Tim Thomerson (Trancers) to provide an action-packed ride of fire and gore.

This unique take on vampires follows a blood-sucking roughneck family around in an RV, who travel to small towns in the West to fulfill their bloodlust. If you only watch one of these underrated vampire flicks, this '80s vampire flick should be the one.

1 The Forsaken (2001)

the forsaken kerr smith
Screen Gems

The Forsaken isn't nearly as bad as critics said back in 2001. Sure, it plays like a stylish MTV video featuring vampires, but the story is quite compelling, the vampires are extremely cool, and the storyline added something new to the vampire tale.

Featuring the sweethearts of the 2000s Kerr Smith and Brendan Fehr, the film told the story of a couple of young men who come across a gang of vampires while on the road. It's teen horror with all the usual tropes.