Vampire Campfire

Vampire Campfire
  • 5.0 (4)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Biweekly

This is Vampire Campfire: the podcast where we explore the intertextual nature of vampire media from the spooky to the sparkly and the scary to the campy. vampirecampfirepod.substack.com

  1. Crushing the Creation Myth: Explaining Vampires through Science

    20h ago

    Crushing the Creation Myth: Explaining Vampires through Science

    We’re headed back to Atlantis this week to continue asking: if vampires are figments of the Gothic imagination, why do so many authors insist on examining them under a microscope? If our nightmares haunt us with fears of the unknown, what exactly do we gain from the paragraphs on paragraphs of exposition that tell us exactly how those monsters came to be? In other words, have sci-fi vampires been defanged (and are they just compensating with their big, nasty teeth)? In this episode, Hannah and Rebecca dive deep into the history of the mad scientist as brought to us by Mary Shelley and Universal Pictures, unpack the link between 20th-century B-films and the atomic bomb, and consider whether vampire-as-plague works better as a metaphor than a plot device. Hannah is traumatized by weird-ass ant brain fungus, Rebecca is scarred by having to discuss I Am Legend yet again, and they both demand to know what the hell a “nano” actually is. Come vamps, join us around the campfire. Major Spoilers: * The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1886 * Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, directed by Charles Barton, 1948 * Ultraviolet, directed by Kurt Wimmer, 2006 Other media mentioned in this episode: Fiction * Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, 1818 * The Family of the Vourdalak by Aleksey Tolstoy, 1839 * Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872 * Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897 * I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, 1954 * Anno Dracula by Kim Newman, 1992 * Argeneau by Lynsay Sands, 2003-2025 (series) * The Passage by Justin Cronin, 2010 * V Wars: A Chronicle of the Vampire Wars edited by Jonathan Maberry, 2014 * Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis by Anne Rice, 2016 Film * Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, directed by F.W. Murnau, 1922 * Dracula, directed by Tod Browning, 1931 * Frankenstein, directed by James Whale, 1931 * The Wolf Man, directed by George Waggner, 1941 * House of Frankenstein, directed by Erle C. Kenton, 1944 * House of Dracula, directed by Erle C. Kenton, 1945 * The Vampire, directed by Paul Landres, 1957 * Nosferatu the Vampire, directed by Werner Herzog, 1979 * Nadja, directed by Michael Almereyda, 1994 * From Dusk Till Dawn, directed by Robert Rodriguez, 1996 * Blade, directed by Stephen Norrington, 1998 * Shadow of the Vampire, directed by E. Eilas Merhge, 2000 * Dracula 2000, directed by Patrick Lussier, 2000 * Blade II, directed by Guillermo del Toro, 2002 * I Am Legend, directed by Francis Lawrence, 2007 * Daybreakers, directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig, 2009 * Morbius, directed Daniel Espinosa, 2022 * Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers, 2024 * Van Helsing, directed by Stephen Sommers, 2004 TV * The Vampire Diaries, 2009-2017 * The Strain, 2014-2017 * V Wars, 2019 * Midnight Mass, 2021 * Wednesday, 2022-2025 Additional Reading * Catherine Pugh, “The Deathbird of Disease: Count Orlok and the Monstrous Virus,” in Nosferatu in the 21st Century, 2022 Liked this episode? You’ll also like… The Hottest Newest Oldest Vampires: Nosferatu, Sinners, and AMC’s Interview with the Vampire How Many Vampires Does it Take to End the World? From Egypt to Atlantis: How Vampires Explain Their Origins The Campfire: The Argeneaus The Campfire: Morbius Want more vampire content in all your feeds? Follow us @vampirecampfirepod on Instagram and TikTok for podcast updates & vampire memes. Find us on Letterboxd and Goodreads for a peek at what we’re consuming next. Consider becoming a paid member of our Substack to get bonus episodes — the first one is available now! This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rebecca Glazer & Hannah Spiegelman Note: We’re an affiliate of Bookshop.org and earn a small commission if you purchase through our links — allowing you to support indie bookstores and an indie podcast at the same time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 18m
  2. The Campfire: The Argeneaus

    May 19 ·  Bonus

    The Campfire: The Argeneaus

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com Welcome back to the Campfire — our special bonus section! In this episode, Hannah regales Rebecca with tales from Lynsay Sands’ long-running Argeneau vampire romance series. Yes, these are the vampires from Atlantis we mentioned in our last episode, and no, learning more details does not make it make sense! They discuss nanobiotech, Stockholm syndrome, …

    10 min
  3. From Egypt to Atlantis: How Vampires Explain Their Origins

    May 12

    From Egypt to Atlantis: How Vampires Explain Their Origins

    Vampires are creatures of folklore. So why do some writers feel the need to create their own origin stories for how the first vampires came to be? Do we really need to know, especially if it involves reptilian creatures that live in long-lost, technologically-advanced cities (no names)? Are they tying themselves in knots trying to answer a chicken–egg question nobody asked? In this episode, Rebecca, Hannah, and very special guest Jay Martin explore the gamut of vampire mythologies, from the slightly-more-sensical origins in magic and religion to those that appropriate real-world cultures and give them a vampiric spin. They encounter #1 frenemy of the pod, Lord Byron; shout out monster-f*ckers everywhere; try to unpack Anne Rice’s most questionable choices; and travel from the cradle of civilization to Virginia, USA, as fast as Damon Salvatore in a sports car. Come vamps, join us around the campfire. Content warnings: mention of suicide in fiction Major Spoilers: * Ganja & Hess, directed by Bill Gunn, 1973 * The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice, 1988 * My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due, 1997 * Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis by Anne Rice, 2016 Other media mentioned in this episode: Fiction * “The Vampyre” by John William Polidori, 1819 * Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897 * The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas, 1980 * Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice, 1995 * Pandora by Anne Rice, 1998 * Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz, 2006 * Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith, 2010 * Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, 2020- (series) * Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma, 2024 * Argeneau by Lynsay Sands, 2003-2025 (series) Poetry * “The Bride of Corinth” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1797 * “The Giaour: Fragment of a Turkish Tale” by Lord Byron, 1813 Film * The Hunger, directed by Tony Scott, 1983 * Vampire in Brooklyn, directed by Wes Craven, 1995 * From Dusk till Dawn, directed by Robert Rodriguez, 1996 * Dracula 2000, directed by Patrick Lussier, 2000 * Atlantis: The Lost Empire, directed Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, 2001 * Queen of the Damned, directed by Michael Rymer, 2002 * Dark Shadows, directed by Tim Burton, 2012 * Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, directed by Timue Bekmambetov, 2012 * Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, directed by Spike Lee, 2014 * Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers, 2024 * Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, 2025 TV * Dark Shadows, 1966-1971 * Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2003 * True Blood, 2008-2014 * The Vampire Diaries, 2009-2027 * The Originals, 2013-2018 * From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, 2014-2016 * What We Do in the Shadows, 2019-2024 * First Kill, 2022 * Interview with the Vampire, 2022- * Dimension 20: City Council of Darkness, 2026 Games * Vampire: The Masquerade, 1991 Liked this episode? You’ll also like… Schools & Rules An Episode of Fangs & Fate Unholy Communion: Vampires and the Church Want more vampire content in all your feeds? Check out our Pinterest @vampirecampfirepod to capture the aesthetic of this episode. Follow us @vampirecampfirepod on Instagram and TikTok for podcast updates & vampire memes. Find us on Letterboxd and Goodreads for a peek at what we’re consuming next. Consider becoming a paid member of our Substack to get bonus episodes — available now! This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rebecca Glazer & Hannah Spiegelman Note: We’re an affiliate of Bookshop.org and earn a small commission if you purchase through our links — allowing you to support indie bookstores and an indie podcast at the same time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 17m
  4. The Campfire: Dracula 2000

    May 5 ·  Bonus

    The Campfire: Dracula 2000

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com Welcome back to the Campfire — our special bonus section! In this episode, Rebecca and Hannah tell our very first Vampire Campfire guest (Hannah’s mom!) all about the extremely 2000s movie Dracula 2000. As a pretty ridiculous member of the Dracula-verse, this time-capsule film has it all: a teeny tiny computer, a massive Virgin Megastore, high-flying leeches, Judas Iscariot, questionable justifications for vampires’ fear of silver, dream-like visions, garden tools, and a neon Jesus. It was also definitely not produced by Wes Craven, despite all evidence to the contrary. Come vamps, join us around the campfire. Content warning: mention of suicide in fiction Major Spoilers: * Dracula 2000, directed by Patrick Lussier, 2000 Other media mentioned in this episode:

    12 min
  5. Comedy, Camp, and Parody: When Vampires Make Us Laugh

    Apr 28

    Comedy, Camp, and Parody: When Vampires Make Us Laugh

    Intentionally or not, vampires (and their associated tropes) are pretty good at making us laugh. What we want to know is, when are we laughing with them, and when are we laughing at them? Is our mocking mean-spirited, or does it come from a place of love? In this episode, Rebecca and Hannah venture into the land of comedy, camp, and parody to see how these genres not only add a spin to our most familiar stories, but may lie at the very heart of the Gothic itself. They trace 18th-century satire all the way to 21st-century humorous horror, uncover some remarkably strange tropes (including glow-in-the-dark vampires?!), demand justice for definitely-not-a-dummy Jonathan Harker, explore the studio’s sound board, and pay respects to two of their favorite childhood comics. Come vamps, join us around the campfire. Content warnings: discussion of misogyny, racism, homophobia, and other bigotry in fiction Major Spoilers: * The Fearless Vampire Killers, directed by Roman Polanski, 1967 * Love at First Bite, directed by Stan Dragoti, 1979 * Vampire in Brooklyn, directed by Wes Craven, 1995 * Dracula: Dead and Loving It, directed by Mel Brooks, 1995 * What We Do In the Shadows, 2019-2024 * Renfield, directed by Chris McKay, 2023 Other media mentioned in this episode: Fiction * The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, 1764 * The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 1794 * Vampire City by Paul Féval, 1867 (trans. Brian Stableford, 2003) * Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897 * Goosebumps: Vampire’s Breath by R.L. Stine, 1996 Non-fiction * Dissertations upon the Apparitions of Angels, Dæmons, and Ghosts, and Concerning the Vampires of Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia by Dom Augustin Calmet, 1746 Film * Dracula, directed by Tod Browning, 1931 * Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, directed by Charles Barton, 1948 * Dracula, directed by Terence Fisher, 1958 * The Hunger, directed by Tony Scott, 1983 * Once Bitten, directed by Howard Storm, 1985 * The Lost Boys, directed by Joel Schumacher, 1987 * Bram Stoker’s Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, 1992 * Buffy the Vampire Slayer, directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui, 1992 * Dracula 2000, directed by Patrick Lussier, 2000 * Twilight, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, 2008 * The Twilight Saga: New Moon, directed by Chris Weitz, 2009 * Vampires Suck, directed by Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg, 2010 * The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, directed by David Slade, 2010 * Breaking Wind, directed by Craig Moss, 2012 * Only Lovers Left Alive, directed by Jim Jarmusch, 2013 * What We Do In the Shadows, directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, 2014 * Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, 2025 TV * Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2003 Stage * Twihard: An Unauthorized Twilight Musical Parody, Otherworld Theatre, 2025 Additional Reading * “Notes on ‘Camp,’” Susan Sontag, 1964 Liked this episode? You’ll also like… * From Monster to Muppet: Making Vampires for Children * Romanticizing the Vampire & the Gothic Story * The Hottest Newest Oldest Vampires: Nosferatu, Sinners, and AMC's Interview with the Vampire Want more vampire content in all your feeds? Check out our Pinterest @vampirecampfirepod to capture the aesthetic of this episode. Follow us @vampirecampfirepod on Instagram and TikTok for podcast updates & vampire memes. Find us on Letterboxd and Goodreads for a peek at what we’re consuming next. Consider becoming a paid member of our Substack to get bonus episodes — the first one is available now! This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rebecca Glazer & Hannah Spiegelman Note: We’re an affiliate of Bookshop.org and earn a small commission if you purchase through our links — allowing you to support indie bookstores and an indie podcast at the same time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 7m
  6. "Soft red petals hiding sharp white teeth": A History of Sapphic Vampires

    Apr 14

    "Soft red petals hiding sharp white teeth": A History of Sapphic Vampires

    Despite what her marketing team will tell you, Carmilla was not the sole inspiration for Dracula — but she does get the honor of being the first lesbian vampire and, along with a few mythological goddesses, has inspired a whole lineage of sapphic vampires over the last 150 years. In this episode, Rebecca and Hannah explore the extensive history of the sapphic vampire, from the uses and abuses of vampirism as a metaphor for lesbianism, to how queer audiences reclaimed exploitation films through camp, and why it always comes back to the vagina dentata and their fave girl Lilith. Come vamps, join us around the campfire. Major Spoilers: * Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872 * Dracula’s Daughter, directed by Lambert Hillyer, 1936 * Blood and Roses, directed by Roger Vadim, 1960 * Crypt of the Vampire, directed by Camillo Mastrocinque, 1964 * The Vampire Lovers, directed by Roy Ward Baker, 1970 * Daughters of Darkness, directed by Harry Kümel, 1971 * Vampyros Lesbos, directed by Jesús Franco, 1971 * The Hunger, directed by Tony Scott, 1983 * Nadja, directed by Michael Almereyda, 1994 * Jennifer’s Body, directed by Karyn Kusama, 2009 * Carmilla, directed by Emily Harris, 2019 * An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson, 2024 * Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk, 2024 * Hungerstone by Kat Dunn, 2025 Other media mentioned in this episode: Fiction * “The Mysterious Stranger” by Karl von Wachsmann, 1844 * Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897 * Hotel Transylvania by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, 1978 * The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez, 1991 * Fledgling by Octavia Butler, 2005 * A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson, 2021 * Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste, 2022 * Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab, 2025 Film * The Brides of Dracula, directed by Terence Fisher, 1960 * The Velvet Vampire, directed by Stephanie Rothman, 1971 * Blood for Dracula, directed by Paul Morrissey, 1974 * Alucarda, directed by Juan López Moctezuma, 1977 * Carmilla, directed by Janusz Kondratiuk, 1980 * The Mark of Lilith, directed by Bruna Fionda, Zach Mack-Nataf, and Polly Gladwin, 1986 * Vampire’s Kiss, directed by Robert Bierman, 1988 * Saltburn, directed by Emerald Fennell, 2023 * Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers, 2024 TV * Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2003 * First Kill, 2022 Additional Reading * Christopher Craft, “’Kiss Me with those Red Lips’: Gender and Inversion in Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” Representations no. 8 (1984) * Dracula’s Daughters: The Female Vampire on Film, edited by Douglas Brode and Leah Deyneka, 2013 * Medieval Bodies: Life and Death in the Middle Ages by Jack Hartnell, 2018 Liked this episode? You’ll also like… * Dracula's Older Gayer Cousins * Are All Vampires a Leetle Gäy? * I Vant to Suck Your... Energy Want more vampire content in all your feeds? Check out our Pinterest @vampirecampfirepod to capture the aesthetic of this episode. Follow us @vampirecampfirepod on Instagram and TikTok for podcast updates & vampire memes. Find us on Letterboxd and Goodreads for a peek at what we’re consuming next. Consider becoming a paid member of our Substack to get bonus episodes — the first one is available now! This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rebecca Glazer & Hannah Spiegelman Note: We’re an affiliate of Bookshop.org and earn a small commission if you purchase through our links — allowing you to support indie bookstores and an indie podcast at the same time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com/subscribe

    2h 11m
  7. Unholy Communion: Vampires and the Church

    Mar 31

    Unholy Communion: Vampires and the Church

    From glowing crosses to squirt guns full of holy water, it’s hard to find a piece of modern vampire media that doesn’t at least pay homage to the “common knowledge” that vampires are anathema to all that is holy. But this may be a more recent trope than it seems, and in this episode, Rebecca and Hannah take a metaphorical walk through the churchyard to trace the early vampire literature that established our most taken-for-granted religious tropes. They uncover the historical connection between the Catholic Church and vampirism, Hannah gets very confused thinking about Communion, and Rebecca creates a mini trivia game to test Hannah’s vampire media knowledge. Plus: the possible 19th-century inspiration for Dracula 2000, a miniseries that casts vampirism as a miracle worthy of Christ, and a YA romance written by a real-life nun. Come vamps, join us around the campfire. Major Spoilers: * Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897 * Midnight Mass, created by Mike Flanagan, 2021 * The Curse He Chose by Sr. Allison Regina Gliot, 2025 Other media mentioned in this episode: Non-fiction * Dissertation Regarding the Vampires by Giuseppe Davanzati, 1739 * Dissertations upon the Apparitions of Angels, Dæmons, and Ghosts, and Concerning the Vampires of Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia by Dom Augustin Calmet, 1746 Fiction * “The Vampyre” by John William Polidori, 1819 * The Viy by Nikolai Gogol, 1835 * “The Curse of the Vourdalak” by Alexis Tolstoy, 1839 * Varney the Vampire: or, the Feast of Blood by James Malcolm Ryder and Thomas Pickett Prest, 1845-1847 * “The Mysterious Stranger” by Karl von Wachsmann, 1844 * Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872 * “A Kiss of Judas” by Julian Osgood Field, 1893 * ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, 1975 * Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, 1976 * The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice, 1985 * Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton, 1993 * Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice, 1995 * “For the Blood is the Life” by Francis Marion Crawford, 1996 * Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, 2005 * New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, 2006 * Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz, 2006 * Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith, 2010 Film * Nosferatu, directed by F. W. Murnau 1922 * Dracula, directed by Terence Fisher, 1958 * Ganja & Hess, directed by Bill Gunn, 1973 * ‘Salem’s Lot, directed by Tobe Hooper, 1979 * The Lost Boys, directed by Joel Schumacher, 1987 * Bram Stoker’s Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, 1992 * Dracula 2000, directed by Patrick Lussier, 2000 * Van Helsing, directed by Stephen Sommers, 2004 * Vampires vs. the Bronx, directed by Oz Rodriguez, 2020 * Morbius, directed by Daniel Espinosa, 2022 * Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, 2025 TV * Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2003 * What We Do in the Shadows, 2019-2024 * Interview with the Vampire, 2022- Additional Reading * The Vampire: A New History by Nick Groom, 2018 * Stephen Purcell, “Not Wholly Communion,” Christianity and Literature, vol 67, no. 2 (2018) * ldiko Limpar, “Vampirism as Apocalyptic Hypocrisy in Midnight Mass,” Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies, vol 31, no. 1 (2025) Want more vampire content in all your feeds? Follow us @vampirecampfirepod on Instagram and TikTok for podcast updates & vampire memes. Find us on Letterboxd and Goodreads for a peek at what we’re consuming next. Consider becoming a paid member of our Substack to get bonus episodes — the first one is available now! This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rebecca Glazer & Hannah Spiegelman Note: We’re an affiliate of Bookshop.org and earn a small commission if you purchase through our links — allowing you to support indie bookstores and an indie podcast at the same time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 42m
  8. The Campfire: Morbius

    Mar 24 ·  Bonus

    The Campfire: Morbius

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com Welcome back to the Campfire — our new bonus section! In this episode, Rebecca regales us with the utterly nonsensical plot of Morbius as a (formerly) passionate Marvel fan. Hannah questions the difference between “living vampires” and “dhampirs,” ponders the feeding habits of vampire bats, and gets confused about science and the mechanics of blood-draining. They come to the conclusion that the director has never encountered any animal ever in his life and touch on the important connection between vampire media and the AIDS epidemic — as well as the responsibilities writers have to consider the implications of their metaphors. Come vamps, join us around the campfire. Major Spoilers: * Morbius, directed by Daniel Espinosa, 2022 Other media mentioned in this episode:

    13 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

This is Vampire Campfire: the podcast where we explore the intertextual nature of vampire media from the spooky to the sparkly and the scary to the campy. vampirecampfirepod.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Vampire Campfire
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Vampire Campfire
  • Show Website
    Vampire Campfire