The vampire phenomenon

Photo courtesy of HBO.

It is apparent that vampires have well and truly superseded the Harry Potter series, as well as other tween sensations such as High School Musical and Hannah Montana, as the trend du jour. The vampire obsession comes in many forms: Twilight, True Blood, Lesbian Vampire Killers... and the list goes on, each series aimed at a slightly different audience.

New Moon -the latest film in the Twilight series- had phenomenal success in its opening weekend on Australian movie screens, raking in a record breaking $16 million. Similarly in the United States, the Twilight sequel brought in $US140.7 million on its opening weekend.

But to what does the success of vampire phenomenon owe itself? Admittedly I spend any second of spare time glued to the screen as I wait impatiently to see whether Sookie and vampire Bill will be safe at the end of Season 2 of True Blood. I have read all of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels, and have seen both movies. O.K... maybe I have a slight obsession. But what appeals to me about watching supernatural creatures suck the blood out of their human companions?

I honestly believe there is something downright sexy to the restraint both vampire Bill and Edward Cullen must employ in order to protect their human lovers. Sookie and Bella are so loved by their vampires that they can control any urges they may have.

Particularly in our 21st century lives, boys and restraint are two words that don't naturally gel. Any given Thursday or Saturday... o.k, even Tuesday night at uni one can find students passed out in their rooms, having sculled a bottle of vodka "just because". This is not to say that girls don't similarly show a lack of self-restraint, because they can be just as bad. However, self-restraint and self-control, of which both Bill and Edward are well-practiced, are qualities that are so rare nowadays, they are exceptionally compelling and valued when found.

Of course, I might be entirely wrong. Perhaps the self-restraint that makes the vampire protagonists so appealing contributes only minimally to their over-all attractiveness. Maybe the real attraction of the hundred-odd-year-old vampires strewn across our screens is the manners and old-fashioned charm they display.