Who doesn’t love a vampire film? From Bram Stroker’s Dracula to Robert Eggers’ tackle Nosferatu, the subgenre actually has one thing for everybody, whether or not that be decrepit, scary vampires or horny ones in a position to seduce any mortal. However, there’s one film, nonetheless, that rises above the remainder. That film, specifically, is Queen of the Damned.
Queen of the Damned was one of many Prime 10, wildly underrated vampire horror motion pictures of the early 2000s period, not less than in keeping with Display Rant. Positive, it could boast a 17% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and solely made $45.4 million on a $35 million finances, but it surely’s remained an vital movie for many people. And the most important motive why we adore it a lot? World-famous pop star Aaliyah and her flip because the vampire queen, Akasha.
To these unfamiliar with Aaliyah, she was a pop star from the early ‘90s to the early 2000s, recognized for her common songs like “Strive Once more”, “Miss You”, and “Again & Forth”. Outdoors of her music profession, she additionally determined to partake in some appearing, showing in movies like Romeo Should Die and, in fact, Queen of the Damned. Though her profession path inside the leisure trade—as each a singer and an actor—was rising quickly, it sadly led to an erupt finish. In 2001, Aaliyah out of the blue handed away as a result of a airplane crash within the Bahamas.
When she handed on, it felt like the entire world had out of the blue stopped. Not solely did her legacy influence the R&B world, but it surely impressed a brand new technology of Black feminine leads on the planet of vampire horror and past. Positive, there have been different Black leads in vampire motion pictures, like William Marshall (Blacula), Wesley Snipes (Blade), and Eddie Murphy (Vampire in Brooklyn). Nonetheless, these lead roles centered on Black male actors. As well as, these motion pictures have been made previous to the existence of Queen of the Damned and Aaliyah’s lead position.
Years after Queen of the Damned, there was a rising record of common vampire-focused reveals and flicks with extra lead roles for Black feminine actors. Maybe probably the greatest examples is Tara Thornton from True Blood. From 2008 to 2014, True Blood was one of many high vampire dramas of its time. Rutina Wesley, who performed Tara Thornton in True Blood, was one of many primary forged of the collection. Not solely did she play a Black vampire, however a queer vampire, at that.
Then, there’s The Vampire Diaries, which lasted from 2009 to 2017. Kat Graham performed one of many present’s leads, Bonnie Bennett. Graham, who’s an actor and singer, was in a position to play the second lead for the complete length of the long-lasting collection. Although her character was not a vampire like everybody else, she performed a robust witch who supported her greatest good friend and her vampire acquaintances.
A 3rd and ultimate instance is the favored AMC+ collection launched again in 2022: Interview with the Vampire. Like Queen Of The Damned, that is additionally an adaptation of Anne Rice’s work. Whereas this isn’t the primary adaptation of this particular Rice title, it’s a extra inclusive one. Except for Louis de Pointe du Lac being performed by actor Jacob Anderson, Claudia is delivered to life by the extraordinary Bailey Bass.
These are simply three items of vampire media that comply with within the footsteps of Aaliyah and her royal position in Queen of the Damned. Aaliyah paved the best way for future generations of Black feminine leads, proving that Black girls can carry horror with grace, energy, and rage. So earlier than Black Historical past Month involves an finish, pay your respects to Aaliyah and this unbelievable relic of the early 2000s. What higher strategy to have fun Black excellence?
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