Students on De Montfort University’s Music, Film and Entertainment Journalism module pick the films, plays, music, TV shows or books they detest. Furious, pitchfork-wielding mob? Meet Callum McLeod
The idea of vampires in stories has been irreparably damaged thanks to the Twilight series.
Classics like Dracula, modern favourites like The Vampire Diaries, all have had a stake driven
right through the heart of their reputation thanks to Stephanie Meyer and everyone who thought
five movies of this tripe was what the world needed.
Poor Robert Pattinson almost had his credibility wrecked before his career had even really started by this
film series. The direction must’ve been along the lines of ‘everything that makes you a good
actor? Don’t bother.’ His performance is terrible, but still somehow overshadowed by how
abysmal Kristen Stewart as Bella. The two main characters are about as bland as two slices
of bread – making their couple nothing more than a bread sandwich.
Some people manage to scrape the bottom of the barrel and find ironic enjoyment from the
movies, but even that is a stretch. The plot is as predictable as a queue for a store checkout,
and at the end it feels like you’re being overcharged for the drivel you’ve sat through.
Some of the lines, most notably from the first movie, are so cringeworthy that it leaves you
questioning who wrote the dialogue, a best-selling author, or a monkey on a typewriter? They
feel so unnatural, the same of which can be said about the chemistry between literally any
characters in this movie.
The worst part however, is the lasting impact Twilight has had on vampires in pop culture. Now
when you think of a vampire, you don’t think of the dark, brooding Count Dracula, you think of
the hormonal, moody, and downright irritating characterisation of Edward Cullen. Even Hotel
Transylvania’s portrayal of Dracula, who isn’t foreboding in any way, instead being comical, is
preferable to this slop.
I can’t stand Twilight, and if I were a vampire watching this, I’d want a stake driven right through
my heart, with a large helping of garlic dumped straight into my eyes for good measure. That
would still be more enjoyable than having to watch this series again.
