[SeekAndFind]

They are purely evil. Anne Rice's whiny Lestat forsakes the essence of vampirism.

I take it from your comment then that the latest Vampire hit movie -- TWILIGHT is one WHINY movie. Imagine a teenage Vampire as your neighbor who does NOT want to feed on human blood ( the equivalent of vegetarians ). Imagine a teen vampire whose main interest is seducing other teen age humans.

As for that HBO series TRUE BLOOD. They have essentially made Vampires an American minority like gays who demand civil rights like the rest of Americans. You even have politicians in that series FIGHTING for Vampire rights. Heck we even have organizations like the FELLOWSHIP OF THE SUN who are like modern day KKK's fighting against Vampire rights ( with signs in front of churches that say -- GOD HATES FANGS ).

That's essentially what this genre has morphed to in 2008.

[IronJack]

I find it telling that the "underdogs" being cheered in this latest reincarnation are the spawn of godlessness, soulless nightwalkers who only survive by stealing the life from others.

It seems appropriate for a generation of sniveling malcontents who see themselves as put upon by the rigors of life.