Blood
Blood has so many meanings, doesn’t it? It’s one of those
words that has been taken to extremes by the English language.
There are, as Jeffe pointed out, mystical and mythical
connotations.
It’s also, as a horror writer, one of my favorite setting
pieces.
Blood spatter is a powerful image in and of itself.
But I will point out one thing here, because I’ve never
quite understood the Hollywood need for this. In almost every vampire movie
ever done (there are a few lovely exceptions) a vampire decides to feed and the
blood goes EVERYWHERE. Fountains of blood erupt from the neck of the victim,
and the vampire is soaked, I mean facially BATHED in a fountain of crimson.
First, it’s not that great a visual effect after the first
hundred times. Second, why are vampires such damned messy eaters? This is their
life substance and in a lot of movies vampires are only a little better than animals,
okay, I get that, but even in the Dracula movies when old Drac is getting all
kinds of kinky and sexy with the ladies, half the blood is spilling over the
Count’s freaking eyebrows.
I love a good plate of nachos, but I don’t plant my face in
that stuff and shake it around. I use my fingers, a fork and knife, maybe even
a few other chips to pick things up. And I surely don’t go that crazy if I’m
wearing a tux. Those things are murder to have cleaned. So this is my plea to all Hollywood types…have a little mercy. Remember decorum. Some vampires prefer to act civilized and maybe not wallow in their latest meal. I mean, seriously, I've never attacked a Big Mac with that level of enthusiasm.
Blood as a visual is a wonderful thing. But it’s like any
other prop, it should be used to highlight, not to paint.
Okay, that’s the end of my rant.
I finished the first draft of the sequel to Seven Forges,
The Blasted Lands. There are a few bloody scenes in there, too, now that I
think about it.
James A. Moore
