Greetings, fellow vampire lovers! Today, it’s time to dive into Castlevania’s mythos but don’t expect us to be entirely serious – well, except for one aspect.
First of all, hi to all the night shift workers, the fans of the dark, and those who cannot escape the fascination with the supernatural. If you have ended up here, you are as fond of vampires as we are. Well, allow me to take you through this journey then, shall we?
Now we have Castlevania – a name that makes gamers and lovers of vampires shiver at the same time. It is a world of palaces and castles, of powerful enemies and of course, of vampires eager to taste human blood. But here’s the twist: But the directors behind Castlevania weren’t exactly taking the vampire myth as seriously as one could expect.
Source: Netflix
Oh yes, you have read it right. Despite the fact that the creators were interested in the study of the lore surrounding vampires, they do not seem to give a damn about one important aspect – vampires. Instead of seeing them as black or white, or as things that should be feared, they turned to a different option. They humanized them. It made them deeper, more complex and sometimes more sympathetic.
Thus, the directors of Castlevania resurrected these immortal creatures. They discussed their reasons for doing what they did, their difficulties, and, of course, their personal lives. All of a sudden, vampires were not only bloodthirsty creatures lurking in the dark but fully-realized people with problems, internal struggles, and occasionally, character developments.
But why to take such nonchalant approach to such an essential part of the vampire mythos? Well, it seems, the authors wanted to bring some novelty to a genre that has been overused (and pulped) to death (while the pun is intended). They were able to inject more humanity into vampires and make the story easier for the viewers to identify with.
Source: Netflix
Now, some purists who take their vampires seriously might dismiss this approach. One might retort, “Vampires should be scary! They should be creepy!”And hey, we get it. There is a certain form of excitement in having a fearsome predator hidden in the dark who is patiently waiting to attack his next meal.
But here’s the thing: through the portrayal of vampires as relatable and multidimensional characters, Castlevania creates brand new avenues to explore in terms of narrative. It makes it possible to tell a tragic story of sin and repentance, good and evil, the nature of the human soul (or the lack of it). Also, let’s face it – who wouldn’t want to have a vampire love interest side plot in most movies?
Therefore, the next time you play Castlevania, make sure to consider how non-serious these creators were about vampires. Well, they may not be as frightening as the actual Count Dracula but they are as interesting as he is. But in a world of blood and gore and eternal night, human moments can count for so much.
Until next time, have a bewitching time, my friends. And do not forget – always have a stake nearby, even though you are not going to use it.
