Eric Nuzum

Bill Eichenberger of the Columbus Dispatch interviewed Eric Nuzum about his new book, The Dead Travel Fast: Stalking Vampires From Nosferatu to Count Chocula.

One exchange from the interview:

Q: After several viewings, what do you find most annoying (or offensive, infuriating or ridiculous) about the movie Nosferatu? Or of vampire movies in general?

A: For Nosferatu, I'd say that it became tedious because it simply isn't very scary. There are two reasons for this: First, while it scared the pants off people in the 1920s, our contemporary idea of "scary" is much different. Also, any scary movie becomes less scary the more times you've seen it. Fear is tied to the unknown; the more you know something, the less scary it is to you.

For vampire movies in general? That's kind of like asking, "What's the purplest thing about magenta?" All vampire movies are bad. They don't age well. What was once alluring becomes kind of silly later on -- sort of like acid-washed jeans or Chia Pets.

Read the entire interview.

The Page 99 Test: The Dead Travel Fast.

--Marshal Zeringue