Cowboys vs Vampires

It’s the season 2 finale, and Vampire Campfire is headed out west to investigate stories that pit vampires against cowboys, set European undead in the American desert, and bring to life the haunting that lives on in the West’s blood-soaked soil. In this episode, Rebecca and Hannah explore how Bram Stoker ended up writing a bona fide Texan cowboy into Dracula (yes, really!) and how the Count ended up fighting Billy the Kid a half-century later. From there, they trace the vampire’s progress through the heart of the American West: slinging guns, dodging bullets, and (inexplicably) nesting in some of the sunniest states in the country.To balance out the absurdity of these movies, they share some favorite reads like the “anti-western” The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and the Mexican folklore–inspired Vampires of El Norte, proving that while many vampire Westerns are racist, misogynistic, and fail to grasp what makes vampires truly scary, that doesn’t mean the Western Gothic can’t be used to spectacular ends. Especially in a lawless land, there’s nothing more delicious than just deserts.Come vamps, cross the threshold of those swingin’ saloon doors, and join us around the campfire.CW: discussion of the Native American genocideMajor Spoilers:* The Curse of the Undead, directed by Edward Dein, 1959* The Devil’s Mistress, directed by Orville Wanzer, 1965* Billy the Kid vs. Dracula, directed by William Beaudine, 1966* Near Dark, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, 1987* Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas, 2023* The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, 2025Other media mentioned in this episode:Fiction* Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872* Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897 (check out Dracula Daily on Substack to follow the story week by week!)* Butcher’s Crossing by John Williams, 1960* Anno Dracula by Kim Newman, 1992Film* The Great Train Robbery, directed by Edwin S. Porter, 1903* House of Frankenstein, directed by Erle C. Kenton, 1944* House of Dracula, directed by Erle C. Kenton, 1945* The Iron Mask, directed by Joselito Rodríguez, 1960* Ghost Town, directed by Alfredo B. Crevenna, 1963* The Lost Boys, directed by Joel Schumacher, 1987* Bram Stoker’s Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, 1992* Interview with the Vampire, directed by Neil Jordan, 1994* From Dusk Till Dawn, directed by Robert Rodriguez, 1996* John Carpenter’s Vampires, directed by John Carpenter, 1998* Dracula 2000, directed by Patrick Lussier, 2000* Abigail, directed by Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, 2024* Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, 2025TV* Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2003* Penny Dreadful, 2014-2016Additional Reading* Billy J. Stratton, “Of Buffalo and Men,” Hollywood Reporter, December 23, 2023Liked this episode? You’ll also like…Why Do Vampires Love the South?To Live Forever and Never Grow Up: The Vampire ChildFrom Egypt to Atlantis: How Vampires Explain Their OriginsWant more vampire content in all your feeds?Check out our Pinterest @vampirecampfirepod to capture the aesthetic of this episode.Follow us @vampirecampfirepod on Instagram and TikTok for podcast updates & vampire memes.Find us on Letterboxd and Goodreads for a peek at what we’re consuming next.Consider becoming a paid member of our Substack to get bonus episodes — the first one is available now!This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rebecca Glazer & Hannah Spiegelman This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com/subscribe