Monday, June 8, 2009 3:58 PM
Now THAT's how you promo a vampire book
Peter Scowen
Guillermo del Toro, the Academy Award-winning director of Pan's Labyrinth, as well as Blade II, Mimic and Hellboy I & II, has just released a novel that is the first part of a trilogy about a plague-like virus that turns people into vampires. Not surprisingly, the web trailers for the book, called Strain, are unusually good -- more like big-budget movies, really, especially when compared to the sombre-voiced-narration-over-still-image efforts that make up the vast majority of the genre.
Del Toro, who co-wrote the book with noted thriller writer Chuck Hogan (Prince of Thieves), says in an interview that he wants to reclaim the iconic literary figure of the vampire, who lately has been most often portrayed as a moody teen with good intentions and outrageous hiking skills. Judging from the trailers, his vampires are going to be nasty, bloodthirsty freaks who will never be invited to a high-school prom, at least not on purpose.
The first book is in stores now; the next two, The Fall and The Night Eternal, will be released in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
The trailers, made by a del Toro protege named Francisco Ruiz Velasco, don't skimp on atmosphere and makeup, and the acting's not bad either. Here they are in the order you're supposed to watch them; the first one is a bit generic, but nos. 2 and 3 will make your skin crawl.
UPDATE: The publisher, HarperCollins Canada, is inviting people to make their own trailer for the book and submit it. Entries will be judged by del Toro and Hogan and could appear in a Canadian movie theatre later in August. Details here.
