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Vampire fangs are one of the most familiar symbols in the history of horror movies. There are deeper levels of symbolism that are portrayed by vampire fangs that the average vampire movie fan would never think about.
This symbolism promotes the basic ideas and ideals of the vampire character.
Most vampire movie fans never realize that vampire fangs are one of the most phallic symbols in all of horror history. Vampire fangs protrude only when they are going to be used. The rest of the time, they are hidden and shrunken, like the rest of the teeth in the vampire's mouth.
The fact that vampire fangs are used to penetrate the soft tissue in a woman's neck promotes them as a stronger phallic symbol. The vampire fangs are used to promote life. Instead of producing a new life in the womb of the victim, vampire fangs promote the, "un-life," of the vampire that us them.
When the vampire fangs are used, a woman becomes noticeably enthralled with the feelings that they promote inside of her. She gives herself up to the vampire, allowing him to have him to have his way with her. Vampire movie fans are familiar with the state of ecstasy that befalls a vampire victim, but may never have thought about how vampire fangs are a phallic symbol.
In many vampire movies, if a vampire bites a person, that person becomes the slave of the vampire until the creature dies. Some consider this to be the greatest power of a vampire. Traditionally, phallic symbols have been used as a display of both power, and potency. Usually, if an invading force attacks an area with a phallic symbol portrayed on it, the first thing that they do is destroy the symbol to show that they are now the strongest.
Vampire fangs were not part of the vampires arsenal in vampire movies until Hammer House Studios placed them into his repertoire. During an interview with the BBC, Christopher Lee (who portrayed Dracula in the Hammer House horror movies) stated that he was almost embarrassed when exposing his vampire fangs in the movies. He was quoted as saying, "I feel like I am showing two little vampire penises every time I open my mouth."
If you are a vampire movie fan, pay attention to other portrayals of how vampire fangs are phallic symbols. You might be surprised at how many hidden points of symbolism that you will find.
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