(Credits: Alamy)

Chloë Sevigny has always been a hot topic within the world of cinema, working with some of the most controversial auteurs of all time and developing a bold and sometimes disturbing taste in film. Whether it be her work with Larry Clark on the heavily disputed 1995 film Kids, her collaboration with the Danish weirdo himself on Dogville, or her iconic satire of New York yuppies with Whit Stillman.

Over the years, she has collected a vast and impressive filmography, displaying an unflinching interest in stories that might be perceived as uncomfortable or taboo, lending her talents to directors with burning and often unconventional stories to share. While she has recently made an acting comeback through her creative relationship with Luca Guadagnino, starring in Bones and All and his upcoming film After the Hunt, she has never stopped discussing her love of cinema, with the actor highlighting one genre in particular that she is most drawn to.

The vampire genre has spawned an endless number of stories over the years, inspiring countless directors to spin their own version of the classic gothic tale. From Robert Eggers and his recent success with Nosferatu to Francis Ford Coppola and his version of Dracula, the age-old story trope of the blood-sucking villain has lent itself to many ulterior meanings and allegories, making it a story that is ripe with possibility.

However, Sevigny is somewhat of an expert on the genre after quickly becoming obsessed with the story and delving into as many films as she can that explore the dark figure, highlighting a few that most stick out to her in their authenticity and ingenuity.

Directed by Joel Schumacker in 1987, Sevigny shared her love for The Lost Boys, which follows the Fog brothers as they rescue a town newcomer from a group of vampires. Many elements make this film a classic, from the Californian 1980s aesthetic to the performance from Kiefer Sutherland, which rightfully earns its place on her list.

Next up, Sevigny discussed the impact of A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, saying, “I loved seeing that girl. I thought she was so beautiful in the burka, on the skateboard. And that it was directed by a woman – I’m all for female directors; there’s a disadvantage in the business and I think that girl [Ana Lily Armipour] came straight out the gate with such a strong visual sense. And with that great poster and just the whole package, the music and the simplicity, it was so beautiful”.

The Hunter has also had quite the impact on Sevigny, with the actor saying, “Susan Sarandon’s boobs in this movie are genius… Just the elegance and grace of this one, as far as vampire pictures go… It all looks so real, and the lighting is so perfect and those beautiful ’80s rays of light. To me, it’s the most glamorous of the vampire pictures.” 

Glamour is certainly an under-appreciated aspect of the story, with Sevigny also praising the genius of Abel Ferrara and the 1995 film The Addiction, saying, “[It] just captures New York in the ’90s so well and it’s so simple, and it’s like one of those movies you can watch and be like, ‘Oh, I can make a movie too’. The cast is great and I love Lili, and I wish she could star in more movies. She looks so beautiful in that. It’s just such a time capsule of New York at that time.”