El Conde: Vampires and Their Tango with Bloody Dictatorship

Vampires have long been a metaphor for politics and identity. In the United States, for instance, they have been associated with the Democratic Party by the right-wing, who view them as immoral sexual deviants. Additionally, during the AIDS epidemic in the 90s, vampires also became a symbol for the homosexual community. This is because vampires are nocturnal (reflecting the diminishing safe spaces for homosexuals); they conceal their true identity (representing homosexuals’ fear of coming out); and they create more vampires by biting others (paralleling the transmission of HIV through sexual activities and contact with contaminated blood).

And here comes Pablo Larraín's "El Conde," where dictator Augusto Pinochet becomes a vampire. Before going to Chile, he served in Louis XVI's army and tasted the blood of Marie Antoinette, who was beheaded during the French Revolution. The historical developments after his arrival in Chile can be looked up in the records. On September 11, 1973, Pinochet launched a military coup which led the country into a 13-year period of military dictatorship. In the film, old Pinochet gradually falls into an existential crisis after being condemned by his people and family. His wife and children also try to divide his wealth. Clearly, Larraín, who has made a Pinochet trilogy, namely "Tony Manero" (2008) "Post Mortem" (2010) and "No" (2012), tirelessly explores the political issue that Chilean creators cannot escape from in his new production— the Chilean coup and its profound impact on the country.

Well, history and politics will not be my focus. What intrigues me are the characteristics and transformation of vampires in this film, as well as the way their transformation serves the theme of the movie.

Not Even an Inch of Pale Skin

Vampires are commonly seen in castles and coffins and wandering at night in movies. However, the vampires in "El Conde" do not even have slightly pale skin (not because the black and white imagery). Since the 21st century, the distinction between vampires and humans has indeed blurred, but this mainly serves to help vampires keep up with the times and facilitate their integration into the modern era. Even so, pale complexion remains a symbolic trait for them to prove their identity.

Larraín's vampires are almost indistinguishable from humans in appearance. This indistinguishability precisely reflects the invisibility of differences in today’s world. While efforts are being made to address and improve issues related to social class, race, and gender, new imperceptible differences and injustices continue to emerge. This is similar to how the nun examines Pinocchio's financial situation in the film and reveals his discreet devouring of national assets during his time in power. In the face of these disparities and injustices, people feel almost powerless. We probably can still exercise caution if we encounter someone with a pale complexion. However, given the current situation, we will not be alerted to the presence of "vampires" and cannot identify them until they sink their fangs into our skin. It must be acknowledged that this portrays the iconic capitalist phenomenon where it emotionlessly incorporate humans into their vast systems and churn out more greedy individuals.

Different Types of Blood

Vampire movies place great emphasis on the source of blood all along, but greater attention is given to its degree of freshness. The fresher the blood, the better its taste and energy-boosting capability. Moreover, freshness is primarily determined by the age of the person from whom it is drawn. Younger individuals are considered to have fresher blood. So, initially, there was no further classification of blood (which can be unnerving if you think about it), until certain narratives aimed at educating and domesticating women, or romance movies, started portraying the blood of young or noble women as more valuable, which introduces a gender perspective.

"El Conde" takes a bold approach by crudely associating blood with class and race. In the film, vampires can be seen making derogatory comments about different individuals while tasting their blood. The blood of lower-class laborers is spicy and unpalatable, whereas that of imperial colonizers is sweet and delicious. And surprisingly, a vampire's blood even has a rejuvenating effect. The director fearlessly depicts how dictators, Nazis, opportunists, and those with power exploit, despise and brutally kill others, including those of their own kind. Towards the end, Pinochet is awarded a new life after turning into a child because he ate the hearts of other vampires - a brilliant plot design, as if suggesting that greater power (or greater value) lies not in killing the innocent or the masses, but in eradicating the demons that are similar to oneself.

Be a Vampire or Die

In "El Conde", the portrayal of violence inflicted by vampires is extremely brutal. Instead of simply biting someone's neck or wrist to take the necessary amount of blood, which will normally keep the person alive if the vampire shows mercy, the latter either viciously cuts open the victim's chest and extracts their heart or kills them before drinking his blood. In short, the innocent victim has no means of escape. Vampires in "El Conde" do not casually show their fangs, but when they do bite someone, it is often done with the intention of turning them into a vampire.

These vampires also seem to prefer using juicers to blend the hearts of their preys with red wine before pouring the resultant liquid into an exquisite wine glass to savor it. This rewriting adds a touch to their elegantly twisted mind and vividly transforms them into wolves in sheep's clothing. At the same time, it strengthens the terror of vampires as their atrocities are irreversible - one either perishes or joins the ranks of vampires, leaving no room for an alternative possibility.

Vampires Grow Old Too

In many vampire movies from the past, they retain their looks when they first turn into vampires. For example, in “Interview with the Vampire”(1994), the little girl, Claudia, who accidentally becomes a vampire, is angered and despaired because she cannot grow up and possess the characteristics of a mature woman.

However, in "El Conde," vampires age with the passing of time, even if they have consumed large amounts of blood. This setting is inevitable because after all, it needs to serve the plot. It will not make sense to portray Pinochet as a vibrant young man, right? Nevertheless, it is refreshing to see vampires on screen with features of ageing, and actor Jaime Vadell does a great job with his performance. The audience can literally sense Pinochet’s agedness and witness how he has lost himself in his pursuit for power from his wrinkles, unsteady footsteps, and robotic flying style.

Vampires Also Need Money

Films either portray most vampires as counts or nobles who possess a fortune that is far beyond that of ordinary people, or they do not account for where these vampires get their money from and simply portray them as wealthy individuals. However, "El Conde" tackles this issue head-on. In fact, the film revolves around the settlement of Pinochet’s family assets by a nun whom he is not related to. Through this process, we witness how Pinochet accumulates his wealth by abusing his authority and his ceaseless greed. More interestingly, although Pinochet has never bitten his own children, they all end up acting like vampires. Tyranny and obsession with money seem to run in his family.

Vampires can also get greedy for money; they also age like any regular human being; and their appearance is indistinguishable from that of ordinary individuals. Furthermore, the atrocities they commit are more covert and wicked. This distinct vampire image created by Larraín, which is inspired by historical prototypes, is likely to hold a place in the history of vampire movies.