The thing about Vampire movies I never really got...

So you have these vampires who, let's say, "turned" in the victorian era. Alright. Cool. Why is it in (virtually) every vampire movie set in modern times, the lead vampire is into music like Slayer or Disturbed?

You mean to tell me that these guys have been alive for centuries, probably saw Mozart or Brahms live, have witnessed every genre of music come and go -- and the best they settle for is lazy, generic Metal? They don't even listen to that awesome shit coming out of the Netherlands!

Much in the same vein, why do Zombie movies have Hard Rock soundtracks? The two don't work together, man!

I've made this same argument many a time myself.

You can't tell me the lounge version of Disturbed's "Down With the Sickness" in the Dawn of the Dead remake is anything other awesome.

The movie itself is in every other way inferior to Romero's original, of course.

'cause Slayer rules.

duh.

I object your honor

Sometimes they work.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

i do see the point you're getting at - but really, Slayer doesn't deserve to be lumped together with a garbage band like Disturbed.

greatest zombie / music mashup EVER

I agree. I think this is also possibly my favourite scene in any movie, ever.

you're on notice.

Yes, yes there are four lights, can we get back to the rock music complaint.

Probably referring to Underworld, Queen of the Damned, etc.

you know, it's only a movie...

I think Dracula in Blade 3 was totally NOT into hard rock/metal/goth.

About the Zombies:

Zombie Mythos likes!!!

Queen of the Damned, sure, but that's specifically from the novel- he liked being a rock star. I don't think the type of music mattered.

I can't think of an instance where any vampire in Underworld claims to like any type of music, or is shown listening to it. It's in the soundtrack, sure, but that's not the same.

You have to also take into account the dress of the vampires; often times leather/vinyl S&M - looking gear that lends to the impression of the associated music, whether it's just the soundtrack or the vampire's explicit stated taste.

The overall impression just isn't one of sophistication and refinement that you would expect from a centuries-old being.

I think they are just keeping up with modern trends ....like any one else, except they can live the part a little more ....

if you'll pardon me while i geek out: i think it's feasible to imagine that long-lived beings (vampires, or elves, or head-cutter-offers, or whatever) wouldn't actually be able to survive for centuries if they weren't, in general, always looking forward for the next new trend. a strong sense of nostalgia and distaste for new things might not serve an immortal being very well--they'd quite possibly bore themselves to death, committing suicide out of despondency because the world has changed beyond their ability to interact with it or even recognize it.

it's also worth questioning where the idea comes from, that age brings sophistication and refinement. if a person could continue fucking and partying and having energetic fun forever, would sophistication and refinement ever come to them? or does an aging human's growing physical and mental frailty impart a level of social conservatism that they wouldn't otherwise drift towards?

TLDR version: read Schismatrix Plus by Bruce Sterling.