Christian iconography

Very much connected to the ideas of vampirism and "sucking blood" is Christian imagery. Crucifixes, holy water, and sacred ground protects you from a soulless vampire's teeth.

Blood imagery is prevalent in Christian art, poetry, and hymns, "emphasizing the physicality of Christ's body" and his humanity. The concepts of stigmata, self-flagellation, and the Holy Communion (representing the body and blood shed from Christ) have been accepted in Catholic churches for hundreds of years. Not surprisingly, symbols of blood in this context have made their way from the church to the cinema.


The Eucharist

"This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:20).

Otherwise referred to as "Holy Communion," the Eucharist is a rite performed by most Christian churches. Surprisingly, wikipedia has a very illuminating article highlighting different congregation's beliefs surrounding the Eucharist. In short, participants eat bread and drink wine as symbles of God's grace, "Sacred Mystery," but most prevalently the Body and Blood of Christ. The consumption of His Blood is, most often, considered to be a tool for atonement of one's sins. Here, the concept of consuming blood is seen as a spiritual act rather than the view of vampirism, cannibalism, or the idea of "blood libel" as a violent and evil act.


Stigmata
From Wikipedia:

Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus... The majority of reported stigmatics are female.

Stigmata is a particularly interesting phenomenon relating to Christian blood iconography--in this case, Roman Catholic iconography. Why are "stigmatics" mostly female? Perhaps it is a reflection of the idea of female suffering and weakness. Who knows. Obviously the most explicit film that uses this concept in the ultimate aim of horror and excitement is Stigmata.


Stigmata (1999)

The cinematography is vomitously 90s: high contrast, flashing lights, shaky cam, the whole nine yards, which in my opinion detracts from any real fear you can build up. The images of blood are obscured and crucifixion images are cut in again and again, leaving no mystery to any scene, and never lingering long enough on the blood to be gory. The seeming lack of gore makes the movie feel far too serious for its own good. I can't enjoy the shock or disgust when I am being hit over the head with religious metaphor...