Recently, an acquaintance posed a question to me: “With your focus on concept art and the macabre, I am curious what character of fiction has scared you the most?” My answer was immediate: Vorvon, The Space Vampire.
My friend was taken aback. Not many people have heard of him. Vorvon is the central villain in the frightening Episode 14 of the 1980 TV series, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
While the show was generally known for its lighthearted, campy sci-fi tone, this character was the perfect storm of classic horror inspiration. With traits inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula and imagery inspired by Nosferatu, Vorvon truly embodied fear. He was tall, slender, powerfully confident yet chillingly slow, and sinfully elegant. The actor, Nicholas Horman, became completely immersed in the role, elevating the performance beyond the typical villain-of-the-week.
As a child, I could only watch the episode once; the nightmares were that intense. Even now, the memory of it gives me the creeps. His methods of hunting, breaking down his prey, and manipulating wills were genuinely disturbing to watch. The fact that such a frightening story emerged from such a campy series is what caught me most off guard.
The takeaway? It's okay to be scared. The things that frighten us often make the deepest impression. This Halloween season, I encourage you to revisit a horror movie that once scared you silly. It's a great way to get your blood pumping and properly ring in the spooky holiday.
“I was never scared by monsters, I was much more scared by real people.” - Tim Burton