Plausible Vampires

[cadbrowser]

I really enjoyed the concept behind the movie The Burrowers.

There was a lot of vampiric (SP?) influences...almost insinuating that these specific creatures spawned (in it's world) the idea behind vampires.

I could see from a evolutionary aspect (at least a rapid one like in Evolution (film)) that these creatures could become vampirelike with bipedal motion with humaniod features but not necesarily be human in nature.

Food for thought.

I love some of the other ideas (non magic) posted here as well.

Afterthought: I have made a variant of the vampire (removing the magic/supernatural aspects) in an RPG that I am writing. In reality tho, they are more less cannibals than true vampires...or at least they start out that way.

[gamer]

I had an idea what about some sort of mutagenic alien infection that somehow arrives on Earth that completely redesigns the physiology of those it infects causing symptoms similar to vampirism and gifts the infected with regenerative abilities, super human strength, speed, and durability at the cost of vulnerability to sunlight and the need to drink blood.

[evilsoup]

I think a parasite would be better. Maybe it wraps itself around the heart...

How superhuman is 'superhuman'? Something like superior blood-clotting would be believable, but wolverine-style healing wouldn't be. Likewise, increasing the amount of fast-twitch muscle would (I think, I'm sure someone will tell me that I'm wrong) make the vampire faster and maybe stronger in short bursts, but with reduced endurance and also require more food.