Entrees

1.Season 3, Episode 8, "Lucky", Time stamps: 32:18-32:21

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-3-episode-9-penelope/
In the clip provided above, Dr. Spencer Reid of the FBI reviews evidence while searching for a serial killer responsible for the abduction, murder, and cannibalism of several young women. Dr. Reid mentions the subject of interest believes himself to be possessed by a demon which fuels his desire to consume human flesh. This supernatural insinuation is parallel to the supernatural state of Count Dracula. A nearly immortal being, Dracula preys on his victims through cannibalistic acts, relying on his vampiristic state as an excuse to terrorize and murder. He is well-known by the people near his castle as a supernatural monster. "I could hear a lot of words often repeated, queer words, for there were many nationalities in the crowd; so I quietly got out my polygot dictionary from my bag and looked them out. I must say they were not cheering to me, for amongst them were 'Ordog'-Satan, 'pokol'-hell, 'stregoica'-witch, 'vrolok' and 'vlkoslak'-both of which mean the same thing one being Slovak and one being Servian for something that is either wereworlf or vampire" (Stoker, 26). Dracula is not human, as is made quite clear in this passage. The fact that the producers of Criminal Minds mirror the idea of supernatural need for cannibalism makes this clip very parallel to Bram Stoker's classic.

2. Season 3, Episode 8, "Lucky", Time stamps 35:47-36:21

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-3-episode-9-penelope/
In this clip, agent Derek Morgan interrogates a known murderer and cannibal. To the perpetrator, he presents a cookbook found at the scene of the murders and discusses, in detail, the twisted cannibalistic ingredients required. This cookbook, complied by the man being interrogated, shows the murderer, though mentally unstable, pays excruciating attention to detail, taking the time to compile a book of recipes he uses to cook human flesh. This painstaking process is reflected in another well-known cannibal: Count Dracula. Before moving to London, Count Dracula did a great deal of reading and research on the area. As Jonathan Harker looks through the Count's library, he notices something peculiar: "The books were of the most varied kind-history geography, politics, political economy, botany, geology, law-all relating to England and English life and customs and manners" (Stoker, 49). Count Dracula even endured the tedious process of memorizing the subway systems in order to gain the upper hand in attacking defenseless victims. These two killers are indubitably linked by their willingness to endure tedious projects in order to benefit their future prospects of cannibalism. It is hard to believe the writers of Criminal Minds would have dreamed up a villain so demented without the inspiration of Dracula.

3. Season 5, Episode 7, "The Performer", Time stamps 2:30-2:46

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-5-episode-7-the-performer/
In this clip, a music icon, Dante, stares into a mirror, examining his vampiristic makeup before taking the stage at his concert. Because his music is Gothically inspired, he plays up his imagined role by dressing like a vampire. His appearance in the cracked mirror is like that of Count Dracula. His pale skin, red lips, and sharp teeth match Stoker's description of the Count flawlessly. As Jonathan Harker examines the Count he says "The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth; these protruded over the lips, who remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years" (Stoker, 44). It is no secret that the modern physical description of the vampire is largely based on Bram Stoker's description of his main villain. The resemblance in these two situations is undeniable.

4. Season 5, Episode 7, "The Performer", Time stamps 4:47-4:58 

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-5-episode-7-the-performer/
In this clip, the behavioral analysis unit at the FBI is presented with a new case. The team is informed that the killer has a very peculiar habit of killing the victims via exsanguination, or draining their blood until their bodies can no longer function. As the main characteristic of vampirism, exsanguination was brought to light more so than ever with Bram Stoker's Dracula. Count Dracula, the villain of the novel, feeds on his victims by drinking their blood and weakening them. After a great loss of blood, Dracula's victim, Lucy, writes in her diary "I feel I am dying of weakness, and have barely the strength to write, but it must be done if I die in the doing" (Stoker, 219). Lucy Westenra goes through many cycles of sickness and health during her frequent visits from the Count. After one of her worst attacks, Dr. Seward described Ms. Westenra as "more horribly white and wan-looking than ever. Even the lips were white, and the gums seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see in a corpse after a prolonged illness" (Stoker, 202-203). Her exsanguination causes her physical and mental weakness. While the behavioral analysis unit in the clip above does not know for certain if the criminal involved is drinking the blood of his or her victims as Count Dracula does, it cannot be argued that both of these villains drain their victims of blood to weaken them and render them defenseless.

5. Season 5, Episode 7, "The Performer", Time stamps: 5:16-5:28

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-5-episode-7-the-performer/ 
Moments after the previous clip, the team receives information that the victims of the killer who exsaguinates his prey, also bear two holes on their necks, as well as human saliva on the same area. Though the topic is uncomfortable, it is noted that the killer must be drinking the blood of his victims.These two unique serial signatures, bite marks and saliva presence, insinuate a case of modern vampirism. Count Dracula also exsanguinated his victims by draining their blood through two holes in the neck. Lucy Westenra, one of the Count's may victims, bore her marks of the encounters with the merciless vampire. Dr. Seward describes the bite marks: "Just over the external jugular vein there were two punctures, not large, but not wholesome looking. There was no sign of disease, but the edges were white and worn-looking, as if by some trituration. It at once occurred to me that this wound, or whatever it was, might be the mean of that manifest loss of blood" (Stoker, 199). The concept of the vampire was popularized by Stoker's work. It is simple to see the producers of Criminal Minds were drawing inspiration from a classic villain to create and contribute their own demented cannibal to popular culture. 

6. Season 5, Episode 7, "The Performer", Time stamps: 19:00-19:30

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-5-episode-7-the-performer/
In this clip, Dr. Reid briefs the local police on the characteristics of the cannibalistic killer they are searching for. In his description, he mentions there would be a long history of animal abuse in this person's past. He explains it most likely began with smaller victims like insects and rodents, then escalated to larger things, such as dogs and cats. This behavior is eerily similar to that of Renfield, the mentally deranged man whose life is controlled by Count Dracula. During his stay at Dr. Seward's mental hospital, Mr. Renfield begins raising flies, then using them as bait to catch larger species. Dr. Seward describes Renfield: "He has the sugar of his tea spread out on the window-sill, and is reaping quite a harvest of flies. He is not now eating them, but putting them in a box, as of old, and is already examining the corners of his room to find a spider" (Stoker, 187-188). He continues on to catch spiders, as well as birds, then drink the blood of his animal victims. As we know, Dracula played many roles in Bram Stoker's classic. He can be described as an "everyman" character. He was responsible for Renfield's irrational behavior, and possibly his madness altogether. Regardless, it would appear the profile for vampiristic killers has stemmed from the actions mentioned in Dracula. The modus operandi of these two men is too similar to debate whether or not Stoker's novel has influenced this episode of Criminal Minds.

7. Season 3, Episode 8, "Lucky", Time stamps: 40:01-40:16
http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-3-episode-9-penelope/
In his interview with police, this murderer refuses to release information on one of his missing victims unless the local pastor is present. When the behavioral analysis unit brings in the pastor, they receive some disgustingly unsettling news. In a comforting manner, the pastor tells the man, "God is in all of us." In a menacing tone the man replies, "So is Tracy Morgan" (the missing girl in question). He then proceeds to laugh maniacally. The team discovers that the serial killer was a volunteer in the search for Traci Morgan. He was responsible for feeding the rest of the hungry volunteers. In a turn of events, he placed meat from Tracy Morgan's body in the chili, which he fed to the men, women, and children volunteers in the ultimate case of irony. This is an example of how this man tormented and teased his prey. The same characteristics can be found in Count Dracula. When Jonathan Harker becomes adamant about his departure from the Count's castle, Dracula decides to tease him ruthlessly. "As the door began to open, the howling of the wolves without grew louder and angrier; their red jaws, with champing teeth, and their blunt-clawed feet as they leaped, came through the opening door. I knew then that to struggle at the moment against the Count was useless" (Stoker, 96-97). Just as Count Dracula uses fear to torment his victims, the cannibalistic serial killer featured in this episode uses his nauseating skills to get inside the heads of his interrogators.  

8. Season 8, Episode 5, "The Good Earth", Time stamps: 25:29-26:00

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-8-episode-5-the-good-earth/ 
This clip features a woman who, in the past, struggled with scleroderma, a disease that affects the skin in a hideous, painful rash. Because she is delusional, the woman believes the scleroderma has come back. She is highly adept in the art of concocting home remedies, which she resorts to. Unfortunately, her home recipe calls for fresh human placenta, which causes her to abduct a pregnant woman and perform a very rugged caesarean section. After eating her concoction, the woman looks in the mirror and no longer sees awful rash. In reality, the rash never existed, however, this woman believes it has restored her to her former health and beauty. The theme of cannibalism as a type of beauty product can be traced back to Bram Stoker's Dracula. The three harpies that attacked Jonathan Harker were described as uncannily beautiful. "There was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear. I felt in my heart a wicked, burning desire that they would kiss me with those red lips" (Stoker, 79). This pattern of vampirism as a pathway to beauty is also visible in Ms. Lucy Westenra. She was always described as beautiful, but as an undead, there is something uncanny and lovely about her appearance.  Cannibalism or vampirism as a beauty treatment in Criminal Minds was likely inspired by the transformation of women when faced with vampirism in Dracula.

9. Season 8, Episode 5, "The Good Earth", Time stamps: 28:30-28:40

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-8-episode-5-the-good-earth/ 
In the clip above, the woman who, because of her mental illness, believed her scleroderma has returned, now believes she has given it to her daughter. To heal her, she is attempting to force-feed the young girl bits of a woman's placenta. It is obvious this woman feels responsible for the well-being of her daughter and is taking it upon herself to heal her by any means possible. While Dracula does not feel deeply for many people, he does make it a point to bring food to the harpies. "She pointed to the bag which he had thrown upon the floor, and which moved as though there were some living thing within it. For answer he nodded his head. One of the women jumped forward and opened it. I my ears did not deceive me there was a gasp and a low wail, as of a half-smothered child. The women closed round, whilst I was aghast with horror; but as I looked, they disappeared, and with them the dreadful bag" (Stoker, 82). Whether this is to keep them healthy or to keep them from wreaking havoc and ruining his plans, is not clear. Regardless of his motives, he feels responsible for those he infected with vampirism, just as the mother featured in this clip feels responsible for inflicting her daughter with scleroderma. 

10. Season 9, Episode 1, "The Inspiration", Time stamps: 15:55-16:30

http://www.mytvline.com/criminal-minds-season-9-episode-1-the-inspiration/ 
In the presented clip, a serial killer attempts to feed pieces of the head of his first victim to his present victim. This undesirable meal is forced upon the young woman at gun point. Her refusal to engage in cannibalism would mean her own death. Forced or coerced cannibalism is a theme that was popularized in Dracula as well. When Mina Harker is being attacked, the Count makes her drink his blood. In a trance, Mina is unable to refuse and feels incredibly ashamed for taking part in this act. "When the blood began to spurt out, he took my hands in one of his, holding them tight, and with the other seized my neck and pressed my mouth to the wound, so that I must either suffocate or swallow some of the-Oh my God! my God! what have I done? What have I done to deserve such a fate, I who have tried to walk in meekness and righteousness all my days" (Stoker, 396-397). The theme of "cannibalism or death" is exceedingly similar in these two cases. Both women were victimized by male cannibals and forced to choose between joining in cannibalistic activity, or dying. This episode of Criminal Minds appears to be directly linked to the novel that popularized cannibalistic tendencies: Dracula.