By Becky Manley / Staff Writer
Vampire fans from as far away as Costa Rica and Montreal came to the Tri-County Cineplex for the premiere of the second movie in the wildly popular “Twilight” series.
The midnight release of “New Moon,” based on the second novel in the series by author Stephenie Meyer, was expected to draw about 850 people to the Corbin theater.
Included among the about 200 fans who also bought tickets to the 9:30 p.m. showing of “Twilight,” the first movie in the series, a group of women who met while blogging on a fan site, according to member Tracey Briganti, 46, of New Jersey.
The group named itself after actor Robert Pattinson who plays Edward Cullen, the lead character, a vampire who captures the heart of mortal Bella Swan, portrayed by Kristen Stewart.
Briganti said member Debbie Hammons, of Corbin, invited the other eight members to stay at her house so they could all attend the premiere in Corbin. In addition to Montreal, Costa Rica and New Jersey, other members traveled from Indiana, New York City, Texas and California, Briganti said.
Tickets to the midnight premiere of “New Moon” went on sale Nov. 1 and sold out within a day and a half, according to Suzie Razmus, co-owner of the theater.
On Nov. 1, Corbin fans Melissa Watson, 33, and her friend, Michelle Helton, 32, were sixth and seventh in line shortly after 9 a.m. and waited until 1:30 p.m. when tickets went on sale.
Watson, who estimates she has read all four books in the series at least 10 times, takes the credit for passing her enthusiasm for the series to her family, who also attended the premiere.
Despite the fact the storyline revolves around the problems faced by a couple when one is a vampire and the other has blood with a tantalizing scent, Watson believes most people can identify with the couple’s struggles.
“It’s the typical love story,” Watson said. “If you’ve ever loved somebody that you couldn’t have.”
