Film historians argue that this is the first film depiction of a vampire. While the director and actor credited his character as Mephistopheles, a legendary demon, many horror elements associated with vampires exist in the film and are exhibited by the character. These include the transformation from bat to human form, conjuring a harem of demonic brides, apparent mesmeric control, and the ability to conjure humans and creatures to serve him. Many of the vampire stereotypes featured here remained tropes in early films about vampires.