Bram Stoker’s Dracula movie review
Because of the genre of this movie there will be some disturbing images. Reader discretion advised. Also, all pictures and videos used in this are legal under the terms of the fair use agreement of 1976.
And the October Vampire Party continues on X, Minds, and Substack. As Halloween draws closer it’s time for another movie review in said event/party. And this time the film is a big one. The movie is one directed by the legendary Francis Ford Coppola. The movie in question is Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
This movie first debuted in 1992. It got released before I’d reached the legal limit for an R rated movie. Still, there’s a reason this movie won three Academy Awards for that year. It may not seem like much by today’s standards. But before modern politics infected mainstream entertainment it was a big deal.
Now with that said, on with the review.
In the year 1462 Vlad Dracula, played by Gary Oldman, sets out to defeat the Ottoman Empire. He succeeds in his bloody and near impossible crusade against them. But he returns home to find his wife has committed suicide. It seems the Ottomans in retaliation sent false word of his passing. Thus, causing his wife Elisabeta to leap into the nearby river.
The Romanian Orthodox Church declares his wife’s soul damned to Hell. All for committing suicide based on a lie. No disrespect to the good lord’s faith, but that’s a great way to make a bad situation worse! And such proves to be the case when Vlad flies into a rage. He desecrates the church and renounces God.
Uh-oh this is already looking bad.
He swears he will rise from the grave with all the powers of darkness to avenge Elisabeta. Yeah, this is without a doubt not good! He then drives his sword into the church’s stone cross. He drinks the blood that pours from it and thus becomes a vampire. And so the dark tale begins ladies and gentlemen.
The scene shifts to 1897 London where Johnathan Harker is a solicitor. The part of Harker got played by Keanu Reeves. This was before his appearances in The Matrix and the John Wick films. His firm asks him to take on one of their clients, a Transylvanian Count Dracula.
Uh-oh having seen the opening it’s clear something bad is coming. Harker's asked to take over from his predecessor R.M. Renfield, played by Tom Waits. He’s in an insane asylum run by Dr. Jack Seward, played by Richard E Grant.
The scene then shifts between Harker and his fiancée Mina Murray. The part of Mina got played by actress Winona Ryder. Of note she also played Elisabeta from the film’s beginning. Harker recounts his journey to Transylvania. And how things get more sinister along the way.
Things take a brief shift back to London. Mina is staying with her childhood friend Lucy Westenra. The part of Lucy got played by Sadie Frost. She has a bit of an adventurous side. And Mina admits to her friend that she hopes to visit Central Europe with Harker someday.
Mina didn’t anyone ever teach you be careful what you wish for because you might get it?
Lucy is very much a flirt and is very popular with men. Three men in particular are vying for her attention. The first is a man from Texas, Quincy B. Morris. His part got played by Billy Campbell. The second is Dr. Jack Seward (Grant).
The third man vying for Lucy’s heart is Lord Arthur Holmwood. His part got played by one of acting’s greats Cary Elwes. Mina's amazed at how Lucy flirts with the men yet doesn’t do anything improper.
The film returns to Transylvania. Harker has been staying as Dracula’s guest after completing what Renfield started. Dracula now owns Carfax Abbey along with ten other properties in London, very odd indeed. Yet the count has insisted that Harker spend a month in his castle. And Harker begins to realize he’s not so much a guest as he is a prisoner.
Also, Dracula at times seems to get a little too touchy feely with him. Harker’s eerie feelings get stronger after Dracula mentions the wolves nearby howling. “Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make,” The count says.
Okay Gary Oldman’s Dracula has a knack for getting Bela Lugosi levels of creepy. Well played sir, well played!
Harker sneaks around the castle and gets caught by Dracula’s bloodthirsty brides. The brides got played by Monica Bellucci, Michaela Bercu, and Florina Kendrik. And while they ooze sensuality there is also a sense of dread and danger about these women. When Harker finds out that Dracula and his wives aren't human, he's terrified, with good reason.
Keanu Reeves’ British accent is rather questionable. But his facial features at that moment make up for it. Yeah, especially when Dracula presents his brides with a baby to feed on. The look of pure terror says it all.
Next up comes a brief interval which shows Dracula’s journey to London. And how he fed on the crew of the Demeter. Dracula’s dark powers help him manipulate the wind enough to bring the ship into port. And while at it his power sets a wolf free from the London zoo. The significance of this wil come into play soon.
In this universe contrary to legend vampires can walk around during the day. The thing is their power's diminished. The scene in downtown London opens up in the fashion of a silent movie with some noise. Coppola did this on purpose as it was a tribute to the movie Nosferatu. Nice to see those who know and respect movie history.
Dracula dressed in appropriate clothing for the period runs into Mina. At first, she wants nothing to do with him. But he manages to charm her, and they attend the local cinema. There he tries to bite her, but he stops short. But soon another issue comes up for them.
Remember that wolf that escaped from the London Zoo? Well, the wolf escape got mentioned in a newspaper and said wolf shows up at the cinematheque! Oops wild animal crisis looming!
When Mina runs into it, she’s terrified. Dracula using his power causes the wolf to become much more obedient. As in lap dog levels of obedient! Careful Mina, this guy isn’t what he seems.
Meanwhile Lucy’s health is starting to deteriorate. Doctor Seward is at a loss about why. her fiancée Arthur Holmwood is quite horrified seeing his future wife in such a state. Seward decides to contact his old friend and mentor Abraham Van Helsing.
The eccentric doctor and philosopher realizes they’re not dealing with a disease. In fact, he realizes Lucy got attacked by a vampire. Of note the part of Abraham Van Helsing got played by legendary actor Anthony Hopkins.
The eccentric doctor and philosopher realizes they’re not dealing with a disease. In fact, he realizes Lucy got attacked by a vampire. Of note the part of Abraham Van Helsing got played by legendary actor Anthony Hopkins.
Mina has several more outings with Dracula who she knows as Prince Vlad of Sagite. And it’s clear she’s developing feelings for him. And considering Mina is an engaged woman uh-oh not good!
Meanwhile things have taken quite the turn back in Transylvania. Harker escapes from Castle Dracula and falls into the nearby river. By some miracle the weakened young man manages to swim to safety. Soaked and staggering he makes his way to a covenant in Romania. Considering what he’s been through this was a smart choice on Harker’s part.
One of the coven nuns sends word to Mina that Harker is alive. She heads for Romania bidding Dracula goodbye. The vampire does not take this well. He transforms into his wolf form and transforms Lucy into a vampire. Van Helsing, and her former suitors kill the transformed Lucy the following night.
After Mina and Harker return they join Van Helsing in heading to Carfax Abbey. Seward takes Mina to his home at his sanitarium to protect her. He then heads to rejoin Van Helsing and the others. It’s convenient that Carfax Abbey is nearby, a little too much so for comfort.
Van Helsing and the rest begin destroying Dracula’s coffins. The vampire sneaks into the sanitarium and kills Renfield for betraying him. In mist form he comes to Mina and admits to everything. Mina is at first furious with him for murdering Lucy. But the fact remains she still loves him.
Crazier still she’s begun to remember more of her life as Elisabeta. Yeah, there’s a strong possibility that she is the wife of Dracula reincarnated. At her request he begins transforming her into a vampire.
After that it’s a race against time as Mina starts to undergo the same symptoms as Lucy. What happens next is a terrifying cat and mouse chase across Central Europe. One involving Dracula’s gypsy servants plus his brides trying to use Mina to seduce Van Helsing. To which the doctor makes the female vampires pay in a bloody way, yikes!
Can the small group overcome the odds to save Mina? And what will come of Mina who’s caught between her love for her husband and for Dracula?
Now as stated there’s a reason this movie won several academy awards. The practical effects and visuals are great. All made before CGI became commonplace. And the performances, holy cow the performances!
Gary Oldman as Dracula proves that as actors go, he is an absolute craftsman. Anthony Hopkins well what can one say. This is one of the all-time greats as actors go. Keanu Reeves’ British voice isn't the greatest. But that can get overlooked as he puts in a terrific performance. Sadie Frost as Lucy is an absolute tease as a human.
As a vampire she’s terrifying and well played. Cary Elwes as Arthur Holmwood puts in a solid performance. And last but not least there's Winona Ryder. She proves she is a superb actress holding her own among such Hollywood heavyweights.
So a great story, a great cast, and great directing by Francis Ford Coppola. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a joy and treat for any vampire horror movie fan. It gets a B plus as its rating. Reeves’ British accent wasn't that great. But his performance made up for it.
Of note this horror movie has an R rating so it’s not for kids. But for all the grown-ups who love a good scare this is a great Halloween or horror movie night treat.
Thanks for reading this on whatever platform you’re on. There’s still one more movie to go in the October Vampire Party. The best got saved for last this time. Get ready for my review of Vampire Hunter D coming next week. Until then please let me know your thoughts on this review in the comments section.
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