Dog’s Movie House – Luc Besson’s “Dracula” An Odd Bird Of A Film With Some Interesting Moments!

“Dracula” tells the tale of Prince Vlad (Caleb Landry Jones) Prince of Wallachia and leader of the order of the Dracul (Dragon). In the prologue, Vlad must leave his beloved Elisebeta (Zoe Bleu) to wage war on the invading Muslims. He’s successful, but the enemy kills his beloved wife as she flees for safety. Her death and the advising priest’s lack of action on God’s behalf enrages Vlad to the point that he turns his back on God, resulting in his being cursed for all eternity to live in the shadows and subsisting on the blood of the living.

Four hundred years later, a chance meeting with a solicitor named Jonathan Harker (Ewans Abid) at Dracula’s castle leads Vlad to go to Paris to reclaim his reincarnated Elisabeta, who is really Jonathan’s fiance (also Bleu). In pursuit of Dracula is an enigmatic priest (Christophe Waltz), dispatched from the Vatican to investigate the origins of the legendary vampire. With the help of others, the priest must protect Mina from Dracula’s influence lest she become another member of Dracula’s undead.

Let’s get this out of the way first: “Dracula” is not a scary film . . .at all! It has all the gothic imagery and some violence, but the suspense is almost non-existent and our title character is portrayed as almost an heroic figure with hardly any real menace to him at all. Jones is actually very good in the roll, delivering a Dracula who doesn’t fight or kill unless he’s supposed to. Even those he’s turned, such as Maria (Matilda De Angelis) seemed to share of mutual respect with the Count. Instead of brides he has a multitude of living stone gargoyles to do his bidding (Don’t ask!). His seduction of Mina is more of a courtship than a seduction as Dracula is unfailingly polite and understanding. Jones uses this interpretation to give this Dracula some real charm, but unfortunately it robs Dracula of any menace.

Waltz has a great time playing the priest who is clearly a substitute for Van Helsing, and his performance has some real dramatic heft despite the character’s somewhat quirky nature. He doesn’t want to end Dracula becuase the vampire is evil: the priest simply wants to provide Dracula with salvation and keep others from sharing his fate.

The visuals are fairly well done and the cinematography is absolutely breathtaking at times, but the movie moves a bit slowly at times (it’s over two hours) and the lack of tension can be maddening at times. Still, the good performances and interesting ideas presented in the film make the movie worth watching at least once. Just remember that the horror film is not horrific at all, and if you wnat to see as turgid supernatural romance, then “Dracula” might be for you! 3 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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