Dracula

8/3/2025

I rather like the fact that Luc Besson has gone off and done his own thing, with "Dracula". This film freshly blends fantasy, romance, action and a dash of horror. There are lots of creative, dramatic aspects to this story. Its Dracula writ-large. Where it falls down somewhat is its rather abrupt final scenes. There's no real build up, things just happen, leaving it feeling somewhat perfunctory. In summary, this is a creative, elaborately cinematic take, on the Dracula myth, with lots of lavish, over the top trappings. Certainly worth a look.

3/1/2026

Unlike other recent adaptations that feel the need to lecture the audience, this film is a refreshing, unapologetic return to pure Gothic romanticism and high-stakes melodrama. By focusing entirely on the 400-year grief of Vlad and his search for Elisabeta, the film feels like a genuine piece of art rather than a product of a corporate checklist. The decision to transplant much of the action to a visually stunning, turn-of-the-century Paris adds a layer of aesthetic grandeur that differentiates it from every other version we've seen. Caleb Landry Jones delivers a career-defining performance, capturing a version of the Count that is equal parts terrifying predator and broken, soulful widower; his intensity makes you believe in the "oceans of time" he has crossed. Christoph Waltz is equally