Dracula [M]

Centuries ago, Count Dracula lost his love. In a fit of rage he renounced God and drank blood, giving him eternal life and eternal damnation. Now, so many years later, he has found his love again and through murders and sinister seductions, will have her by his side, forever damned. 

As I have mentioned before, I am a firm believer in reading the books before watching the films, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a classic tale of horror that needs to be in any library. After finally finishing the book, I could not wait to watch Coppola’s film about the Un-Dead. I am in two minds about the film. I absolutely love the performances given by the star cast, but I am not so crazy about the story of love. It is possible that I misinterpreted the book, but from what I remember, Dracula was a tale of good versus evil, man against demon, and the power of God against the forces of the Devil. I did not read anything that suggested that Dracula lost his love centuries ago and then found it again in another’s wife. After starting this film at five thirty this morning and finishing it at almost a quarter to eight, I am left disillusioned and mildly frustrated. 

Centuries ago, a great battle took place and Count Dracula went to fight. He won the battle but lost the war, as he returns home to learn that his darling wife and true love had taken her own life after being falsely told that her husband had perished in battle. And by the will of God, those who take their own lives are to burn for eternity; a fate that Dracula feels is grossly unfair to befall his love. He renounces God and drinks blood, giving him eternal life and eternal damnation. Now, after four centuries of painful loneliness, the Count has found his love again in the fiancé of another man. He promises to have his love by his side in eternal damnation, but there are those who oppose him and will stop at nothing until the world his rid of this evil and Miss Mina, the object of Dracula’s desire, is safe. 

Dracula was a 3-time Oscar winner in 1992, picking up the awards for Best Make-Up, Best Costume Design, and Best Sound Effects. Alright, I will say that, in terms of film, this movie was absolutely brilliant. It was beautifully crafted, the performances were breathtaking, and the make-up, sets, and costumes were just beautiful. It was just the story that I found upsetting. But let’s not dwell on that point, let us talk about what made Dracula a wonderful film. 

As I mentioned before, it was very visually pleasing. Erotic, seductive, sinister, and clever. One thing that really stood out was the zooming aerial camera shots. It’s very inclusive in that it makes you feel as though you yourself are the Count, flying through the night air through rain and mist. Very clever and sinister at the same time.  The sets were amazing, especially Castle Dracula, the evil lair itself. It was dilapidated and wonderfully falling to ruin, very reflective of its owner and inhabitant. And the costumes were beautiful. Stylish, suave, erotic, and very telling of the age, it really is no wonder that they picked up an Oscar. 

Gary Oldman stars as the Count himself and he was absolutely mesmerising. I do love Gary Oldman, in everything I’ve seen him in there is always a softness about him. Sometimes it’s warm, other times it’s cold and melancholy, but it’s always there nonetheless. I fell in love with Gary the first moment I laid eyes on him in this film. He was menacing, but at the same time there was sadness, and his performance throughout the entire film made me melt. I salute you Gary. 

Anthony Hopkins plays Doctor Van Helsing, another famous character in English literature, and he was brilliant. In this dramatic and sinister plot, Anthony provided the comic relief, mainly in his delivery. No joke, his delivery of certain lines was pure genius. For example, the scene where everyone is at Lucy’s funeral and Van Helsing approaches Dr Seward asking for certain knives. Dr Seward, shocked, asks if Van Helsing really intends to perform an autopsy and Van Helsing simply and sincerely replies: “no I just want to cut off her head and take out her heart.” Just the way he said it! Oh man I was giggling for near to five minutes. 

Behind Gary and Anthony stand a great line-up of actors including Keanu Reeves, Richard E Grant, Winona Ryder, Cary Elwes, Bill Campbell, Sadie Frost and Tom Waits. 

Filled with love, lust, blood, suspense, and nightmarish creatures, Coppola’s Dracula was a beautifully crafted horror, balanced wonderfully with comedy, horror, eroticism, and action. A classic.