Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992 film)

Copyright: Columbia Pictures

Today's entry in Dracula Week is a return to the original story, with a bit of a love story added on for good measure.  I always find it amazing how different the versions of the original story can be so different at times.  Bela Lugosi's film was different from Nosferatu.  Horror of Dracula took the story another direction, filling out the folklore even more, while the films with Frank Langella and Jack Palance playing the role added a bit more tragedy and romance to his backstory.  Each film builds on the back of those that came before it, taking what worked before and refining it, making it, in some cases, better.

With Bram Stoker's Dracula, Francis Ford Coppola took elements from the previous films, and the original book, blended them together, added some of his own inspirations and turned out a very interesting result, one I'm pleased to review for you.

The film starts off with a bit of history.  It shows Vlad the Impaler laying waste to the Muslim Turks that invaded his country in that time period.  It also shows his beloved, Elizabeta, getting news of his death and falling from a high tower to her death.  Upon his return, he's informed that, as she suicided, her soul's lost.  Vlad goes berserk, forsaking and renouncing God as he destroys everything in the chapel that he can.  Blood starts flowing from the stabbed cross and Vlad drinks from it.

From here, it follows much the same as the others.  We see Jonathan Harker, a realtor who replaces the recently mentally incapacitated Renfield, getting the assignment Renfield had, to finish the job of selling Carfax Abbey to Count Dracula.  Through the trip to Transylvania, we get Harker's journal entries (the film, much like the book, is told through journal entries and pieces of news).  On the ride to Borgo Pass, a fellow carriage rider gives Harker a crucifix to protect him.  When Dracula's coach arrives, the Coachman reaches down and lifts Harker up by the shoulder, setting him into the coach before driving off with him.

From here the film is close to the original, with the trip to the castle and the solicitor meeting with the Count.  Some interesting shots take place at the castle, with Dracula's shadow not quite matching Dracula's movements (a result of Dracula's own unnaturalness, along with a few other weird occurrences in the area).  Rather than falling under Dracula's spell as Renfield did, Harker is seemingly caught and captivated by Dracula's brides and forced to go along with Dracula's wishes.  Finally, the day comes where Dracula is set to head to his new home, leaving Harker with the brides.  He's seen Harker's fiancee's picture, and she looks remarkably like Elizabeta...

The film was amazing in its visuals and effects.  The makeup was excellent on Dracula, throughout all of the forms he takes.  The film was shot almost completely on sound stage, and with amazing attention to detail.  Many scenes were shot keeping in mind what sort of technology would be available in the time period, such as in the asylum scenes, or the nickelodeon.

The cast was, for the most part, excellently chosen.  A few people disliked Keanu Reeves's performance as Jonathan Harker, but I didn't really find any fault in it, personally (of course, I was in my teens when it first came out and never really thought much on different accents at the time).  Mr. Reeves was, of course, in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, the Matrix series, Johnny Mnemonic and The Watcher.  Gary Oldman portrayed Count Dracula this time around, and he did excellently.  The different looks he sports throughout the film are amazing, but it's the actor that makes the role, not the makeup, and he was really good.  Mr. Oldman has been in a ton of movies, including the Dark Knight Trilogy, The Professional, The Fifth Element, the Harry Potter series and Red Riding Hood.  Winona Ryder plays Mina Murray, Harker's fiancee who starts to come under the spell of Count Dracula.  She was also in Beetlejuice, Heathers, Edward Scissorhands and Alien: Resurrection.  Anthony Hopkins plays Professor Van Helsing, the eternal nemesis to Dracula.  He's had a very long and distinguished career, portraying Hannibal Lecter in the Silence of the Lambs trilogy (not the first Hannibal Lecter on screen, that honor goes to Brian Cox who played the role (as Hannibal Leckter) in the Red Dragon adaptation Manhunter), as well as playing in Thor, Meet Joe Black, Instinct and Fracture.

All in all, an excellent movie, one I give a 5 out of 5.  Next up, we'll be going a few more years forward to the year 2000.  Dracula 2000, that is!  (At least I'm not covering Dracula 3000, the much-reviled vampires in space film!)  Until next time, this is Red Hawk signing out!