Bram Stoker's Dracula

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Horrorphile - April 2009

Bram Stoker's Dracula

April 24th 2009 03:26

Francis Ford Coppola’s movie adaptation is an anomaly. Well, almost one. Yes, it is more faithful to the novel than any previous version of Dracula, but it still isn’t faithful enough to warrant having author Bram Stoker’s name as part of the title. There’s still major poetic license taken with the novel by screenwriter James B. Hart and Coppola himself in the direction.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) does feature many stunning scenes and sequences, and it has one of the most intense portrayals of Count Dracula ever. Max Shrek (as Graf Orlok in Nosferatu) would give him a run for his money though. The fusion of history and fiction is cleverly intertwined; In 1462 Vlad Dracul (Gary Oldman), a fearsome warrior of the Order of the Dragon, loses his precious love, Elizabeta (Winona Ryder), to suicide after she believes him to have perished in battle. In utter grief he violently renounces his faith and in turn is transformed into an immortal, destined to drink the blood of the living in order to replenish his tortured soul.

Gary Oldman as Count Dracula

If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Dracula, it goes something like this: It is 1897, and a young English lawyer named Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) is given the job of assisting a wealthy foreigner, Count Dracula (Oldman) in his acquisition of property in London. He travels to Transylvania in Eastern Europe and to the mysterious Count’s castle where he has to create an inventory.

Winona Ryder as Mina

Keanu Reeves as Harker

Whilst staying in the castle Harker comes to realise he is actually a prisoner. He is seduced by the Count’s three hungry brides (one of whom is played by Monica Bellucci!), but manages to escape the castle after the Count has departed, bound for England, following his bloodlust for Harker’s fiancee Mina Murray (Winona Ryder). Upon his arrival Mina’s dear friend Lucy Westerna (Sadie Frost) falls prey to Dracula’s carnal distractions, while her suitors Dr. Jack Steward (Richard E. Grant), Lord Arthur Holmwood (Cary Elwes), and Texan cowboy Quincey Morris (Bill Campbell) jostle for her affections.

Dracula’s reign of seduction and terror prompts the arrival of Professor Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins) who is familiar with the ways of the undead and how to deal with the curse of vampirism. But can Helsing and Lucy’s suitors save Mina from the evil clutches of Dracula before his dark design is complete?

Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing

One of the biggest liberties taken with this adaptation of the novel is the introduction of the destined romance between Mina and Dracula. It’s not in the novel. Bram Stoker, however, was inspired by the history of Vlad the Impaler, and based his powerful vampire on the Dracul legend. It’s a real contrivance that smothers the tale with a totally unnecessary Mills & Boon-esque cloak. It doesn’t help that Winona Ryder delivers a thoroughly grating performance with her irritating dialogue delivery (“Take me away from all this death!”). She looks the part; buxom and angular, wide-eyed and naïve, but she’s simply not good enough an actor for such a demanding part, especially when she’s up against one of the greatest actors of his generation.

Bram Stoker's Dracula Gary Oldman and Sadie Frost

Dracula ravishes Lucy (Sadie Frost)

But it gets worse; Keanu Reeves’ casting is probably one of the worst decisions in the history of mainstream modern horror. Apparently in the wake of the immense criticism Coppola admitted he was wrong in casting Reeves because he wanted a hot young star to appeal to the female audience. Damn straight! Reeves’ attempt at an English accent and his wooden acting is absolutely dire, and his presence in the movie virtually scuttles the entire movie. He was okay in River’s Edge, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and The Matrix, but that’s it. Period. He ruins this movie every time he’s on screen, and he’s one of the damn leads!

Bram Stoker's Dracula Bill Campbell, Cary Elwes, Richard E. Grant

Quincey (Bill Campbell), Holmwood (Cary Elwes) and Seward (Richard E. Grant)

Okay, so what’s good then? Well, plenty actually, but it’s the art department more than anywhere else. Arguably Anthony Hopkins is still channeling Dr. Hannibal Lector (he even leans in to smell Mina?!), and thus his performance is a tad ripe, but Oldman’s extraordinary invocation as the vampire lord of darkness towers over Hopkins. However, Sadie Frost’s feature debut as Lucy is something of a scene stealer (fiery red hair, crimson lips, pink nipples and all!). Tom Waits is inspired casting as madman Renfield, but he’s underused, and his role seems relatively thankless. And ‘tis a pity Coppola was forced to cut out some of the more raunchy footage of Dracula’s voluptuous brides in action.

Bram Stoker's Dracula Michaela Bercu, Florina Kendrick, Monica Bellucci

Dracula's brides (Michaela Bercu, Florina Kendrick and Monica Bellucci)

One of the many guises of Dracula

Eiko Ishioka’s costume design is stunning, and curiously she has a separate credit as “Design Collaboration”. Coppola originally planned on giving the majority of the movie’s production design budget to costume. Wisely he didn’t. Instead his son Roman was given the task of supervising all the special effects which hark back to the Golden Age of cinema trickery; almost everything being achieved in-camera through the use of matt paintings, miniatures, optical effects, reversed footage, split-screen, rear projection, shadowplay, etc. It is these old school effects which give the movie its real strengths. The whole movie becomes dreamlike; a supernatural pantomime. It is theatrical and staged, yet is pure expressionist cinema.

... and another more grotestque visage

There are dozens of beautifully nightmarish sequences that linger long in the mind; the Count’s carriage-driver extending his unnaturally long arm, the eerie throne design of the castle, Dracula scurrying down the side of the castle wall (my favourite moment from the novel), Dracula as hideous hirsute beast raping Lucy in her garden (he’s become a demon incubus and Lucy has become the Devil’s concubine), Lucy returning to her tomb with juicy baby to devour, then projectile vomiting blood, the eerie green mist, Dracula slitting open his breast for Mina to drink from, Dracula transforming into a figurine of rats that drop to the floor and scurry away, Van Helsing desperately creating a ring of fire to protect himself and Mina.

Lucy feels the heat of the Cross

Greg Cannom’s make-up effects are a stand-out as well, but pity Coppola didn’t go the whole hog and make a truly adult version with even more emphasis on the visceral horror and the sexual deviance. I never realised until the most recent viewing that Annie Lennox provides an original track which plays over the end credits: Love Song for a Vampire; it’s not half bad.

If only Reeves and Ryder weren’t so damn insufferable, Bram Stoker’s Dracula could actually be a great movie. In the end it’s not one of the great vampire movies, but it’s a great piece of cinematic filmmaking; “There is much to be learnt from beasts …”, and yes it does have a handful of truly memorable lines, such as the immortal “I have crossed oceans of time to find you …”, and, of course, “The children of the night, what sweet music they make.”

Bride Monica between Harker's thighs

I’ve said enough, suffice to say, if you haven’t seen any versions of Bram Stoker’s seminal novel Francis Coppola’s take is definitely one of the better ones; vivid and atmospheric, oneiric and expressionistic. Watch it for Gary Oldman, Sadie Frost, the production design, and the special effects.

Here's the very rare original teaser trailer:

Brides of Dracula Florina Kendrick, Monica Bellucci and Michaela Bescu

Publicity still of Dracula's brides

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

12 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Damo

April 24th 2009 04:29

Bryn

I have to admit that when I saw this film I was a little disappointed. My expectations of Coppela to handle this perhaps too high.

I have seen a 2 part miniseries that followed the story more closely and it was terrific. I have lost track of this film since. Though the production was typical BBC sets and lighting the script was much stronger.

This film does have some very good points. The shadows of old Dracula and his actual manifestation as compared to how the seduced women see him.

I understand that Coppela had budget restrictions imposed and had to ditch a lot of his dream sets. However I agree with your assessment. Excellent film crafting that lacks something that would make it a classic.

Certainly worth see.

Comment by Bryn

April 24th 2009 04:41

Horrorphile

Damo, its curious how neither Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, nor Bram Stoker's Dracula have ever been adpated completely faithfully to the novels. Keeping in mind of course that both use the letter form as narrative, but that aside ...
Coppola was also once again trying to prove he could keep a movie under budget control, but had he had complete artistic freedom, and didn't need to pander to executives and to the wider public, perhaps his would've been the most adult and most spectacular version to date? It's still a visual feast.

Comment by Damo

April 24th 2009 05:23

Bryn
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy this film but the Coppela legend is a lot to live up to.

I can understand why Frankenstein was never directly transferred to film. The first part of the book is a complete let down. We never get any detail about the construction of the monster and the whole thing is treated in a very matter-of-fact manner. However the rest of the book build tension and tragedy in brilliant manner. You can sense the absolute powerlessness of Victor by the second half.

Comment by Bryn

April 24th 2009 11:57

Horrorphile

Damo, true.
Coppola has had a very hit and miss career though. I do love many of his movies, but there are others that are plain mediocre.

Comment by Quin Goot

April 25th 2009 16:54

Cinema Banana

Hey Bryn. What a coincidence. I haven't posted on here for a while and didn't realise that you had done a review of the same film just a day or so prior. I haven't checked this in a while. I had just finished the novel and felt I had to write about it.
Great review by the way. Interesting to hear your more detailed perspective on the film, as different as our opinions may be. I too liked the costumes, but I would really like to see another version of this one done. I imagine it would be incredibly hard to capture the essence of Mr Stoker's story here (or how I picture it). So, yes, some points must be given for giving it a go.
I did feel however, the essence of the story was lost in this one.

Comment by stu-kicks

April 27th 2009 12:23

stu kicks

keanu reeves rules. also lesley nelson is a really good dracula.

Comment by JohnDoe

April 28th 2009 18:10

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Bryn,

We have discussed this one in some depth previously...The film does have its strengths like Oldman as Dracula, the historical piety and use of shadows...but Oh my pointed teeth lord did Canoe and Ryder seem like good choices, so miscast....always good to see Monica and her Bellucci's though even if a brief femme siren..easy to see Coppolla was passionate about the story.

Comment by Shane O'Hare

April 29th 2009 23:23

Modern Existence
The Niche Blog

Very good write up i never really was interested in this movie but i guess you pursuaded me.

Comment by Bryn

May 2nd 2009 03:41

Horrorphile

Quin,
what cinema adaptations of Dracula have you enjoyed?

stu, what movie did Leslie play Dracula? Was it Love at First Bite?? No, that was George Hamilton. Still, just as absurdly camp.

JD, Reeves is so woefully bad it hurts. For the trainspotters though if you pay attention you can get a couple of choice sheer/silhouetted glimpses of Ms Ryder's formidable assets

Shane, cheers mate, hope you can find the goodness in between the badness

Comment by Anonymous

December 11th 2009 01:03

I enjoyed that gorgeous fruitcake look of the film, and it was great fun. Although Lucy as hardboiled nympho probably put poor Stoker spinning in his grave, both she and Mina looked great in those dresses...

Comment by Bryn

December 11th 2009 03:22

Horrorphile

"gorgeous fruitcake look" ... now there's an original take!

Comment by Bryn

December 11th 2009 03:24

Horrorphile

"gorgeous fruitcake look" ... now there's an original take!

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