Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres from writer/director Luc Besson and Vertical is the story of love through the centuries with DRACULA.
Prince Vladimir of Wallachia (Caleb Landry) is a fierce warrior and after a battle against the Ottomans, he learns that his beloved wife Elisabeta was tricked and killed. Not able to save her, the prince renounces God and lives through time waiting for his love to be reincarnated. Now a vampire, he also learned how to develop a perfume that brings victims to him quite easily.
Several centuries later, lawyer Jonathan Harker (Ewens Abid) is sent to the prince to help find a place for him to be in Paris. Showing a picture of his fiancĂ© Mina (Zoe Bleu) to the prince, Jonathan is imprisoned in the castle while Dracula goes to find her feeding on his way to become handsome once again. Already in place is vampire Maria (Matilda De Angelis) who is being held in a sanitarium waiting for Dracula’s return but she seems to have gone a little mad.
Checking her over is a priest (Christoph Waltz) called in to handle the situation. Studying her behavior and marks on her neck, he concludes that Maria is vampire. Meanwhile, Mina is being seduce by Dracula and she is pulled between the two men. Remembering a time when Dracula was the love of her life, Mina makes a choice.
That’s when the priest follows with Harker and others, they are determined to bring Mina back to them. Dracula has other plans.
Landry as Dracula brings a new side of the frightening vampire. He carries Dracula through stages that project what we know and what we never considered. There is nothing stopping him from finding his love. Landry is quiet, effective and sexy in his own unique way which gives his character such power. Here is a deeper dive into Dracula and his presence looms so large thanks to Landry’s ability to be completely become this character. Different yet effective and so very close to my favorite Dracula.
Abid as Harder has a tendency to not fit into the film with his joking and the way he sees things. I felt a little cringed by this character as I always saw him as a stronger character. It doesn’t mean I didn’t appreciate his role; I always see Harker as an under character that doesn’t seem to be thought of as important, and truthfully, he is. Bleu as Mina is a young woman worried about her friend, that is until a tall handsome prince enters her life. Bleu portrays such a strong woman who has no status other than being Dracula’s love. Bleu lets her character go with the flow and even seeing red flags doesn’t change her character.
Waltz as the Priest is the calm on in the bunch. He can chaos reign surprise around him he keeps his cool. While everyone is going insane around him, the priest just does what needs doing and doesn’t let overreactions stop him. When he finally speaks with Dracula, I just loved how his character spoke truth to Dracula’s power. DeAngelis as Maria is absolutely insane, she is extremely loud, a handful of emotions and a friend to Mina. But with friends like Maria who needs vampiric enemies. She is a vampiric hot mess.
Other
cast include David Shields as Henry Spencer, Raphael Luce as Simon, Guillaume
de Tonquedec as Dumont, Haymon Maria Buttinger as the Cardinal, Betrand-Xavier
Corbi as Captain Targol,
Vertical Entertainment is a global independent distributor that offers a unique wealth of experience minus the studio costs. Film such as MY MOTHER’S WEDDING, I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU, FIGHT OR FLIGHT and IN THE LOST LANDS are only a few of the film the studio has brought forward. For more please visit www.vert-ent.com.
To be honest, the 1992 Bram Stoker’s Dracula is always the yardstick I use to compare vampire films. When Gary Oldman says “I’ve crossed oceans of time to find you.”, I’m undone. I get why Mina submits because, who wouldn’t? That scene alone is imprinted in my brain forever so, its hard to go into a new vampire film without having some reservations.
What does that mean? It means that Landry has moved into the number 2 slot of my favorite vampires. His take is unique, vocally frightening and larger than life. There are moments of sheer terror and moments of sheer heartbreaking love. The portrayal by Landry shows it has to be one or the other.
Landry gives Dracula an interesting take with his anger being subtle but effective in ways the humans don’t see coming. This interpretation of Dracula includes gargoyle minions or, gargoyle ninjas because they are fast and effective. The costuming is stunning and I love that about the film. The score is brilliantly done by composer Danny Elfman. Each note added something unique, especially during the time Dracula is on the hunt through the centuries.
Director Besson says is best about Dracula, “He’s good because he loves her and he’s bad because he loves her.” This character is caught in a cycle of grief and destruction. Grief at losing his beloved Elizabeta and the destruction of anything that gets in his way of finding her. That is a constant theme for this iconic bad boy with fangs.
In the end – he has waited centuries!
