Drew’s Review: French director Besson puts his own spin on classic ‘Dracula’

Dracula is an enduring character in literature and in the movies. Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula” was first published back in 1897.

Famously, the story was brought to the movie screens in 1922 with F.W. Murnau’s classic silent German film, “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror,” starring Max Schreck. In 1931, Hollywood director Tod Browning created his classic movie version of “Dracula” starring the iconic Bela Lugosi.

Over the years, Dracula has been a popular, recurring character. He’s a commanding, handsome creature who mixes an undercurrent of eroticism with the spine-tingling terror associated with other movie monsters. He seduces his female victims before drinking their blood and turning them into his blood-sucking slaves. Christopher Lee perfectly fit the role in the cheesy British Dracula films decades ago that co-starred Peter Cushing.

In 1992, Francis Ford Coppola took a stab at the tale with his heavily stylized version, starring Gary Oldman as Count Dracula. The all-star cast included Anthony Hopkins, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves.

Now comes the latest retelling of the story from French director Luc Besson, whose earlier films include the original “La Femme Nikita” (1990) and “The Fifth Element” (1997). Besson is a director with a distinctive visual style, evident in the opening scenes of “Dracula.” 

It is deliciously dark, bathed in spooky set design, often illuminated only by candlelight. Dracula’s castle seems to have an ample supply of candles for anyone who is paying attention. One might wonder who lights and replaces them in the many elaborate chandeliers and candelabras depicted, but we’re not meant to ask.

Much like Coppola’s “Dracula,” the story begins with the young Vlad (based on a real-life historical figure known as “Vlad the Impaler”) and his hot young wife. There are scenes of passion and lovemaking, interrupted by the news that Vlad must suddenly leave to lead his soldiers in a desperate battle.

While he’s away, his wife is murdered, shattering his emotions, destroying his belief in God and setting him on an eternal quest to be reunited with his soulmate. His rejection of God results in a curse that transforms him into a tortured, blood-drinking creature who must avoid sunlight and sleep in a coffin.

As in earlier Dracula tales, after existing for long, lonely centuries, Vlad finally discovers whom he believes to be the reincarnation of his lost wife. Driven by the intense fire of his passion, he sets about to be reunited with her forever.

Dracula’s all-consuming obsession is the focus of Besson’s version of this tale. While it has always been a story element, Besson amplifies it here, making it the main story element. He leans into the romance more than the familiar horror elements.

Granted, there is blood and gore, but not as much as one might expect. Possible exceptions include Vlad killing and drinking the blood of a rat scurrying across his banquet table and the operatically staged bloodbath that happens when he seduces and attacks several dozen nuns in their secluded nunnery.

A new story element is a potent perfume that Vlad uses to cast a powerful spell on his female victims. They can’t resist. Also new are small, scary castle gargoyles who come to life to do his bidding. Interestingly, they bear more than a passing resemblance to the pig-like, gun-toting space alien bad guys in “The Fifth Element.” 

Actor Caleb Landry Jones portrays the various incarnations of Vlad, from a handsome, top-hatted young man to a corpse-like vampire with a radically bizarre hairdo resembling the one that Oldman sported in Coppola’s “Dracula.” Hopefully, it’s just an attempt at homage.

Watch: Dracula | Official Trailer (HD)

Strictly speaking, you can’t really call the new “Dracula” a Valentine’s Day movie despite its attempt to go heavy on steamy sex and eternal love. There’s still a fair amount of spurting blood.

In fairness, let’s not forget the many gorefest films like “My Bloody Valentine” (2009) that traditionally mix romance and carnage. On a positive note, you could argue that the holiday-timed release of movies like this is intended to bring couples together to snuggle in movie theaters. You could also argue that what they are really doing is serving up horror show entertainment that makes them cling to each other out of sheer, scream-out-loud terror.

Luc Besson’s “Dracula” is rated R.

This Valentine’s Day weekend, Luc Besson offers a re-telling of “Dracula” with an emphasis on the sex and romance versus the violence and gore. It’s a mixed bag of blood.