HOLLYWOOD—If you’re entering the theater thinking that “Dracula Untold” will be a dark tale on one of the most terrifying monsters in movie history, you might be surprised. This tale is an examination of a man who will go to great lengths to protect those that he cares about.
The movie follows Transylvanian prince Vlad III Tepes portrayed by Luke Evans, as he does battle with his enemy Mehmed II (Dominic Cooper) as a war brews. Tepes is determined to protect his family at all costs, even if it means becoming an evil that he is unable to control.
In his quest to defeat his enemy, Tepes ventures to dark places unknown to meet Caligula (Charles Dance) who asks our anti-hero to drink his blood to obtain the power to defeat his enemies. The meeting between Caligula and Tepes is an interesting one to say the least; Caligula is nefarious and gruesome looking. His face is one that would deliver nightmares to many people.
The idea of the movie presenting a story that audiences hasn’t seen before is intriguing, but that tale of darkness that so many of us have come accustomed to with any film about Dracula is lacking a bit here. If I even flashback to the tantalizing “Nosferatu” from the 1920s, that picture had a dark tone that sent chills down the spine.
The narrative for “Dracula Untold” will keep its audience engaged as it weaves a story that gives a unique perspective on just how Dracula came to become the monster that he is. The issue is this is a tale that falls into the action category, not so much horror flick. Those looks for scares will be disappointed, but those who are fans of an action will thoroughly enjoy the film.
The special effects of Dracula himself are eye-popping and indeed something to talk about. Seeing him transform from human to bats in a matter of seconds will thrill audiences. Not to mention witnessing those epic war sequences where one man literally takes on thousands and does so without even a whimper.
“Dracula Untold” is an entertaining movie, but it doesn’t deliver a Dracula that audiences will be talking about years from now.
By LaDale Anderson
