MOVIE REVIEWS

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Dracula reimagines Bram Stoker’s classic tale with a lush, operatic intensity. This visually opulent adaptation stands out for its rich atmosphere, blending gothic horror with romantic tragedy. I’ve seen a couple of 4k redo’s at Lumiere and it always catches me by surprise when you get more out of it than when originally watched it. Like fine wine, it gets better with age.

Gary Oldman delivers a mesmerizing performance as Count Dracula, capturing both his monstrous cruelty and tormented longing for lost love. Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves play Mina and Jonathan Harker, though Reeves’ wooden delivery pales beside Ryder's heartfelt portrayal. Keanu’s character wasn’t an academy award winner, yes,  but the story really wasn’t about him Unfortunately, with a few rodeos under my belt, I couldn’t help feeling for Johnathan. The sexual tension you could cut like a knife was still captured and quite visceral. Combine this with the stunning vision and cinematography and yet again, something worth revisiting on the big screen. 

The film's bold visual style, inspired by Expressionist cinema, employs striking costumes, surreal lighting, and practical effects, enhancing its dreamlike quality. Wojciech Kilar’s haunting score elevates the drama, underscoring the film’s themes of desire, immortality, and redemption. When it comes to affairs of the heart, I found myself cheering on Drac and Mina knowing that it wasn’t going to end well. Having lived a full, non-blood sucking life, you see the road crash coming. The debate on why it ended, as it should, was top of conversation on the ride home. Something that I totally missed in my younger years when I saw it first.

While occasionally veering into melodrama, Coppola’s Dracula is a testament to the power of cinematic spectacle. It’s not just a horror film but a passionate exploration of love and mortality, cementing its status as a gothic masterpiece. Lumiere have a fantastic team who pick their films with expert knowledge of a GREAT film. Another one to put on your list to see.

Reviewed by Nicholas Henare for Cantabrian Magazine.