Movie review: Dracula Untold
There have been countless versions of the Dracula story over the years, most notably from the House of Hammer who turned Christopher Lee's Prince of Darkness into one of the screen's most recognised horror figures ever.
Picture: supplied
Dracula Untold is another dark fantasy action horror film, directed by Gary Shore. What makes this production different is that it creates an origin story for Count Dracula, rather than focus on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula.
It tells the story of Vlad the Impaler, a true historical figure, who in the film uses dark powers to protect his family and kingdom.
Transylvanian prince Vlad III (Luke Evans) has been ruling a peaceful country, but is threatened by Sultan Mehmed II (Cooper), who demands 1 000 of Vlad’s kingdom’s boys, including the prince’s own son, Ingeras (Art Parkinson), to join his army.
This is a terrible dilemma for Vlad. He decides that in order to save his son, his wife Mirena (Sarah Gordon), and the kingdom he loves, he must undertake a perilous journey to Broken Tooth Mountain, where he will encounter an ancient sorcerer, Caligula (Charles Dance). This Roman emperor has become an ancient demon with the ability to transfer his dark powers to Vlad and transform him into Dracula.
This Faustian bargain gives the prince the strength of 100 men, the speed of a falling star and enough power to destroy his enemies. However, he will be inflicted with an insatiable thirst to drink human blood. This ultimately leads him to embrace his destiny as the mythological vampire Dracula.
Gary Shore invests the film with mood and atmosphere, using the special effects well and adding more substance to the normal run-of-the-mill vampire yarn. There are many striking set pieces in which Vlad attacks his enemies, skilfully using a veil of bats to create an effective illusion as he strikes fear into the hearts of the Turks.
Handsome and muscular, Luke Evans convinces as Vlad, whose horrific decision changes his life forever, while Dominic Cooper, given a terrible accent, plays Sultan Mehmed II in short bursts.
An attractive Sarah Gordon gives Vlad’s wife Mirena enough emotional zing. And one must not forget Charles Dance, who almost disappears beneath layers of make-up to create a scary monster.
This is how the legend begins and how some of the original vampire traits, like an aversion to sunlight and silver, which have been stitched into the mythology ever since, emerge.
Info:
> Cast: Luke Evans, Sarah Gordon, Dominic Cooper
> Director: Gary Shore
> Classification: PG13
