Dracula Review – The French Director’s Passionate Reimagining of the Timeless Gothic Tale is Outlandish but Watchable

It’s possible interest is limited for a fresh take of Dracula from Luc Besson, the filmmaker known for glossiness and bloat. And yet, it’s worth noting: his lavishly upholstered love story with vampires boasts bold vision and flair – and amid its theatrical camp, I’m not sure I wouldn’t prefer to it to the recent, stately interpretation by Robert Eggers of Nosferatu. There are some very bizarre touches, such as a scene that appears to show a territorial boundary between France and Romania.

The Veteran Actor as a Clever but Weary Priest Tracking the Undead

Christoph Waltz portrays a humorous yet burdened man of the church pursuing the undead – I can’t believe he hasn’t played this character previously – who finds himself in Paris in 1889 for the French Revolution centenary celebrations. The same goes for the malevolent vampire count, played by the seasoned horror actor Caleb Landry Jones with a mangled central European accent reminiscent of Carell’s Gru character of the Despicable Me series. It’s a role that he too was born to take on.

The Narrative: A Chronicle of Longing

The plot unfolds as follows: Dracula has been restlessly roaming the globe in sorrow over four centuries since he became undead, a punishment for his faithless sorrow over the death of his wife, Elisabeta (an inaugural screen appearance for Zoë Bleu, daughter of Rosanna Arquette). the vampire has been searching, searching, searching for a female who might be the reincarnation of his lost love. By cruel fate, the fortunate female proves to be Mina (portrayed once more by Bleu), the demure fiancee of Dracula’s feeble property handler, Jonathan Harker (enacted by Ewens Abid), who just traveled to the vampire’s estate to discuss his land assets and whose miniature portrait of the winsome Mina attracted Dracula’s gaze.

Besson’s Direction and Lighthearted Touch

Besson organizes Dracula’s middle-section history of international journeys in various outrageous costumes confidently, and he is not above giving us some comedy moments with a distinctly Mel Brooks flavour – like the vampire’s constant unsuccessful tries to kill himself post-Elisabeta’s demise, as well as absurd moments that result after Dracula sprays himself in a certain perfume during the 1700s in Florence, which causes him to be compelling to the opposite sex. Outlandish but entertaining.

Dracula can be streamed online starting December 1st and on DVD and Blu-ray from December 22nd. It will be shown in Australian cinemas from 5 February 2026.