Not Much to Sink Your Teeth Into: Dracula Untold - Review
I was actually rather excited to see Dracula Untold. Usually, vampire movies don’t draw me in, but I am a fan of classic characters. However, as far as I’m concerned, vampires aren’t sparkly, nor are they desirable mates! I like them as good old-fashion villians. (Tip of the hat to Nosferatu!) So obviously I'm not an expert on vampires!
However, I do enjoy a good origin story, and despite the lackluster embrace from proper film critics, I thought to give Luke Evans’ Dracula a try.
First impression:
This latest take on the classic vampire villain ticks the box in all the right places. Hot lead actor: check. Over the top battle scenes: check. CGI extravaganza: check.
In truth, there was nothing unexpected or innovative about this story. It barely passes as exciting, but perhaps I'm a bit jaded from years of Marvel and DC films. One can only put up with so much CGI packed-entertainment without craving a juicy script.
Speaking of stories with sustenance, this script was well constructed and had a natural feel. As I was watching the story I was suitably transported.
However the predictability of the plot made it difficult to get into the story. From the get go, we all know that we're going to end up with the dreaded blood-sucking monster. Still I was naturally curious as to what could be said as an origin story for Bram Stoker’s classic character. Could I be made to care about this soon-to-be villain?
Not so much, but then by the response from the teenage girls and the handful of over-30 nerds and geeks, this Dracula delivered the desired loveable baddie vibe.
Clearly set up as a prequel, Dracula Untold explores the man before the monster. Originating as a Transylvanian prince, Vlad III Tepes (Luke Evans), suffers--rather predictably--a terrible childhood. He was in essence a captive slave of the Turks. This was the result of a trade with the sultan who would leave Transylvania in peace in exchange for 1000 boy soldiers. Vlad’s own father handed him over more or less as a security deposit on this deal.
Raised in an adequately brutal environment and taught to kill without mercy, Vlad of course climbed the ranks and esteem of his overlords. Upon reaching manhood, he returns the lands of his birth. And unsurprisingly renouncing violence, he marries Mirena (Sarah Gadon) and they produce a beloved son (Art Parkinson).
We enter the story as the era of peace comes to an end. The new sultan demands the old tribute of 1000 boys, including Vlad’s only child. At first he capitulated with the demands. But then in a fit of rage, he killed the sultan’s messengers setting into motion a war that the small kingdom could not hope to win.
Frantic to find a way to save both his son and his kingdom, Vlad sought out the dark creature that lives in the nearby mountains. The creature was--again expectedly--a vampire. The film would have you believe that this is the first vampire history. Cursed to live a miserable existence until a suitable replacement can be found, this chief vampire (Charles Dance) saw his opportunity for freedom in Vlad.
A contract of sorts was made where Vlad is given the powers of a vampire, but it will last only three days. That is if he can resist the draw for human blood. If he succumbs to that desire he will be turned into a vampire forever.
Inevitably, Vlad vanquishes Sultan Mehmed (Dominic Cooper) but looses his wife in the process. It is at her urging that Vlad gave in and drank her blood as she laid dying, so he could retain his powers and save their son.
The plot was highly predictable following the anti-hero story almost to a T. Irish director, Gary Shore did well enough in his first feature length film. The commercials director managed to hold the feature together, balancing dialogue and action scenes with confidence. The pacing of the film felt right, and never once did I get bored, even though I knew exactly what would be coming next.
The text-book nature of the film was endurable due to the high caliber performances. Rising star, Luke Evans, gartered enough squeals and sighs of delight from the young audience to ensure that his face would be plastering the walls of teenage girl’s bedrooms for years to come.
However, he proved that he was more than a pretty face. This West End actor showed that he can withstand the pressure of a lead film role just as well as a stage performance. He played a suitably tragic villain but added a tinge of humor that appropriately removed what could be an overbearing of gravitas. Like when he quips “That’s useful,” after his injured hand heals instantly. (That got the biggest laugh in the theatre.)
Sarah Gadon’s character is predictably, and sadly, one dimensional. Mirena was the classic house-wife-mother-queen who appealed Vlad’s conscious. However, it could be said that it was she who drove him to seek the dark powers of the vampire. It was her who accused Vlad of reneging his promise that their son would never suffer the same fate he did as a boy.
While I was disappointed in the her characterisation, I felt it had less to do with her character and rather the overwhelming lack of diverse female characters in general. (If we had more multi-dimensional female characters more often, then I wouldn't complain.)
Despite the cliché characterization, Gadon’s performance so well done, and I would like to see her in her own leading role. She has a an honest way of acting that I found entirely riveting.
Charles Dance as the chief vampire was so terribly underused in this film. The Game of Thrones actor has such a presence that he commands the entire screen. Even under all the demon make-up and CGI, his performance leaves us wanting more. What can I say? This guy knows how to act! (On a side note: I would love to see him in Shakespeare!)
The only surprising twist, for me at least, was the end. I was not expecting to arrive where we were by the way we did. But despite the unexpected change of direction, the ending was the only part that dragged on a bit. It was like Shore was trying to quickly tie up all the loose ends and prep us for the next film.
Clearly the ending was tacked on to set up for a sequel. Personally, I feel that this film could have stood alone, but obviously Universal Studios has sights sent on a new franchise. According to Screen Rant’s Sandy Schaefer, Dracula Untold is the beginning of Universal’s shared monster movie universe.
The only thing that I made me unsatisfied was a small almost insignificant detail: In the end, both the head vampire and Vlad are able to walk around in broad daylight! Which raises the question of: how?? (During the rest of the film they burned like the Wicked Witch of the West when exposed to even partially cloudy sunlight!)
So should you see this film? Sure. Why not? While not anything spectacular, it was a fun diversion for an afternoon. If anything, you can have bragging rights for jumping on to Universal’s new bandwagon of monster movies. But don't come expecting something great, otherwise you're expectations will "burn baby burn!" (Pun intended.)
And, if you want to read a more professional review of the film, I highly recommend Kofi Outlaw's on Screen Rant. He delivers a great synopsis and what I think is a fair and well written review of the film! Check him out!
Published October 11th, 2014 on TigrisIgnis
However, I do enjoy a good origin story, and despite the lackluster embrace from proper film critics, I thought to give Luke Evans’ Dracula a try.
First impression:
This latest take on the classic vampire villain ticks the box in all the right places. Hot lead actor: check. Over the top battle scenes: check. CGI extravaganza: check.
In truth, there was nothing unexpected or innovative about this story. It barely passes as exciting, but perhaps I'm a bit jaded from years of Marvel and DC films. One can only put up with so much CGI packed-entertainment without craving a juicy script.
Speaking of stories with sustenance, this script was well constructed and had a natural feel. As I was watching the story I was suitably transported.
However the predictability of the plot made it difficult to get into the story. From the get go, we all know that we're going to end up with the dreaded blood-sucking monster. Still I was naturally curious as to what could be said as an origin story for Bram Stoker’s classic character. Could I be made to care about this soon-to-be villain?
Not so much, but then by the response from the teenage girls and the handful of over-30 nerds and geeks, this Dracula delivered the desired loveable baddie vibe.
Clearly set up as a prequel, Dracula Untold explores the man before the monster. Originating as a Transylvanian prince, Vlad III Tepes (Luke Evans), suffers--rather predictably--a terrible childhood. He was in essence a captive slave of the Turks. This was the result of a trade with the sultan who would leave Transylvania in peace in exchange for 1000 boy soldiers. Vlad’s own father handed him over more or less as a security deposit on this deal.
Raised in an adequately brutal environment and taught to kill without mercy, Vlad of course climbed the ranks and esteem of his overlords. Upon reaching manhood, he returns the lands of his birth. And unsurprisingly renouncing violence, he marries Mirena (Sarah Gadon) and they produce a beloved son (Art Parkinson).
We enter the story as the era of peace comes to an end. The new sultan demands the old tribute of 1000 boys, including Vlad’s only child. At first he capitulated with the demands. But then in a fit of rage, he killed the sultan’s messengers setting into motion a war that the small kingdom could not hope to win.
Frantic to find a way to save both his son and his kingdom, Vlad sought out the dark creature that lives in the nearby mountains. The creature was--again expectedly--a vampire. The film would have you believe that this is the first vampire history. Cursed to live a miserable existence until a suitable replacement can be found, this chief vampire (Charles Dance) saw his opportunity for freedom in Vlad.
A contract of sorts was made where Vlad is given the powers of a vampire, but it will last only three days. That is if he can resist the draw for human blood. If he succumbs to that desire he will be turned into a vampire forever.
Inevitably, Vlad vanquishes Sultan Mehmed (Dominic Cooper) but looses his wife in the process. It is at her urging that Vlad gave in and drank her blood as she laid dying, so he could retain his powers and save their son.
The plot was highly predictable following the anti-hero story almost to a T. Irish director, Gary Shore did well enough in his first feature length film. The commercials director managed to hold the feature together, balancing dialogue and action scenes with confidence. The pacing of the film felt right, and never once did I get bored, even though I knew exactly what would be coming next.
The text-book nature of the film was endurable due to the high caliber performances. Rising star, Luke Evans, gartered enough squeals and sighs of delight from the young audience to ensure that his face would be plastering the walls of teenage girl’s bedrooms for years to come.
However, he proved that he was more than a pretty face. This West End actor showed that he can withstand the pressure of a lead film role just as well as a stage performance. He played a suitably tragic villain but added a tinge of humor that appropriately removed what could be an overbearing of gravitas. Like when he quips “That’s useful,” after his injured hand heals instantly. (That got the biggest laugh in the theatre.)
Sarah Gadon’s character is predictably, and sadly, one dimensional. Mirena was the classic house-wife-mother-queen who appealed Vlad’s conscious. However, it could be said that it was she who drove him to seek the dark powers of the vampire. It was her who accused Vlad of reneging his promise that their son would never suffer the same fate he did as a boy.
While I was disappointed in the her characterisation, I felt it had less to do with her character and rather the overwhelming lack of diverse female characters in general. (If we had more multi-dimensional female characters more often, then I wouldn't complain.)
Despite the cliché characterization, Gadon’s performance so well done, and I would like to see her in her own leading role. She has a an honest way of acting that I found entirely riveting.
Charles Dance as the chief vampire was so terribly underused in this film. The Game of Thrones actor has such a presence that he commands the entire screen. Even under all the demon make-up and CGI, his performance leaves us wanting more. What can I say? This guy knows how to act! (On a side note: I would love to see him in Shakespeare!)
The only surprising twist, for me at least, was the end. I was not expecting to arrive where we were by the way we did. But despite the unexpected change of direction, the ending was the only part that dragged on a bit. It was like Shore was trying to quickly tie up all the loose ends and prep us for the next film.
Clearly the ending was tacked on to set up for a sequel. Personally, I feel that this film could have stood alone, but obviously Universal Studios has sights sent on a new franchise. According to Screen Rant’s Sandy Schaefer, Dracula Untold is the beginning of Universal’s shared monster movie universe.
The only thing that I made me unsatisfied was a small almost insignificant detail: In the end, both the head vampire and Vlad are able to walk around in broad daylight! Which raises the question of: how?? (During the rest of the film they burned like the Wicked Witch of the West when exposed to even partially cloudy sunlight!)
So should you see this film? Sure. Why not? While not anything spectacular, it was a fun diversion for an afternoon. If anything, you can have bragging rights for jumping on to Universal’s new bandwagon of monster movies. But don't come expecting something great, otherwise you're expectations will "burn baby burn!" (Pun intended.)
And, if you want to read a more professional review of the film, I highly recommend Kofi Outlaw's on Screen Rant. He delivers a great synopsis and what I think is a fair and well written review of the film! Check him out!
Published October 11th, 2014 on TigrisIgnis