Dracula Review – Besson’s Love-Struck Revamp of the Gothic Classic is Outlandish but Watchable

Perhaps there is no great enthusiasm for a fresh take of Dracula from Luc Besson, the filmmaker known for stylish excess. However, it has to be said: his opulently crafted romantic vampire tale displays creativity and style – and with its B-movie charm, I’m not sure I wouldn’t prefer compared with the recent, stately interpretation by Robert Eggers of Nosferatu. A few strange elements appear, such as a scene that appears to show a land border between France and Romania.

Christoph Waltz as a Humorously Exhausted Clergyman Hunting Vampires

Christoph Waltz portrays a witty yet careworn vampire-hunting priest – I can’t believe he hasn’t played such a part earlier – who ends up in Paris in 1889 to mark the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Likewise present is the sinister Dracula, played by the expert in grotesque roles Caleb Landry Jones with a mangled central European accent similar to the voice of Gru by Steve Carell from the Despicable Me comedies. This character that he too was born to take on.

The Plot: A Saga of Heartbreak

Here’s the premise: the vampire lord has been restlessly roaming the earth in torment for 400 years following his rise as one of the undead, a penalty for his faithless sorrow over the death of his spouse Elisabeta (an inaugural screen appearance for Zoë Bleu, daughter of Rosanna Arquette). Dracula has been searching, searching, searching for a lady who could be the rebirth of his departed beloved. By cruel fate, the chosen woman is revealed as Mina (again played by Bleu), the demure fiancee of Dracula’s feeble property handler, Jonathan Harker (Ewens Abid), who has recently been to Dracula’s fortress to discuss his real estate holdings and the small picture of the winsome Mina attracted Dracula’s gaze.

The Filmmaker’s Approach and Lighthearted Touch

Besson arranges Dracula’s flashback sequence of international journeys sporting extravagant attire confidently, and he willingly includes offering humorous scenes in the style of Mel Brooks – like Dracula’s ongoing failed efforts to commit suicide following Elisabeta’s passing, along with farcical scenes that follow Dracula applies to himself using a particular scent in 18th-century Florence, which causes him to be unavoidably attractive to females. Ridiculous and watchable.

Dracula is on digital platforms from 1 December and on DVD and Blu-ray from December 22nd. It will be shown in Australian cinemas starting February 5, 2026.