My Best Friend is a Vampire

I liked this film a lot less than I had expected I would going in. It mostly suffers from being, in my opinion not that good. I wouldn’t go as far as to call this film awful though. As it is at least entertaining. My main issue is how dated the film feels, which is strange since 80’s charm is normally a big seller for me. More it was how dated the humor was, but ill get into that more later.

My best friend is a Vampire starts with narrator Jeremy Capello (Robert Sean Lenard), a popular, or at least well regarded high school student’s dream. In the dream he’s torn between choosing the popular cheerleader Candy Andrews (LeeAnne Locken) and nerdy Darla Blake (Cheryl Pollak). While trying to decided he is seduced by a mysterious woman (Cecilia Peck). In waking life, Jeremy isn’t torn at all as he sets his eyes on Darla, while Candy sets hers on him. Darla is initially cold to Jeremy, but warms to him quickly. One night at his job delivering groceries, he delivers to Nora. Who looks just like the woman from his dreams, she makes a move on him though they lead no where since Jeremy leaves. At school Jeremy’s best friend Ralph (Evan Mirand) upon hearing his story convinces Jeremy to return to her that night. In attempt at a sexual liasion. Which actually kind of works out, though while Jeremy and Nora, the mysterious woman are get hot and heavy. As Nora bites Jeremy’s neck they are interrupted by Professor McCarthy (David Warner) and his assistant Grimsdyke (Paul Willson) break in. Jeremy flees thinking McCarthy is Nora’s husband and flees along with Ralph in Ralph’s car. The car is seen fleeing by Grimsdyke who is able to see the bumper sicker for the high school Jeremy and Ralph attend. Over the next couple days Jeremy starts noticing some changes. Changes that get even more complicated when Modoc (Rene Auberjonois), a vampire, shows up to teach him the ropes. Leaving Jeremy to balance school, is romantic life, and stopping MCCarthy, who think Ralph is the vampire.

So my first gripe is the dated humor. Well not so much the humor as a whole, but the humor in one particular scene. After Ralph learns the Jeremy is a vampire. Ralph has Jeremy go to a club with him so that Jeremy can use his mind control powers on ladies to get Ralph laid. The joke is that Jeremy isn’t any good at it and keeps messing it up. My issue is that their intention is to essentially commit rape. But the whole scene is a joke and never takes a second to think about what the characters actions say about them.

For the most part it doesn’t feel like much of anything is going on. Sure, McCarthy s there to force the plot along. But for the most part it takes it easy.

Another gripe is his the female leads. Both are interested in Jeremy and the to movie tries to play up this aspect a little, but mostly just during the beginning. Darla and Candy are both woefully underdeveloped. But so is everyone, even Jeremy. Though no character leaves me with questions or scratching my head like Modoc.

Final thoughts, over all I didn’t like it. Sure you get to see young Robert Sean Lenard, or if you like either Rene Auberjonois or David Warner. This film might be worth a watch for you. Though be warned the humor is just as dated as the hair styles. 4/10

Freaks of Nature

I’m conflicted here, as I genuinely liked aspects of this film. But it’s so much a debacle? Boondoggle? Clusterf#$k? One of those three to be sure, if not all three. Freaks of Nature seems to just throw everything it can think of at the wall and see what sticks and what doesn’t. Very little sticks. The few highlights of the film for me that I loved were the character moments that showed a certain level of thought went into writing this film. Though I feel that what was intended didn’t come across or translate to the screen correctly.

Freaks of Nature takes place in the town of Dillford. Which is inhabited by humans, vampires and zombies. Dag Parker (Nicholas Braun) is a high school guy, with standard tv high school problems. Like being into the hot girl Lorelei (Vanessa Hudgens) whose your friend but don’t know how to express how he feels. Petra Lane (Mackenzie Davis) and her vampire boyfriend Milan (Ed Westwick) decided to go “all the way”. Unfortunately Petra and Milan misunderstand each other as Petra thinks he means sex when he means feeding on her. Resulting in Petra turning into a vampire after being bitten. Ned Mosely (Josh Fadem) is the uncool smart kid. His teachers work against him to crush he dreams of leaving this small town and his parents show blatant favoritism for his athletic older brother. With his future looking grim Ned lets himself be bitten by a zombie. As a means of escaping. As it happens all three go to the same high school. But as their high school dramas unfold aliens show up. This drives the tensions between the groups boil over as one group accuses for the aliens arrival. This leads up to a town wide melee, neighbor against neighbor. But as the aliens enter the fight until on Dag, Petra and Zombie Ned are left to stop them and save their town.

I liked the subtext of the vampire and zombie story lines. The vampire substituting for STIs and the zombie stepping in for depression and the sense of hopelessness. Both approach these subtly. Well not so much with the vampire one..

The acting isn’t so bad. Vanessa Hugens, Keegan-Michael Key, Ian Roberts and Mackenzie Davis are amazing fun to watch and do a great job. Bob Odenkirk and Joan Cusack delightful together. However Nicholas Braun is the films main characters and I am not a Nicholas Braun fan. With each film of his I watch, the less of him I want to see. That said he’s the one with an acting career, so he has to be doing something right.

My main issue is that this film tries to do way to much. With the zombie, the vampire and aliens on top of a high school drama(s). It all becomes a bit to much, resulting in everything fighting for your attention. Causing just about everything to come out feeling bland.

Final thoughts. I loved the numerous horror tropes that was worked in. That’s basically all this film is, horror and high school drama tropes are slammed together. But since the film isn’t taking its self seriously, I find it hard to be to critical of it. Freaks of Nature as parts that are worth looking into on a deeper level, while at the same time can be enjoyed as just a silly film. But for my personal views on the end product, I would have to say 4/10.

Stake Land

I was not expecting to like this film this much. I have a begrudging relationship with vampire films. I’m extremely hit or miss with them and it feels like they’re more often misses. Stake Land manages to be a hit. Stake Land is basically a zombie film, where the zombies have been replaced with feral vampires. Though that isn’t the only similarity with zombie films, which works just fine for me.

Stake Land opens after a global pandemic of vampirism has spread across the world killing or changing the majority of the population. With humans only surviving on the road or in small isolated communities. During a storm Martin’s (Connor Paolo) family is attacked by a lone vampire, resulting in the death of both his parents and their baby. Martin survives by being saved by a Mister (Nick Damici) a lone hunter. Mister takes Martin under his wing, training how to hunt and kill vampires along with survive in the new world. While traveling they rescue Sister (Kelly McGillis) a Nun, from a pair of rapists that are part of religious cult that defies Vampires. Killing one and leaving the other for dead, staked in the back. They are captured shortly after by the cult, led by Jebedia Loven (Michael Cerveris). Who happens to be that father of one of the men Mister killed saving Sister (The one he staked in the back) and sets to have his revenge on them. He leaves Mister in the middle of vamp land, while keeping Martin as slave and Sister for sex. Martin escapes with the consent of Sister and manages to reconnect with Mister, who has managed to survive. They continue to travel north to New Eden, AKA Canada, when the meet up with Belle (Danielle Harris). A pregnant woman trying to reach New Eden before her child is born. They then rescue Willie (Sean Nelson) from a portable toilet, having been left as Vamp bait by the cult. The four continue north, bonding and fighting the occasional vampire and dogging the Cult that’s out looking for Mister. Mister, Martin and the others ambush a cult roadblock, attacking and subduing Jebedia. They leave him tied to a tree, bait for the vampires he so reveres. At the next town they find Sister, who manged to escape the cult, just before the cult rains down vampires onto the town from a helicopter. The group now whole, continues their trip to New Eden, but after their truck breaks down it becomes apparent they are being stalked by a new breed of vampire… one that can think.

What I love is the zombie connection in this film. Mindless undead? Check. Bleak future living in the ruins of the old world? Check. A group of survivors trying to make their way bound together by shared comradery? Oh yes. Mainly what I love is the how character focused the film is. As while none of them are explored deeply, their relationships to one another is where this film shines.

The effects are super solid. The vampires are great, looking unsettling and have their own rules under which they function. Even with built-in exceptions as vampire mutations are a thing. Though beyond fangs it doesn’t take much to sell a vampire to me. Also they behave how you would expect, stakes to heart kill them and so does sunlight. While the making them mindless adds an interesting twist that sets them apart enough to be new, while maintaining the comfort of the old.

Final thoughts, I really loved this film. It’s a bit of a slow burn at the start, but once the ball is rolling the ride really starts. The characters, at least the main ones are very like-able. All the actors do an outstanding job, playing into the world and making it feel believable. I would recommend this film. It comes with a smidgen of gore and plenty of story. 9/10

The Night Flier

This a personal favorite of a good friend of mines. So when he heard I was doing another round of Stephen King adaptations for the Christmas season again, he heavily suggested this film. Though I knew little of this beyond it containing a vampire. So when I realized that Miguel Ferrer was front and center for the whole film. Who I just loved as Lloyd Henreid in The Stand. The Night Flier also has Dan Monahan, who is impossible to remove his roles in the Porky’s films.

The Night Flier opens with a black Sky-master airplane with red piping landing at night in a desolate air strip. The sole attendant goes out to check on the plane and finds it empty. Though he quickly set upon by an unseen attacker and is killed. In New York at The Inside View, a trashy sensationalist tabloid, Richard Dee’s (Miguel Ferrer) the paper’s chief reporter is upset that a picture was cut from his story and storms into his bosses office. Inside Katherine Blair (Julie Entwisle) is being welcomed to the paper by the chief editor Merton Morrison (Dan Monahan). Morrison offers a story to Dee’s, involving a serial killer that flies into airports and kills the attendant. Dee passes on the story and goes out drinking. He’s followed by Blair, who wants to pick his brain over the inside view of Inside View. She’s met with Dee’s short temper and scorn. The following morning when he arrives to work Dee is brought into Morrison’s office, he’s presented with more evidence to support the serial killer’s existence, information dug up by Blair. This new evidence hooks Dee’s interest and agrees to do the story, stealing it from Blair who had already got it. Dee begins tracking the killer flying the same airports and questioning anyone who will talk to him. As he draws closer to the killer, whom he names the Night Flyer, Dee becomes more and more drawn in. Though eventually the trail goes cold, but he gets help from Blair, eventually catching up to the Night Flyer…

Having not read the short story this based on I was able to enjoy this film on its own merits. Night Flyers biggest strength is actually how little the Night Flyer is involved. He’s only alluded to and talked about by those who Dee interviews. The Night Flyer is shown just enough to stay at the forefront of the film, but is always cloaked in shadow until the films final moments.

What really carries this film though is the atmosphere, which remains dark and imposing. The sense of dread cast by the Night Flyer ebbs and flows, but is always there driving the narrative. Though his mental connection to Dee is oddly out-of-place and serves no real purpose.

The acting is mostly really good. Which has a style that I find remarkably similar to Pet Cemetery. Though it does pass the line to cheesy on more than a few occasions. Though it’s really the strength Miguel Ferrer’s performance that carries the film. As his slow decent in obsession and madness here is solid and easily my favorite role of his now.

Final thoughts, like any good adaptation The Night Flyer wants me to read the story on which it was based. I loved the sly references other King stories. Mostly in the scene in Morton’s office as the past headlines. Standing on its own, divorced from King, Night Flyer is still a solid vampire. It has a dark, oppressive mood and ties to the old Dracula films. 8/10

Fright Night 2: New Blood

Fright Night 2: New Blood, the sequel to the 2011 Fright Night is every bit the let down that I thought the 2011 remake was going to be. It managed to be a let down from the very first moments as it is in fact not a sequel at all. Fright Night 2: New Blood is another rehashing of the 1985 Fright Night and it’s sequel. Though it has jack all to do with that sequel other than the antagonist being a female vampire. Fright Night 2 completely ignores the previous film with none of the actors returning to reprise the roles. Making me wonder, if the story in no way bares any connection to the film prior, is it still a sequel? Shouldn’t the title of this film be Fright Night: New Blood?

Charlie Brewster (Will Payne) is on a week-long student exchange program in Romania with fellow students, including his friend Ed (Chris Waller) and ex-girlfriend Amy (Sacha Parkinson). Amy and Charlie having recently broken up because Charlie cheated on her, maybe… it’s never explored that deeply. On the first night, Charlie watches two women across the street from his hotel window get frisky, when one notices. Though she doesn’t seem to mind. Charlie notices that the other woman is bleeding, but the time he calls Ed over the curtains have been closed. At class for European Art, he meets his professor Gerri Dandridge (Jaime Murray). Who just happens to be the woman who noticed watching earlier that night. Later while on tour of a local castle, Charlie sneaks away and comes across Gerri get personal with another student. She once again notices him, causing him to look away and when looks back they’re both gone. When he and Ed return to the hotel that night the police are present and after inquiring to what happened, he learns that the student from earlier is missing. When in his room while watching the police leave, he notices Gerri in the window across the way. Then he witnesses her leap from the window with what appears to be  a body wrapped in black trash bags, load it into her car and drive into the night. So he does what any idiot would do and sneaks into her home, where he finds a strange sacrificial chamber. When he hears Gerri return, he quickly hides inside a coffin and watches as she kills and drains a woman of her blood. She then bathes in the woman’s blood returning her youth, she then notices him. Though due to plot armor he manages to get away. He goes to warn Amy, though when he arrives Gerri is already there and manages to make him look crazy. Though the next morning Ed is more willing to believe Charlie and even identifies Gerri as Elizabeth Bathory a powerful vampire. Armed with this knowledge Charlie and Ed seek out the Peter Vincent (Sean Power), a TV personality that host the reality monster hunting show Fright Night. Who agrees to help them for an exorbitant fee. Though he quickly abandons them after they meet up with Amy, when he realizes they looking for a real vampire, something he doesn’t believe in. While riding the subway Gerri appears once again and in full vampire glory attacks them, with Ed sacrificing himself to let Charlie and Amy escape into the tunnels…

Where I cut off is actually where the film gets good, which is about sixty percent of the way through this slog fest. The first chunk of this film is poorly paced and at times criminally boring. As if you’ve seen the film that this film is supposed to follow your basically just relearning all the things you already know. Vampires are real, Peter Vincent is a fake, ect. But once we reach this tipping point and Gerri develops some actual fangs things get marginally better.

Speaking of Gerri, Jaime Murray is by far the best actress in this film and manages to hold it together. She manages to be sexy, scary and intelligent. Though that last attribute wanes as the film goes on. Murray nails the role here and seems to be the only actor to be pulling their weight. She also manages to be the film’s most like-able character behind Amy. Though she lacks any real defining feature beyond being the love interest.

The effects are straight up laughable when they actually try to use them for scares. Gerri’s full vampire form is simply ridiculous. The film manages to more tension and fright with the camera work, like when Gerri chases Charlie and Amy through the Subway tunnels then the catacombs. Also when she enters the blood bath an old woman only to emerge young and beautiful once again.

Final thoughts, of all the Fright Nights this is by far the most skippable as it’s just another rehashing of a story that was already retold once and just a few years prior. While I never expect much from straight to home video horror films, Fright Night 2: New Blood is the bottom of the barrel. With only a couple of strong points, though non strong enough to be a saving grace. 3/10

Fright Night (2011)

I’ve had this film on my to watch list for quite some time. The main reason I’ve been putting it off, is frankly that I love the original and I’m not a fan of Colin Ferrell. The only film that comes to mind of films I thought he was good in is Crazy Heart, well and Daredevil. My dislike of his acting is profound I never even tried to look further into this film after learning he was in it, which is basically the first thing you learn about it. Though after I started it, I realized that Anton Yelchin (God rest his soul) stars and David Tennant was also in it. Those two more than make up for the blandness I find in Colin Ferrell.

Fright Night is basically just a semi retelling of its predecessor. Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) is a high school senior that just trying to make it through the new year have traded up in social standing. Now friends with popular kids and dating Amy (Imogen Poots), the films resident hot girl. When his childhood friend Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) uses embarrassing footage along with secrets from their childhood making Charley check in on a missing friend of theirs with him after school. When Charley arrives at the friend’s house they find no one home. Ed confesses that he and their missing friend have been tracking disappearances and murders and believe it to be the work of his new neighbor Jerry (Colin Farrell), who happens to be a vampire. Charley not believing Ed leaves after the two have a heated falling out. On his way home Ed is attacked by Mark (Dave Franco), one of Charley’s new friends and resident bully. After narrowly escaping Mark, Ed is attacked by Jerry. Who attacks and turns Ed. After Ed doesn’t come to school the next day Charley gets suspicious and goes to check on him at home. While searching through Ed’s room, he comes across evidence that makes him believe that maybe Ed was telling the truth. When he returns home, he encounters Jerry who claims to need of beer since he’s invited over a lady for drinks. But forgot the drinks. Charley gives him the beer in the fridge, but doesn’t invite Jerry in and notices that Jerry is unable to cross the threshold of his home. That night he hears a woman scream from Jerry’s house and calls the police, who arrive and do nothing. So, he does the logical thing and sneaks in, finds his latest female victim and sneaks her out of the house. Only for her to explode into ash when she hits daylight. Armed with this new information Charley goes to Peter Vincent (David Tennant), stage magician and known vampire enthusiast. Though not believing in Charley’s story has him thrown from his suite. When he returns home Jerry is waiting and lays siege to his home, with his mother Jane (Toni Collette) and Amy inside. After repeatedly refusing to invite him in Jerry burns down the house, forcing them to flee into the desert where he pursues them…

My favorite part  of Fright Night is Anton Yelchin. This is due to him playing Odd Thomas, so throughout the film I just kept seeing him as Odd Thomas. Which made the film much more enjoyable and still somewhat fitting. Once again Anton Yelchin did an amazing job. Though his character does come off as a douche, especially where his willingness to ditch a childhood friend from social status is concerned.

David Tennant was by far the funniest and most enjoyable character to watch. Though that is no surprise. Once his character really gets involved in the film third act and his backstory is reviled is where his character really shines.

The vampire effects were… ok. This is due to me really missing the practical effects of the original as the CGI effects here looked silly. Even only a mere five years after it’s release where the effects from the original still hold up. But once I was able to get past that the effects served their purpose, but aren’t worthy of any kind of praise.

Final thoughts, it was good with some genuinely funny moments. The best being the cameo by Chris Saradon, which honestly made me smile. Though I would never recommend this film over its namesake and would only suggest to those who might feel the 1985 version too dated for their taste. 6.5/10

The Forsaken

Being sick of flesh-eating virus and sharks, I decided to go back to the classics. Well classic monsters at least with vampires. Something The Forsaken takes some strong liberties with, not that’s a bad thing. Changing up the standard rank and file of classic beasties is one of best things about the horror genre. Though here it does feel a bit off the mark. Luckily though, The Forsaken saves itself by having a vibe reminiscent of 80’s horror. Which makes some sense given this film was written and directed by J.S. Cardone, who also wrote and directed one of the video nasty’s of the 8o’s The Slayer.

The film is focused around Sean (Kerr Smith) a film editor for horror films, as he drives a car across country to attend his sister’s wedding. The car not being his, but as a side job to deliver the car to its owner. Along the way he picks up Nick (Brendan Fehr), even though he was cautioned against picking up hitchhikers. Sean does this because Nick offers to pay for gas and having lost his wallet, the offer is too good to pass up. After getting lunch in a dinner, the pair notice Megan (Izabella Miko) as she tries to get on a bus. But is rejected since she both broke and appears to be either ill or on drugs. Nick quickly notices something about her condition and has him take her to a motel. At the motel, Nick reveals that he’s a vampire hunter and that Megan is infected, this is something that Sean is more than a little hesitant to believe. Though he quickly becomes a believer when he witness a vampire, Teddy (Alexis Thorpe) burn when exposed to daylight. Teddy is part of group of a vampires traveling with one the Forsaken, the original vampires. Who were french knights that made a pact with a demon for eternal life. Each of the Forsaken carries a unique strain of the virus, one that dies when they do. Nick is hunting for the Forsaken, Kit (Johnathon Schaech). As Nick believes he is the originator of the strain he’s infected with. Nick has managed to not turn by taking a drug cocktail to counteract the onset of the virus. Though the cocktail effectiveness diminishes over time. While restraining Megan, who is justifiably freaking out when she senses Kit near, Sean is bitten becoming infected…

I’ve always liked the kill the master vampire to save yourself stories. This streams, mostly from The Lost Boys, a better vampire film and one of my favorites growing up. Here it’s used slightly less effectively, but still works great for creating and pushing along the story. Sadly the vampires in this loose their trademark fangs and while I understand the decision. I always find fang-less vampires significantly less scary than their fanged counterparts.

This film has a strong 80’s tone and I think I would have liked this film more if had been a product of the 80’s. Rather than missing that time frame by over two decades. The pacing, effects, characters and overall story arc feels much more akin to that era of horror than the early 2000’s.

The acting is… Ok at best. Most of the performances feel pretty strained. Most notably is Izabella Miko, whose performance is basically amounts being attractive and screaming once in a while. She’s not even given any dialog until the final twenty minutes of the film. Sadly any actress could have filled the role just as effectively and this is a shortcoming of the writing and not Miko’s. The best performance in my opinion was Brendan Fehr, who hits a great medium between campy and serious in his delivery.

Final thoughts, The Forsaken is at best Ok. It just feels like it’s a story that’s been done better before. The Forsaken seem to borrow a number of elements and blends them together with little regard to what comes out. Weak characters and bad dialog really drag down this film. One that has a hand full of decent moments and some solid atmosphere. Though not enough of either to salvage it. 4/10

Let Me In (OMBC)

For my book review this month I read Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Overall I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. Most of the characters lacked vibrancy and I was unable to relate or sympathize with them. But with a meager handful I did. The setting for the novel and the backdrop it provides are where I feel this book shines the most. Sadly though, I don’t feel that this will be a novel that I will re-visit down the road.

That’s all for my review of Let Me In. Next month I’ll be talking about the Stephen King classic Carrie.

From the Dark

From the Dark is better than its cover would lead you believe. Something that turned out very fortunate as it got the chance to surprise me. I’ve read a lot of bad reviews about this film, a stance that I do not agree with. While some of the complaints are valid, they’re also over inflated. Plus, I love low-budget films.

From the Dark opens with a farmer (Gerry O’Brien) in the Irish countryside collecting peat from his peat bog. He strikes something and pulls it free to see what it is. He tosses the old wooden stake aside and investigates further finding an old coffin containing a corpse. So he rushes home and returns with a flashlight. When he gets back the coffin is empty, he’s then attacked. He manages to escape the creature (Ged Murry), but is bitten on the neck. The film jumps back to earlier in the day. From this point the film follows Sarah (Niamh Algar) and her boyfriend Mark (Stephen Cromwell). After getting lost on the back roads the couple’s car gets stuck. Out of cell phone range and with night approaching Mark heads out to look for help on foot leaving Sarah with the car. Mark returns later, having found a farmhouse and the wounded farmer. He gets Sarah and the pair head back to help. When they arrive the previously well-lit farmhouse is dark, the lights smashed and the farmer missing. The creature attacks Mark and though he is saved by Sarah, he is wounded in the process. Sarah discovers the creature is hurt by light and the two try to wait out the morning. But after the creature sets a small fire in an oven to smoke them out…

The plot is super simple, but is very effective. Sure it doesn’t push any envelopes when it comes a vampire film. But I thoroughly enjoyed the creature as it’s always obscured in shadow, mostly only seen in silhouette. The creature comes off to me at least as an ancient vampire. An easy assumption since the farmer pulls that obvious stake out of the ground before everything goes sideways.

The main issues most people seemed to have with the film stem from two things. First is Mark becomes a whiner after he’s attacked. Well umm…. yeah he doe’s. But I expect that from characters who have the skin flayed off their leg. To me he actually came off as being in a large amount of pain. The second issue is that Sarah is constantly changing her plan and that she could have waited out sunrise on multiple occasions. I don’t agree here, but before I go on Spoilers. Mark changes into a vampire/creature. During said transformation he smashes out the lights. So no she couldn’t have as he would have gone hog-wild on her. However, I do agree that she could have set a smaller outbuilding on fire and that would have generated ample light to stay safe. She would just have to keep ahead of it should get out of control. Plus maybe someone would have noticed and call for help.

Final thoughts, the acting is OK. For me the accents really dialed it up for me. I liked the tiny cast and effective use of the creature. The cinematography reminds me more than a little of Nosferatu. which is one of my favorite vampire films. I also really loved the ambiguous ending and for a run time of ninety minutes never felt slow. So From the Dark gets a solid rating of 6.5/10.

Dracula (1931)

Released in 1931 by Universal, Dracula directed by Tod Browning is easily one of, if not the most iconic vampire movie ever made. Not directly based on the Bram Stoker novel, but on the 1924 stage play written by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston. The film stars Bella Lugosi in the titular role, who fought hard for the role, even taking a pay cut to help ensure he got the role.

If you’re not familiar with Dracula the story goes as such… Renfield (Dwight Fry) arrives at Castle Dracula after passing through a small hamlet. The people of the hamlet fear the castle believing that Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and his three wives are vampires, who rise from their coffins at night to feast on the blood of the living. Renfield unperturbed visits Castle Dracula as he has business there. The business in question is that of Dracula with to lease Carfax Abby in London. After their business is completed, Renfield is rendered unconscious and becomes Dracula’s thrall. The next night, Dracula boards a schooner bound for London under the care of Renfield, who is now quite mad. Dracula feeds upon the crew during the voyage until Renfield is the only survivor. After being discovered Renfield is taken away to a sanatorium and placed under the care of Dr. Seward (Herbert Bunston). That night Dracula meets Seward at the theatre, who is attendance with his daughter Mina (Helen Chandler) along with her fiance, John Harker (David Manners) and her friend Lucy (Frances Dade). Lucy becomes fascinated by Dracula and that night her feeds on her. She passes away the next day mysteriously with only two small wounds on her neck. At the sanatorium Dr. Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) examines Renfield’s bloods and determines… along with the aid of some wolfsbane, that he under the thrall of a vampire. After a visit from Dracula where Harker and Helsing notice he casts no reflection, Helsing deduces that Dracula is the vampire about town and he and Harker set to protect Mina from the clutches of Dracula.

I know for a fact that there is nothing I can say about this film that hasn’t been said before. With that in mind, Dracula is a horror classic for a multitude of damn good reasons. With the primary one being Bella Lugosi owning the role of Dracula. By no means is Lugosi the first incarnation, as Nosferatu was so heavily plagiarized that they were sued for copyright infringement and lost. But it was Bella Lugosi’s calm, seductive portrayal of the quintessential vampire that became locked in the public consciousness. With his piercing eyes and smoothness that suggests that he’s not a just creature of shadow but also a social one. He craves for a comfort he can’t have, making him a very memorable character.

Now that I’ve praised Lugosi there’s a couple other people also in need of praise. Dwight Fry leads the pack as he plays perhaps the best madman ever, followed by Sloan with just an iconic portrayal of Van Helsing as Lugosi’s Dracula, and Chandler as Mina manages to make me fear for her well fare with every viewing, even though I know full well the fate that awaits her.

Filmed without background music, Dracula takes on a very sinister tone. One that weighs heavy throughout the film, only letting up once the film has reached its climax. But there are versions with an added score with many DVDs giving you the option between the two. Pro tip, choose the no score and enjoy as it was meant.

Final thoughts, I love it. Which isn’t surprising as I am a fan of vampires as a whole. I can even find the “good” in the ones that glitter. With a wonderful atmosphere, beautiful painted sets, and a classic story there’s no question how this film as become so loved. I would suggest this to everyone, while the pace might be slow for some it’s a ride that’s more than worth taking. Dracula (1931) gets a perfect score 10/10.