Dracula Untold (2014)
Director: Gary Shore
Cast: Luke Evans, Sarah Gadon, Charles Dance, Dominic
Cooper, Art Parkinson
Of course I gave this one a chance, it’s Dracula and I love
Dracula movies. True, Dracula movies can be a bit repetitive, because filmmakers
always decide to retell the story, so it’s always some sort of variation on
Bram Stokers novel, but I love to see these different takes on the story. I
enjoy seeing how different creative teams give their own twist to the story, tell
it in their own way. Unfortunately, I’d never heard of the guys behind this
particular film. Gary Shore, the director, had never made a full length feature
film before this one, yet here he is directing this big budget version of
Dracula. That of course, immediately raised a red flag for me, because while
I’m all for upcoming new directors making films, I prefer it when they've
proven themselves via some independent film they've made before tackling a 70
million dollar film like this one. When a new director pops out of the blue
like that, well, I don’t know what to expect, but as always, I have no problems
in giving them the benefit of the doubt. Well, at least the director behind
this film shows his influenced by the right movie; one or two visual references
are made to Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). Same goes for
the writers who’d never written a film before this one. So that’s a couple of
red flags right there. But the trailer made it look like it had one or two new
ideas squeezed in there worth watching. So I gave it a shot. Plus, it was
Dracula.
And it’s not just me that has a thing for Dracula films. Like
James Bond or Godzilla, Dracula is an icon, a household name that brings the
masses to the theater. I mean, it had been a while since I’d seen a line form
at my local theater. It’s only household names like Star Wars and Indiana Jones
that do this. And so, there I was, making this huge ass line to go see this new
version of Dracula, hoping it wouldn't disappoint me. Did it? Well, sorry to say
my dear readers that it did disappoint me. Why you may ask? Well, for starters,
to me Dracula is something special, a story meant to be treated with care by
filmmakers. It’s an ancient tale that has been passed on from generation to
generation. Like the titular character in Bram Stokers novel, Dracula movies
never seem to die. So of course I hate it when studios don’t treat the story
with the proper care. And it sucks even more that Universal Studios has done
this because they are the ones known for their famous ‘Universal Monsters’
movies. I speak of course of the classics like Dracula (1931), The Wolf Man
(1941), The Mummy (1959) and so forth. If there’s a studio that should have
been concerned with making a proper Dracula movie, it was this one. Unfortunately,
they've changed Dracula to fit the current common Hollywood practice of
softening up horror films. Ugh. I hate this new trend in Hollywood. Why does it
anger me so? Well, for starters, we’re talking about one of the famous
‘Universal Monsters’ here; key work being ‘monster’. And here’s the first thing
I hated about this movie, this is a monster movie without a monster, not only
visually, but also as a character.
I mean, I always saw monsters movies, and this is the way
monster movies where for the longest time; as a way to showcase some awesome
artistry in terms of makeup effects. Sadly, make up effects works seems to have
disappeared from filmmaking. Remember those golden days, when the awesome make
up effects work of Stan Winston, Rob Bottin and Rick Baker reigned supreme in
cinemas? Those days yielded such awesome
creations as the ones seen in films like
Aliens (1979), The Thing (1982), Predator (1987), Jurassic Park (1993), The
Terminator (1984), Legend (1986), Harry and the Hendersons (1987)….I mean, these
were films in which make up effects work really shined. And monster films meant
make up effects, once upon a time. I always looked forward to seeing how make
up effects artist would try to wow me with their work. Sadly that’s all been
replaced by CGI…and sadly, it does not have the same effect. It does not feel
tangible…or real, not like the monsters we’d see in for example Coppola’s
Dracula (1992) now there’s a film that displayed some amazing make up effects
work! That was a monster movie! That was a sensual yet monstrous Dracula! While
Dracula Untold throws a few homage’s down Coppola’s way, it clearly doesn’t
even come close to being as awesome as Coppola’s film. It needed that extra
oomph, that extra emotion, that intensity that Coppola’s film had. It seems that Hollywood simply doesn't want to give us truly monstrous creatures, but more on this softening of the horror movie later.
The thing about Dracula is that the story is a passionate
love story; Dracula is always sexual, passionate. He loves Mina, but he is also
a monster. Dracula has always been a character with a dual personality, one
that displays incredible amounts of passion and love, but one that also displays a horrifying, monstrous side; his vampire side, the side that feeds on human
blood. So of course I was let down when I discovered in horror that in this version of Dracula, he has been turned into a family man, complete with scenes of him being all lovable
and father like, which was something that was never part of the Dracula story.
So that was step 2 of softening up Dracula, making him a dad. See a pattern
here? First he isn’t monstrous or demonic or even evil looking, and second they
turn him into a dad. Third he wants to save his people. Fourth? The
screenwriters found a way to make him actually not want to drink blood for most
of the movie! So here we can see how they’ve turned Dracula from anti-hero to
outright hero, period. This goes completely against what Dracula is all about.
Dracula is supposed to be the bad guy, the one that scares you and gives you
the willies. Not the savior of his people, not the loving father. And certainly
NOT the guy who goes to church to pray to god for help! For Christ sake,
Dracula sells his soul to the devil, how can you have a scene of him going to
church to pray to god for guidance, when he is a vampire, and vampires have an
aversion to crosses and all things religious?
What the hell Hollywood? So my question is this, why is Hollywood
so hell bent on softening up horror movies and icons? Suddenly vampires sparkle
in the daytime, zombies are falling in love and turning human and Frankenstein
isn’t even monstrous looking? Of course I talk of Twilight (2008), Warm Bodies
(2013) and I Frankenstein (2014), and I’m sure there’s a couple more I’m
leaving out. Nowadays if a movie is ultra gory it is sent straight to dvd. I
mean, had this been the eighties, all those gory Hatchet (2006) movies would
have been theatrically released, but not in these ultra conservative days.
Today, the only horror movies that are making it to the silver screen are those
that propagate superstitious, supernatural, Christian based fears. I speak of
course of films like The Conjuring (2013), Insidious (2010), Anabelle (2014),
Quija (2014), Paranormal Activity (20017) and the sort. If it’s a horror film
that will get people believing demons are real, then it’s okay. But a purely
evil horrifying monster that has nothing to do with Christian fears, nope,
those are not being made anymore. Think about it, when was the last time you
saw a slasher in movie theaters? I rest my case. Even excellent slasher films
like Maniac (2012) get the theatrical shaft. And hey, I’m all for a good
ghost/demon movie, but damn it, when that’s all that’s being made, you kind of
feel like they’re pushing these concepts upon you. Cause, I see these
ghost/demon movies as fun horror movies, but I can assure you there’s a myriad
other people who think things like the ones depicted in these kind of horror films
can happen to them for real and these movies only serve to augment those fears.
Films are a powerful means of spreading ideas out into the
world, sure they are a great form of entertainment, but they also function as a
way of spreading ideas quickly and effectively and currently, Hollywood wants
the masses to stay Christian. Which is why we get Dracula praying to God on
this movie, it's why he's displayed as the hero, as the goody little two shoes. This is why we get Superman going to church to ask a priest for
counseling in Man of Steel (2013), this is why we’re getting Christian horror movies like The
Remaining (2014) and this is why we’re getting this avalanche of Christian
films like Left Behind (2014) (shame on you Nicholas Cage!) God is Not Dead
(2013) and Heaven is for Real (2014). I mean, even the titles behind these
films say it all. Even big time directors are bowing down to this Christian
craze, I’m talking about guys like Darren Aronofsky and his Noah (2014) and
Ridley Scott with Exodus: God’s and Kings (2014). I’ll go see these movies
because I see them as fairy tales, but come on, what the hell is going on in
Hollywood? Is there some sort of hidden agenda from somewhere high on up to spread
Christian beliefs and to soften up both action and horror movies? Cause if
there is, it sucks! For years now it has been going on and now it’s hit its
pinnacle with Dracula Untold. Not gonna say this movie is not without its cool
moments and visuals, but I will say that this Dracula isn't scary; we've lost
the horror movie, the horror movie where that main character is the one that
gives you the hibbie jibbies, where that main monster scares your pants off.
Where is it? I miss it. I miss the good old days when horror movies where
actually scary.
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5
