Dracula Untold MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 Content: -3

Luke Evans, Sarah Gadon, Diarmaid Murtagh, Dominic Cooper. Horror. Written by Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless. Directed by Gary Shore.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Luke Evans (Fast & Furious 6, Immortals) stars in Dracula Untold, where we learn of how Count Dracula came to be. The Turks want the children of the Transylvanians to be their slaves. Overwhelmed by the number of Turks who are about to descend upon his peace-loving people, Vlad, the Prince of Transylvania, makes a soul-giving deal with a cave-dwelling vampire. He will take the vampire’s place, if the creepy cave dweller with give him the power to defeat his enemies.

PREVIEW REVIEW: I think there have been more films about the Count than any other literary character, so I was a bit dubious about the title’s veracity. What the story gives us is another piece of the mythology, this one more in keeping with the sensibilities of Game of Thrones fans.

It’s more a medieval tragedy, with Vlad/Dracula trading in his soul in order to unselfishly protect his family and countrymen. Given the strength of a hundred men and enough extra powers to make him a kind of Gothic superhero, the Prince (here he’s a prince, not a count) goes all Conan the Barbarian on the invaders as he turns himself into a tornado of bats and vanquishes the opposing army.

Lots of battles ensue.

Is this a good vs. evil tale? I suppose some might see it that way. But where Dracula was once a creepy and unnerving presence on screen, feared of the cross, now he’s more a misunderstand superhero, much like Wolverine.

SUGGESTED ARTICLE: Horror Films And You.

DVD Alternatives: In recent years, Universal Studios has re-mastered the original Dracula and his buddy, Frankenstein, and the other iconic children of the night from the Universal crypts. Added to these classic creepy creatures are commentary tracts and documentaries that not only spotlight the ingenuity of those bringing the then new genre to movie theaters, but also giving a perspective on the culture of the time. They give insight concerning the social behavior of that era, and reveal how movie-going sensibilities have changed throughout the years. Because of all the bonus features, if you’re a film buff, I think you’ll find Universal’s Classic Monsters the Essential Collection now on Blu-ray worth viewing.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Universal