Fear of the Dark

When I first saw the trailer for Dracula Untold, I wasn’t expecting much. It seemed like another attempt by Universal to rebrand its classic monsters into edgy superheroes, following in the footsteps of DC’s Batman or Marvel’s Hulk. This time, Dracula was getting the origin story treatment, cast as a misunderstood anti-hero rather than the iconic villain we all know. The premise borrows from Francis Ford Coppola’s take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, where the character is based on the real-life historical ruler Vlad the Impaler, a violent warlord who fought against the Ottoman Empire. Interestingly, Bram Stoker never directly tied Dracula to Vlad in his original novel, which makes the historical link here a fascinating, if not entirely necessary, creative choice.

But to my surprise, I actually really enjoyed Dracula Untold. The setting, the lavish period detail, and the blend of historical fact with vampire lore make for a compelling story. The film’s portrayal of Vlad’s Faustian pact with a vampire in order to save his kingdom from the invading Turks was well told, and the performances across the board were solid, with Luke Evans delivering a strong, brooding portrayal of Vlad. In my opinion, Evans is good in everything he does, and this film is no exception. Director Gary Shore attempts to breathe new life into one of horror’s most iconic figures by reimagining Dracula’s origin story through the lens of an action-packed, superhero-like epic. This isn’t Bram Stoker’s Dracula – it’s more Underworld meets Van Helsing, with Luke Evans playing a heroic, tortured version of Vlad the Impaler, transformed into a vampire to save his family and kingdom.

The Good: Visuals, Action, and Luke Evans

One of the film’s undeniable strengths is its visuals. Dracula Untold is a slick-looking movie with striking Gothic landscapes, imposing castles, and moody lighting that sets the tone for the supernatural elements. The costume design and the production design are also noteworthy, particularly in the scenes depicting Ottoman armies and Vlad’s war-torn homeland. The battle sequences are fast-paced and visually engaging, with Dracula’s transformation into a swarm of bats being one of the standout effects.

Luke Evans does his best to elevate the material, bringing a certain gravitas to the role of Vlad. He manages to portray both the warrior prince and the tragic monster convincingly, with his physical presence lending itself well to the film’s action-heavy moments. Evans carries the film on his shoulders, and though he’s given comic-book-style dialogue at times, he delivers it with conviction, trying to give the film the weight it aims for. Dominic Cooper Is also excellant as the films main antagonist Mehmed the Second.

The plot of Dracula Untold centers around Vlad the Impaler, the Prince of Wallachia and Transylvania, who has put his violent past as a ruthless warrior behind him to rule his kingdom peacefully. When the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II demands a tribute of young boys to serve as soldiers—including Vlad’s own son—Vlad refuses, triggering the threat of invasion. Desperate to protect his family and people, Vlad seeks out the help of a powerful vampire who offers him immense strength and supernatural abilities in exchange for a dark curse. Vlad is given the powers of a vampire for three days, and if he can resist the urge to drink human blood, he will return to being human. However, as the Ottoman forces close in, Vlad faces the moral dilemma of becoming a full-fledged vampire to save his kingdom, which ultimately leads to him embracing his dark nature to defeat his enemies, though at great personal cost.

A Missed Opportunity for Horror

That said, Dracula Untold’s biggest issue is that it plays things too safe. This is a PG-13 movie, which means it’s relatively bloodless, and it leans much more into being a superhero origin story than a grim dark horror fantasy. Given the subject matter, this feels like a missed opportunity. Dracula, after all, is a monster, and this film could have embraced more of the dark, supernatural elements of vampirism rather than focusing on action and heroics. The story had the potential to be something special if it had leaned harder into its horror roots, with more bite and blood to go along with the supernatural lore. Sarah Gadon plays Vlad’s wife, Mirena, a character whose beauty and grace make it easy to see why Vlad would go to such extreme lengths to protect her and their family. Gadon’s performance is charming and likable, giving Mirena an ethereal quality that draws you in, and her on-screen presence is undeniably captivating. Her role as the devoted and loving wife helps anchor Vlad’s descent into darkness, as we understand why he’s willing to make a Faustian pact with supernatural forces to keep her and their children safe.

However, despite the film’s two beautiful leads, the romance subplot is disappointingly tame, hindered by the film’s PG-13 rating. The sensuality and allure that are often central to vampire tales are largely absent here, leaving the relationship between Vlad and Mirena feeling passionless. This is a missed opportunity, especially when compared to Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, which embraced the inherent erotica in the vampire mythos. Vampirism, often an allegory for forbidden desire and repressed lust, is barely explored in this film. Had Dracula Untold leaned into the seductive and dangerous nature of Vlad’s transformation, it could have added layers of tension and depth to the love story, but instead, the romance remains safe and restrained, lacking the fiery passion that could have made it stand out. So there I said it . The best vampire films are sexy ,violent ,scary and disturbing and all at the same time. This film was frustrating because it had alot of potential. Interesting setting, great cast , solid direction. I just hope one day hollywood makes a vampire movie for adults instead of teenagers. That said this is good place to start for younger audiances unfamiliar with the dracula story .

Hollywood often seems to misunderstand its own properties. Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein, and the Wolf-Man are, first and foremost, horror characters, not superheroes. Of course, you can blend genres—films like The Mummy (with Brendan Fraser) and An American Werewolf in London successfully mixed horror with humor and romance—but they never forgot to deliver the horror. In contrast, Dracula Untold feels more like it’s trying to make Dracula into a dark knight figure, which works on some levels but loses sight of what makes Dracula such a terrifying and iconic monster.

Final Thoughts: Better Than It’s Given Credit For

In the end, Dracula Untold is better than many of the reviews would have you believe. It’s a shame, though, because with a little more bite—both literally and figuratively—it could have been something truly memorable. The film sets up a rich backstory, boasts solid performances, and features a unique blend of historical drama with vampire lore, but by focusing too much on making Dracula a heroic figure, it loses the edge that could have made it stand out. Had the filmmakers leaned more into the horror and supernatural aspects, Dracula Untold could have been a bold new take on the character instead of a sanitized origin story. It’s an enjoyable film, but it could have been so much more.