TERROR OF DRACULA (2012)

Directed by Anthony D.P. Mann.
Written by Anthony D.P. Mann, Bill Bossert.

Faithful to a fault, low budget filmmaker Anthony D.P. Mann brings us another retelling of Bram Stoker’s classic vampire tale about a deathless count, an insurance man, a doctor, a pair of virgins, a trio of undead brides, and a lunatic in an asylum. Though told and retold numerous times, TERROR OF DRACULA is a standout in that it feels like a project all involved felt passionately about from top to bottom, start to finish. The result is a fun film that, though a bit dry at times, does seem to be more faithful to the original tome than most others using the book as inspiration.

Taking pages both from Murnau’s NOSFERATU, Coppola’s DRACULA, and even Bela Lugosi’s classic portrayal, TERROR OF DRACULA feels like the culmination of numerous influences created with a modest budget but an incalculable fondness for the material. I must admit that also shows how some of the cuts were somewhat necessary in terms of pacing. Extended monologues tend to drone on, especially when spoken by amateur but capable actors.

There is nothing bad about the acting per se; the performances are quite good—especially that of Matt Davis’ Jonathan Harker, Terry Wade’s Van Helsing, and especially the director/writer Anthony D.P. Mann’s take on Dracula himself are very well done, but the fact that the film is shot somewhat statically and straightforward makes the film seem more like something one would see on PBS rather than a movie screen.

Gore and action are not this film’s strong point. The use of CG blood is, as always, obvious and problematic. But the film makes up for that by including Stoker’s original words and scenes which hit like a thousand effects shots and action sequences. Bits and pieces which often are not included in most translations, such as a scene involving the abduction of a gypsy child, are included here. This adherence to the original story makes this adaptation all the more interesting.

There are those who snub their nose at films such as this with a modest budget, but as Anthony D.P. Mann explained on the intro of the DVD, this is a labor of love for those involved. Mann most definitely has made his dream real by adapting Bram Stoker’s original tale to the word. In doing so, the film may lack the punch most modern films have, but it does stand out for its authenticity. Filmed with the scratchy filter that has come to be the norm for grindhousey films, TERROR OF DRACULA feels like the lost film it claims to be. And though some of the moments drag and lack bounce, it’s always nice to see a new version of Stoker’s classic.

Classic vamp completists will want to check out TERROR OF DRACULA for its faithful adaptation, but fans of modern filmmaking will have difficulty digesting this one.