REVIEW: “Dracula” (2026)

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The newest movie adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic horror novel, “Dracula,” is simply titled “Dracula.” Written and directed by Luc Besson, it offers a fresh take on vampire lore and the Dracula story. While it’s a dark and romantic tale, it also includes moments of horror, creative visuals, and even humor, making it stand out from typical Dracula remakes.

Although the main story of Stoker’s novel is still present, Luc Besson’s version quickly reveals several differences. The film’s emphasis on a historical romance leads to some distinctive stylistic choices that surprisingly complement its gothic horror. The film also explores a different theme, focusing on the conflict between faith and abandonment of faith, rather than science and religion. Additionally, a significant portion of the story is set in Paris instead of London.

Beyond these changes, the film alters key characters and themes. Dracula’s brides, traditionally complex figures, are replaced with humorous stone gargoyles, shifting the focus away from the novel’s broader themes and towards a simpler love story. The renowned vampire hunter, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, is missing, substituted by an anonymous priest who belongs to a group dedicated to hunting vampires. Finally, the character of Renfield is either absent or significantly different from the one audiences are familiar with.

The film begins in 1480 Eastern Europe with Prince Vladimir of Wallachia (Caleb Landry Jones) praying to a Cardinal (Haymon Maria Buttinger) for his wife Elisabeta’s (Zoë Bleu) safety while he goes to war against the Ottomans. Tragically, Elisabeta is attacked and killed while being moved to a secure place. Overcome with grief and rage, Vladimir turns away from God, refusing to worship until his wife is avenged.

Four centuries later, in Paris, Dr. Dumont (Guillaume de Tonquédec) finds himself facing a strange and unsettling case he can’t handle alone, so he asks the Vatican for assistance. They send a Bavarian priest (played by the captivating Christoph Waltz) who belongs to a secret Church organization. At the hospital, Dumont leads the priest to his patient, Maria (Matilda De Angelis), a captivating and unpredictable young woman who the priest soon realizes is a vampire.

For centuries, a secret order of priests has been pursuing the original vampire, who is revealed to be Count Dracula – once known as Prince Vladimir. Now four hundred years old and weakened, Dracula remains hidden in his castle in Romania, sending his followers to search for his reborn wife. This search is disrupted when Jonathan Harker, a lawyer from Paris, arrives at the castle on official business.

During his unsettling time at Dracula’s castle, Harker shows Dracula a picture of his fiancée, Mina, who strongly resembles Dracula’s deceased wife. Believing he’s found her, Dracula travels to Paris to find Elisabeta. The story then splits into two paths: one follows Dracula’s pursuit of Mina in Paris, while the other tracks a priest’s investigation into Dracula’s whereabouts, both storylines eventually meant to converge.

Luc Besson’s take on the story is engaging, blending familiar elements with fresh ideas. He’s clearly reimagined the tale as a tragic love story, and every change he makes supports that vision. Jones delivers a remarkable performance as Dracula, portraying him as a hauntingly sad character instead of a typical villain. Bleu is a standout in her important, multifaceted role, and Waltz is reliably captivating, even though his character feels a bit underdeveloped at times.

Beyond the fantastic acting, the film benefits from striking visuals thanks to Colin Wandersman’s cinematography and a powerful score by Danny Elfman. The detailed sets and costumes further contribute to the film’s stylish atmosphere. All of these elements combine to create a fresh and captivating take on the classic Dracula story. It’s spooky, intriguing, delightfully strange, and surprisingly funny. What’s most impressive is that the film doesn’t try to be the ultimate Dracula adaptation; instead, it confidently forges its own path, which is a major reason why it succeeds.

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2026-02-07 18:58