Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Starring: Gary Oldman, Wynona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Anthony Hopkins

Primary genre: Gothic

Secondary genre: Horror

Known for his meticulously epic films (e.g., “The Godfather“ trilogy (1972-1990), “Apocalypse Now“ (1979)), Francis Ford Coppola seemed an usual choice for a gothic horror story involving the most famous vampire of all time: Dracula. After all, Vlad the Impaler has been adapted count-less times on the big screen so what could Coppola’s sensibilities do that has not been done before?

Enter James V. Hart whose script seeks to map previously uncharted territory in Bram Stoker’s novel by focusing more on the human side of Dracula and his romance with Mina while simultaneously fleshing out (as much as it is allowed running time wise) other characters. This vampire is not the typically black caped wearing devil walking the earth and thirsting for blood but rather a tragic figure betrayed by insidious circumstances. In a superb opening act, Vlad is devasted by the death of his lover and clouded by anger and hate, he renounces the same god he fought under against the Ottoman Empire and pledges his frailty to darkness in a remarkably effective scene straight out of an opera (i.e., a blood-oozing cross is a haunting image).

And Coppola’s film is exactly that. Unfolding the plot through frequent voiceovers in the form of diaries (like the novel) and under clever transitions, it moves at a briskly pace which might cause confusion among viewers who desire to put together a timeline. While all the necessary information is there, Coppola’s insistence on the visual aspects of his “Dracula” feels overwhelming at first and even empty if style over substance is not your thing. In a love it or hate it creative choice, he bets everything on a grandiose production design, cleaver shots of in-screen special effects (e.g., Dracula’s shadow and quick reflexes are done masterfully) for anything otherworldly and Eiko Ishioka’s outrageous and now legendary costumes to tell the story based on colors and patterns and it shows.

The actors are doing their best with the material with somewhat choppy under a frantic editing performances whcih does not favor atmosphere or dread. Playing more like a melodrama with occasional flashes of blood and decapitation, hard core horror fans should look elsewhere for their fix. During the early 90s, MTV compelled many filmmakers including Coppola to employ a more energetic yet unnecessary style to tell stories like this and a focus on a doomed romance that transcends “oceans of time” requires a traditional approach to invoke genuine and authentic emotion from the audience.

However, despite this visual “chaos” (in a good way), this “Dracula” is the most human yet and to this day, remains the definite take on the character. Gary Oldman gives a towering performance under tones of exquisite make up and several costumes changes that homage famous artists and different eras (e.g., Klimt is one) capable of ranging from an unnerving and well-intended host to a starstruck “man” who begins to believe in destiny again. Wynona Ryder looks the part and does her best as Elisabeta/Mina but a more dramatically inclined actress should have been cast. The biggest point of discussion is a young Keanu who really tries but does not stand a chance against the acting behemoths of Hopkins and Oldman and unfortunately he does not ooze much chemistry with Ryder either; both were cast for being young and popular as opposed to their acting range.

Despite some reservation in the presentation of the story and stiff acting from the young duo, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” has become an all time classic mainly because it pendelums from romance drama to supernatural horror and campy opera. Oldman’s once in a lifetime performance, the spectacular costumes (and their subtle symbolism) and the phenomenal production design are enough to warrant a visual feast which while not being a heart attack generator, is highly enjoyable and a feast for the eyes. It is style over substance but man what style this is!

The de facto take on Dracula

+Outstanding technical aspects

+THAT costume design

+Novel special effects

+Awesome make up

+Oldman’s towering performance

+Emphasis on tragedy than horror

-Keanu and Wynona are trying, they really are

-Diary internal monologues are tiring and disrupting