Dracula Film Analysis – Besson’s Romantic Reimagining of the Classic Horror Story is Ridiculous but Engaging

Perhaps interest is limited for a fresh take of Dracula from Luc Besson, the French maestro for stylish excess. Still, one must admit: his opulently crafted love story with vampires has ambition and panache – and in all its Hammer-y cheesiness, I might just favor over Robert Eggers’s recent, solemnly classy version of Nosferatu. Odd details emerge, such as a scene that appears to show a geographic divide between France and Romania.

Waltz as a Clever but Weary Priest Tracking the Undead

Christoph Waltz embodies a humorous yet burdened vampire-hunting priest – I can’t believe he hasn’t played such a part earlier – who ends up in Paris in 1889 during the centennial of the French Revolution. Likewise present is the sinister Dracula, enacted by the expert in grotesque roles Caleb Landry Jones with a mangled central European accent reminiscent of Steve Carell’s Gru in the Despicable Me films. This character suits him perfectly.

The Plot: A Saga of Heartbreak

Here’s the premise: Dracula has been restlessly roaming the earth in torment over four centuries following his rise as one of the undead, a punishment for his irreligious grief over the death of his spouse Elisabeta (a movie debut role for Zoë Bleu, Rosanna Arquette’s child). The count has sought relentlessly for some woman who could be the rebirth of his lost love. By cruel fate, the fortunate female proves to be Mina (portrayed once more by Bleu), the modest betrothed of Dracula’s wimpish land agent, Jonathan Harker (Ewens Abid), who has recently been to the vampire’s estate to review his real estate holdings and the small picture of the winsome Mina caught the count’s hooded eye.

Besson’s Direction and Comic Flair

Besson arranges Dracula’s flashback sequence of worldwide travels wearing flamboyant outfits skillfully, and he is not above giving us some comedy moments reminiscent of Mel Brooks – such as Dracula’s ongoing failed efforts to end his own life post-Elisabeta’s demise, as well as absurd moments that result after Dracula douses himself in a certain perfume in historic Florence, which causes him to be unavoidably attractive to females. Ridiculous and watchable.

Dracula is on digital platforms beginning on the first of December and on DVD and Blu-ray from 22 December. It screens in Australian cinemas from 5 February 2026.