Dracula (1979) Review

“I need your blood”

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

If the recipe is good, do it again. That's been the motto with Dracula because after Hammer Film Productions had their crack at it, we got a way different one in 1979.


PLOT


This adaptation takes place in 1913 and follows the infamous vampire arrive from Transylvania to Yorkshire one stormy night. Mina Van Helsing finds him wash ashore as his ship, the Demeter, has ran aground. When awoken, the Count meets her friend Lucy Seward and her father Jack who runs an asylum within his mansion, proving to be a charming guest as he leaves a strong impression on the daughter. The only one to not feel the same is her fiance Jonathan Harker. One night, he would reveal his true nature when attacking Mina to drink her blood. By morning, Lucy would find her struggling to breathe and die from it. The only evidence noted is the wounds on her throat. When Jack calls for her father, Professor Abraham Van Helsing, they quickly suspect a vampire is responsible. When the professor arrives, they quickly investigate to the point of finding Mina's coffin clawed from the opening. With no choice, they defend themselves from an undead version of her. When Lucy has a rendezvous with Dracula at his new home in Carfax Abbey, she confesses to be in love with him and quickly offers herself to be his bride. He does bite her, but the doctors would later give her a blood transfusion to slow down her descending into a vampire. As time passes, they deduce what Dracula really is and that the only way to save Lucy is to kill him. Jack and Abraham do find his coffin, but he is still powerful enough to overcome them. He bursts into the asylum to take Lucy with him to Transylvania, but kills his slave Milo Renfield for warning the others about him. Harker and Abraham do board the ship to stake the vampire, but Lucy intervening wakes up the Count. He injures Van Helsing with his own stake and only after his decision to focus on Harker does the professor throw a hook attached to a rope, tied to the ship, aiming at the vampire. Harker catches it and uses it to hoist the Count up through the cargo hold to the top of the rigging which the sunlight burns his body. As Abraham would die from his wounds, Lucy would wake up free from the curse and the film would end with her smiling as Dracula's cape blows away into the horizon.


THOUGHTS


I was for sure skeptical with this one because it’s not easy finding the difference of a familiar formula/narrative. Director John Badham however was able to pull it off and still maintain vintage suspense. The production design still looks impressive here because the change of scenery involving an asylum really rose the stakes in terms of eeriness. The big standout for me will instantly be the performance of Frank Langella as the iconic vampire. Even when you know exactly what he’s all about, you feel all the charm he uses as a charade to lure his victims for the kill. He’s able to use his eroticism as a tool for his dominance which makes him so scary when you think about it. With every second, you just fall for it once he locks his eyes in who he wants and chills go down the spine as it happens. That alone explains why it was easy for Mina to be a victim. Jan Francis was able to present her as a resourceful who couldn’t help saving a stranger. The 180 she had in being a zombified vampire was haunting because we saw exactly how punished she got from her good deed. Of course, it wouldn’t be in vein since her dad was able to avenge her at the cost of his own life. Laurence Olivier was an excellent choice at the time because because he was nail the vibe that he’s determined yet wise with the steps he had in terms of eliminating a big threat. With the assist of Jack matching the compassion thanks to a grounded performance by the late Donald Pleasence, the odds were more against the vampire than one would expect. The addition of Harker would definitely back up the claim since Trevor Eve was able to make him self aware that the Count wasn’t as cool as he appeared. Had he not ignored his charm, he likely would’ve been killed too. Lastly, I was intrigued with Lucy because Kate Nelligan was able to depict as one who got too satiated with control that she was far too willing to comply to darkness. Dracula pursued her because she reminded him of a long lost love, which made him embrace his own dark path of determination. Thankfully, his plans didn’t go to fruition. Lucy smiled at the end because she was relieved that her first embodiment of temptation was conquered and she’ll learn to avoid it from now on. All of these characters and their impressive performances are able to seal the deal that Will is what helps good defeat evil revert time and if you got enough, you got nothing to worry about. In short, 1979’s Dracula is a solid adaptation for still maintaining its theme while still doing its best to be as different as possible. If you like vampires like the original formula, this is worthwhile.