Bram Stoker's Dracula

Writing as someone who has never really been a fan of horror, there are some films that buck the trend for me and the idea of Francis Ford Coppola adapting his own version of Dracula with his 1992 thriller, Bram Stoker's Dracula, was too tempting to resist. However, I've never really looked into the director's work beyond the 1970s when he made a name for himself with The Godfather parts one and two, and concluding the decade with Apocalypse Now. Everything after seems to have never made much of a cultural impact and is largely forgotten amongst general filmgoers, so was this Coppola in his wilderness years taking a popular IP or something that deserves a little more attention? 

Bram Stoker's Dracula stars Gary Oldman as Vlad Dracula in 1462 who, following the tragic death of his wife, destroys his chapel and rejects God before becoming a vampire cursed with immortality. Come 1897, solicitor Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) is sent to Transylvania where he meets Count Dracula who wishes to buy properties in London but becomes intrigued by Harker's fiancée, Mina, played by Winona Ryder. 

Known for Reeves' wobbly British accent but also for Coppola's great direction, Bram Stoker's Dracula is a gorgeously produced film that aimed to achieve all of its supernatural effects within the frame of the camera elevating this above Hollywood's recent vampiric efforts. Perhaps this is the closest we've ever seen Coppola come to Tim Burton's gothic style and the result is an enchanting thriller that vastly exceeded my expectations. From the moment Dracula meets Harker, Coppola is on fine form and I regret thinking the director had lost any of his magic. 

Horror fans might initially find the first act lacking on the scares depending on your expectations but as the story builds and we saw more of Oldman's fantastic performance, the film really finds traction and becomes an engaging thriller all the way through until the final act. I'd even say despite the accent that I thought Reeves played his part well as the man gradually losing his lover to a sinister power but it's easy for him to be overshadowed when he's surrounded by Oldman, Ryder, Anthony Hopkins chewing the scenery and a fiercely theatrical Richard E. Grant to contend with. 

By the end of the film I knew this would be one I will have to rewatch as I feel there's an experience here that will only benefit from another viewing and that is more than enough to recommend this highly entertaining thriller. Sadly this seems like it was Coppola's last great film to date but hopefully he can turn this around with his next film, Megalopolis.