When most people think of vampires, Dracula is the first thing that comes to mind. This suave, complex, and frightening character has been dazzling people around the world since he was first introduced in Bram Stoker's 1897 masterpiece, Dracula. Not only did Stoker's book push vampires into the cultural zeitgeist, but it also inspired a number of adaptations.
They say imitation is a form of flattery, and in many cases, other adaptations that fell short in capturing the complexities of Dracula. Here are five of the best and five of the worst Dracula adaptations.
Best Of: Dracula Dead and Loving It
This comedic take on the world's most popular vampire was written and directed for the big screen by comedy legend Mel Brooks. Starring Leslie Nielsen as the titular character, as he leaves Transylvania for London along with this assistant, Renfield. As Dracula comes closer to seducing Mina away from her stiff-upper-lipped fiance, Jonathan Harker, the vampire hunter Van Helsing (played by Brooks himself) enters the picture.
The film does a great job of providing a satirical take Dracula without making fun of the source material. Additionally, the chemistry between the actors and Nielsen's campy take on Dracula makes for an enjoyable ride.
Worst Of: Blade Trinity
The first Blade movie was a fresh new take on the vampire legend. Blade's Daywalker status is part of what makes him unique and powerful -- that is until Dracula entires the picture. In this universe, Dracula is Syrian, the original vampire, and plans to wipe out all humans and vampires alike. Not only is Blade: Trinity the worst of the three films, but this portrayal of one of the best villains in literary history is just plain boring.
His desire to wipe out essentially every living being makes no sense -- what predator would willingly destroy their food source? His powers also seem misaligned in the greater Blade universe, and in the end, his death scene was underwhelming.
Best Of: Castlevania
Based on a popular, late '80s video game, Castlevania deviates a lot from the source material. In this universe, Dracula falls in love with a woman named Lisa. The two have a child, but twenty years later, Lisa is accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Dracula is heartbroken and full of righteous anger, so he vows to kill every citizen of Wallachia to avenge her death.
Despite the huge deviation from Stoker's novel, the Dracula of Castlevania is a sympathetic character played excellently by The Hobbit's Graham McTavish. It is also a cautionary tale of what grief and extreme beliefs can lead to, and it's easy to connect with the character and root for him.
Worst Of: Dracula 2000
Dracula: 2000 had the potential to be great. It featured an as-yet-unknown Gerard Butler, a stellar ing cast including House's Omar Epps. It also treated the events of the book as though they really happened, and created a twist that explained a lot of Dracula foibles -- making him Judas Iscariot.
The film had so much working in its favor, but the writing simply wasn't there. Gone were the complexities of Dracula. They were replaced by moody dialogue, a wide-eyed stare, and a lot of campy attempts at seduction.
Best Of: Bram Stoker's Dracula
The 1992 Francis Coppola version of Dracula takes some liberties with the plot. In the film, Mina is the reincarnation of Dracula's lover, Elisabeta. This choice adds an ill-fated love story between Dracula and Mina, played superbly Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder, respectively.
Despite the fact that Keanu Reeves is woefully miscast as Jonathan Harker (and despite Ryder's weird British accent), the film presents Dracula as a truly seductive and villainous force that you are simultaneously afraid of and root for. Additionally, it does a good job of showing a bit of how oppressive the Victorian society was for women.
Worst Of: Dracula Untold
Dracula seeks out a vampire to gain more power in an effort to save his people against an invasion by the Ottoman Empire. He is told by the vampire that if he does not drink blood for three days, he will become human again. Dracula's hand is forced -- after an ambush, Dracula's wife begs him to drink her blood so he can retain his vampiric powers and rescue their son.
The movie's attempts at providing a backstory fall short for a number of reasons. First, it relies on the tired trope of a man who's too good at violence and wants to change but ultimately ends up having to be violent to avenge his family's death. Second, its attempts at adding suspense with numerous battle scenes fall short. After all, Dracula is the title character so the audience never wonders whether or not he will survive. Finally, Luke Evans gives a good faith effort to encapsulate the beloved vampire, but the writing prevented this film from being truly great.
Best Of: Dracula (1979 Film)
This film also alters the story of Dracula -- instead of Mina being engaged to Jonathan Harker, she is the daughter of the vampire hunter, Abraham Van Helsing, and is turned into a vampire in the same way Lucy Westenra is in the book. Additionally, Lucy is the daughter of Dr. John Seward (originally one of her suitors in the book) and engaged to Harker. Dracula chooses Lucy as his bride, which is the catalyst for the main drama of this movie.
Though this film deviates a lot from the source material, Frank Langella skillfully portrays Dracula as a powerful, seductive force. The effects are good for their time, and Laurence Olivier shines as Van Helsing.
Worst Of: Dracula (2013 TV Show)
In this version of the Dracula story, the count is a rich, Southerner named Alexander Grayson who travels to Victorian London. He's a little bit country, and a little bit modeled after Nikola Tesla. The show tries to sidestep Dracula's bloodlust and make him an antihero. Even Dracula's greatest threat, Van Helsing, is his friend and collaborator.
Other well-known characters like Renfield, Jonathan Harker, and Mina Harker are reduced to caricatures of the literary counterparts. As writer Chris Cabin says in his review for Slant Magazine, this show attempted to "turn the greatest of all vampires into Bruce Wayne." Given that the show only lasted one season, it seems that the audience was not a fan of this new approach.
Best Of: Dracula (1931 Film)
The original Dracula movie, one might have an affinity for this film because its the first of its kind. However, Bela Lugosi does an impeccable job at portraying the mysterious count, in part because he played him on stage in 1927.
It is Lugosi's characterization and appearance that people most associate with Dracula -- the widow's peak, talking into the crook of the arm, the vaguely Eastern European accent. Despite being nearly 90 years old, the film still holds up as a classic horror film and the most recognizable version of Dracula on screen.
Worst Of: Van Helsing
This 2004 film had the potential to be great but was filled with flaws. Richard Roxburgh's attempt at the legend that is Dracula fell short, not just because of the writing but the choices that he made with his characterization. Additionally, the film portrayed Dracula as a wide-eyed vampire with hoop earrings, a mouth that opens wide like a shark, and the ability to turn into a truly disturbing bat-like creature.
Not only did it do a disservice to Dracula, but it butchered the legends of multiple classic horror villains including Frankenstein, Dr. Hyde, and werewolves. Finally, its attempt at making Van Helsing a tall, dark, and handsome vigilante who falls in love with a strong-willed Kate Beckinsale felt hollow and boring.
