Take heed to them, Flickcharters of the evening! What rating they make! Sure, it’s that day once more: the ninth annual Halloween Flickchart Horror Franchise rating is right here.
Final 12 months we started a sub-project of working by way of all the basic Common horror franchises, beginning with the Wolf Man movies. This 12 months, we flip to arguably probably the most well-known and iconic determine in all of horror literature and horror cinema: Depend Dracula! Vampire fiction stands proper alongside zombie fiction as one of the visited horror subgenres, and the blood-drinking aristocrats of the monster world have had a number of surges of recognition all through the many years, resulting in numerous takes on the fabric from Anne Rice to Stephen King to True Blood, Twilight, and The Vampire Diaries.
Nevertheless it all actually begins with Dracula. Whereas probably not the primary vampire (the idea traces again into the folklore and mythology of a number of cultures), it was Bram Stoker’s novel that served because the definitive work and centralized the lore in a broadly accessible format, much like how J.R.R. Tolkien would outline western fantasy along with his famed The Lord of the Rings. Stoker’s titular Depend moved vampires from purely monstrous to one thing extra difficult. Depend Dracula is a refined man of tradition, with a gentlemanly suave making him alluring and sultry.
It’s this attribute, above the worry of crosses, operating water, and the necessity to drink blood and sleep in coffins that actually formed vampires within the collective aware. This dichotomy of lustful attract and monstrous wishes has run by way of most vampire fiction ever since.
Whereas there are actually 100 totally different movies that includes Dracula on Flickchart, this text will confine itself to these produced by Common. A future definitive rating of all Dracula movies might come sometime, however that may be exterior the scope of this Common mission. For the primary time we should characteristic a number of repeat movies, as Dracula appeared alongside the Wolf Man in some movies from The Wolf Man rating.
9. Van Helsing (2004)
Whereas the Marvel Cinematic Universe has develop into the go-to definition of a cinematic universe, Common beat them to the punch by many many years. Although the early iterations had a unfastened definition of canon, they have been nonetheless crossing their monsters over. However even earlier than the MCU, Common had schemes of reigniting the shared monster idea, and it culminated in Van Helsing.
Banking on Hugh Jackman‘s star energy on the time, the movie takes the motion strategy by turning the famed vampire hunter from Stoker’s novel right into a grumpy but wise-cracking hero who has to workforce up with Kate Beckinsale and David Wenham to tackle the evil schemes of Depend Dracula. That includes Frankenstein’s monster as an vital plot level, in addition to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Van Helsing seeks to channel the shared monster vitality of yesteryear.
Sadly, director and author Stephen Sommers turned in a sloppy work. With a generic script, horrible results, and an general lack of know-how about why the Common monster movies work, Van Helsing is a drag. Helsing will get naked characterization, seemingly written as an amnesiac just because Jackman’s Wolverine was one, and there may be an totally unsatisfying decision to that thriller. Jackman is charismatic sufficient, however even he can do little with this paltry materials. Kate Beckinsale appears simply as misplaced, and Wenham tries to channel an Igor-like sense of goofy humor because the Q to Helsing’s Bond, however is generally unmemorable.
The introduction sequence of the movie is a enjoyable throwback to the ending of Frankenstein, however that’s about the place the enjoyable ends. The motion is generic, Richard Roxburgh‘s Dracula is forgettable, and the plot and characters go away little so that you can sink your tooth into. Not one of the foreboding sense of horror is on this film, and it’s best left forgotten as a relic of its period.
- World Rating: #6,616
- 20/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 25% of its matchups
- 4261 customers have it of their high 20
8. Dracula Untold (2014)
Seemingly not glad with the failure of Van Helsing, Common tried once more to reboot the Common monsters as a shared universe. This time, it adopted on the success of the MCU. However as soon as once more, they did not seize the viewers creativeness. Common truly removed the shared universe connections in Dracula Untold earlier than launch, considering they may do higher with The Mummy (spoiler: they didn’t).
Dracula Untold is one more generic motion movie bereft of any compelling components or any understanding of why Common monster movies work. This one goals to be an origin story for Depend Dracula, casting Luke Evans as Vlad “the Impaler” Dracula and making him a noble hero who takes on vampirism as a solution to save his folks from the evil invading pressure that’s the Ottomans. There are actually no plot twists or turns previous that. That single sentence so totally describes all the things that occurs that it’s merely unhappy.
The script makes an attempt to have some inner conflicts for Dracula within the type of being tempted by his darkish powers and having a seeming brotherhood with the Ottoman chief, performed in a hilariously over-the-top flip by Dominic Cooper (who additionally seems to be scarily like Evans). However neither of those components are notably compelling. Cooper is barely within the movie, and there isn’t any actual temptation for Dracula due to how damned noble the movie makes him. The whole lot he does is written to be so clearly justified that it doesn’t really feel like significant battle within the slightest.
The movie additionally fails as an motion story. The thought of a strong vampire mowing down troopers like Dynasty Warriors doesn’t appear to be an concept totally bereft of potential. However the filmmakers couldn’t appear to think about something previous having him continuously flip right into a swarm of CGI bats and punch folks. The motion scenes get boring in a short time and really feel low-effort. Since these are imagined to be the centerpieces of an motion movie, their failure rapidly pulls the whole factor down.
This one will get gentle bonus factors for the obscure makes an attempt at historicity and letting Charles Dance lend his gravitas to the unique vampire that cursed Dracula. No less than it isn’t as horrendously silly as Van Helsing, but it surely commits the sin of being extraordinarily bland. It lacks intriguing photographs, memorable battles, or depthful characters. And as soon as once more, it isn’t scary. Attempting to make a Marvelized model of a horror character simply looks like a improper strategy.
- World Rating: #13,705
- 37/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 38% of its matchups
- 5 customers have it of their high 20
7. Home of Frankenstein (1944)
We reviewed this movie in The Wolf Man rating and have largely the identical ideas this time round. Whereas it needs to boast that it’s the primary main crossover movie for Common, it so totally separates the parts that includes every monster in order to really feel like two totally different movies mashed collectively. Your entire first half of the movie is the one portion to characteristic Dracula, and he’s resurrected and vanquished earlier than Frankenstein ever walks throughout the display.
Examined as a Dracula movie, it’s a quite bland outing for the Depend. A mad scientist breaks freed from jail and recruits a hunchback to assist him, they usually simply occur to come across a touring showman who in some way has the corpse of Dracula. They kill the showman, revive Dracula, and try to bend Dracula to their will. John Carradine‘s first go because the well-known Depend has not one of the gravitas of Bela Lugosi, and he actually isn’t given a lot to do. The movie additionally has his destruction happen purely as a result of Dracula forgets to get out of the solar in time, making the Depend appear like a idiot.
Aside from the occasional neat shot right here and there, and Lon Chaney‘s presence as Larry, Home of Frankenstein is basically a drag of a film. On condition that Common needed to piece this collectively in a haphazard method, it’s not shocking that it merely doesn’t work. Whereas it truly has some first rate photographs, not like the 2 extra trendy movies, it isn’t actually any much less bland than the 2 movies under it.
- World Rating: #4,100
- 14/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 40% of its matchups
- 7 customers have it of their high 20
6. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
The comedy hijinks of Abbott and Costello don’t appear probably the most pure match for horrific monsters, however they have been beneath contract with Common, and utilizing all the studio’s belongings to generate income appeared to be Common’s precedence even again within the 40s. Abbott and Costello famously hated the idea, and it made the manufacturing fairly troubled. Nonetheless, this was one of many highest-grossing movies in the whole Common roster and it appeared to click on for folks.
The satirical parody appears to overly mock Common’s personal monsters to a degree the place one wonders what the purpose is meant to be. Abbott and Costello handle some humorous moments right here and there, and the script has some good jokes. But the whole movie is so goofy in tone that it feels low stakes and missing in consequence.
So far as Dracula goes, that is the one time Bela Lugosi ever formally reprised his function. Like within the different crossover movies, Dracula is used because the schemer, manipulating the opposite monsters and people to perform his obscure ends of ruling the world or some such. It’s enjoyable to see Lugosi again within the function, and he’s by no means requested to do something too overly comical, not like The Wolf Man and Frankenstein. For followers of Dracula, this movie most likely does the least harm to his character.
The movie is humorous sufficient that it isn’t totally a slog. It has the potential of being one thing iconic in its personal method. However Abbott and Costello’s resistance to the topic and a script that doesn’t get as sharp and wry because it may maintain this movie again, even when it does give us one final good hurrah for Lugosi’s Dracula.
- World Rating: #1,372
- 5/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 33% of its matchups
- 42 customers have it of their high 20
5. Son of Dracula (1943)
In contrast to a lot of the different Common monsters, Dracula by no means actually acquired direct sequels. Dracula doesn’t present up within the two official follow-ups to the unique movie, no less than circuitously. In that method, Dracula‘s sequels are maybe probably the most intriguing of the bunch. Son of Dracula is the second sequel. Directed by Robert Siodmak, it options Lon Chaney Jr. of all folks as Depend Alucard, this movie’s model of the vampiric rely. Lengthy earlier than Castlevania, this movie requested you have a look at what the title spells backwards.
Among the many extra attention-grabbing decisions, Son of Dracula is about within the southern United States and follows Katherine Caldwell as an heiress to a Louisiana plantation. She has been secretly relationship Depend Alucard and invitations him to the US and marries him the place he appears to rapidly take over her life. Makes an attempt by Katherine’s ex-boyfriend to kill him fail and it appears his energy is absolute.
Whereas the movie appears to endure the everyday discovery of the vampire and hunt him down plotline, Son of Dracula provides a few intrigues to the script and takes the story in some surprising instructions. Mixed with Siodmak truly having some visible aptitude, Son of Dracula seems to be a reasonably intriguing movie. Chaney doesn’t fairly have the grandeur that Lugosi has, however his personal strengths as an actor render Depend Alucard into an attention-grabbing character. And Siodmak, who would go on to direct some notable movies noir, demonstrates his mastery of the digicam with some placing visuals.
There are facets of Son of Dracula which can be goofy and melodramatic. Such is the wrestle when you might have actors of various abilities in these movies. However given how poorly a few of these movies are made, Son of Dracula stands out for its moody atmospheric moments and never dangerous particular results. With some tweaks, this might need surpassed even the unique.
- World Rating: #7,520
- 25/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 37% of its matchups
- 1 consumer has it of their high 20
4. Home of Dracula (1945)
The second Home movie stays the higher one. Mashing up all the Common creatures once more, Home of Dracula is a semi-sequel to Home of Frankenstein, although is probably the closest movie as to really following the occasions of the earlier movie. This one is titled options the titular Depend as far more of a driving pressure than in Home of Frankenstein. John Carradine returns within the function and offers his greatest efficiency, if once more not as iconic as Lugosi’s.
Whereas as soon as once more centering on a mad scientist’s interactions with the corporate of Common monsters, Dracula’s pressure of will turns into a serious characteristic… as does his shocking need to be cured of vampirism. If there may be something this movie does nicely, it’s demonstrating how all the numerous circumstances of the creatures are curses that they need to be rid of. Dracula clashes with the physician, who instantly searches for a solution to destroy Dracula, which fuels the movie’s drama.
Director Erle C. Kenton makes this movie distinct as a result of its sturdy Val Lewton-inspired images and sense of ethical battle. It is a movie that understands the darkness of monstrosity and represents it within the visuals of the movie and within the conflicts every character faces. This strategy is harm by the truth that not one of the characters have notably compelling characterization, and Dracula’s personal need for a remedy is barely explored. However that the movie makes such overtures in any respect makes it extra compelling than many chunks of the Common catalogue. That is the closest Common acquired to doing the mashup film proper.
- World Rating: #3,889
- 12/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 40% of its matchups
- 1 consumer has it of their high 20
3. Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
With Dracula‘s success, and that of Bride of Frankenstein, Common started to comprehend that its troop of monsters could possibly be fairly profitable. Sequels may preserve the cash flowing. Common subsequently rushed into manufacturing a sequel to Dracula, although the titular Depend’s loss of life on the finish of the primary movie offered an issue. What adopted was a sophisticated rights battle for a chapter faraway from the Stoker novel to make use of as an adaptation.
Paradoxically, regardless of this big rights battle, trendy scholarship finds that the movie bears little resemblance to that chapter, and extra to the novel Carmilla, one of many first British works to take care of a lesbian relationship. And certainly, the lesbian undertones of Dracula’s Daughter have fueled a lot of the scholarship on this movie within the many years since its launch, quite than its content material as a follow-up to Dracula.
On the floor degree, the movie follows Countess Marya Zaleska, a daughter of Dracula and vampire herself who seeks to be freed from her father’s affect; even from loss of life he appears capable of pressure her into darkness. Edward Van Sloan returns as Van Helsing, renamed as Von Helsing for no clear motive. Funnily, he begins the movie beneath arrest and should attempt to persuade the policemen that he simply slayed a vampiric rely quite than a rich baron and his servant.
The plotting from there may be considerably naked, as Von Helsing is shoved apart in favor of the Countess’s makes an attempt to remedy herself of vampirism or to beat the temptations of feasting on blood. However the movie has attracted consideration due to director Lambert Hillyer‘s route and decisions that contain Dracula’s daughter taking a younger girl beneath her wing and finally succumbing to her need to feast upon her. One can guess the purpose of this metaphorical storytelling, particularly when wanting on the method Hillyer frames the photographs.
This isn’t only a post-release studying, both. The Manufacturing Code Administration seen it throughout manufacturing and made notes about particular dealing with of the scenes to keep away from questionable implications. Opinions have been break up between those that seen the undertones and condemned them, those that didn’t discover, and people debating whether or not the movie is pro- or anti-lesbian.
None of this might actually matter if the movie wasn’t shot nicely, and fortunately the ability of those sequences and Gloria Holden‘s efficiency makes all of it work. Regardless of the tasteless seek for a remedy that leads in direction of little, it’s the implications of the plot and the imagery that basically makes this movie tick. Whereas these hoping for extra of the particular Depend shall be dissatisfied, one can credit score this for being a genuinely artistic sequel and an try to do one thing totally different.
This movie nearly acquired a remake, as this 12 months’s Abigail started improvement as one. Started is the important thing phrase, as anybody who has seen Abigail is aware of that it bears basically no resemblance to Dracula’s Daughter. Its legacy stays its personal.
- World Rating: #4,164
- 16/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 38% of its matchups
- 6 customers have it of their high 20
Whereas not the primary monster movie produced by Common, Dracula is definitely the primary one that may be credited for being really iconic, and it was arguably the beginning of the trendy horror style in movie. Director Tod Browning first made his foray into sound footage two years earlier, which led to his relationship with Bela Lugosi. The manufacturing of their earlier movie was troubled by a few of Browning’s odd decisions, however it could be these odd decisions that acquired Browning all for producing an adaptation of the Stoker’s famed story.
Nonetheless, there have been a number of curious detours alongside the way in which. First, this movie will not be a direct adaptation of the novel, however quite of a stage adaptation. Rights points made straight adapting Stoker’s novel troublesome. Additional, Lon Chaney (senior) was initially forged as Dracula, and it was solely his loss of life from lung most cancers that prevented him from showing within the function. Resulting from Lugosi enjoying the half on stage for years, he was the clear subsequent alternative. Whereas unhappy for Chaney, it opened the way in which for what’s the most iconic horror efficiency of all time.
Lugosi’s tackle the Depend continues to be the movie’s defining characteristic. He embraced the movie’s willingness to intensify his and the character’s Jap European-ness. His supply of Stoker’s iconic dialogue instantly left an impression, one that also lingers within the mind of individuals almost 100 years later. From his facial expressions to physique language and fierce nature, he nonetheless defines the character.
Regardless of the enduring nature of the function, Dracula isn’t any masterpiece of a movie. Maybe as a result of Browning’s reported lack of enthusiasm for the mission following Chaney’s loss of life, the storytelling of Dracula can really feel a bit inert. It gives a rushed rendering of the novel’s plot, combining characters in an unsatisfactory method and changing into greater than a bit staid after Dracula reaches England. Many scenes are shot at huge angles and have actors standing round and speaking with little visible motion happening.
That’s to not say Browning’s directorial efforts are totally fruitless. Dracula does characteristic some attention-grabbing visuals, together with the notable pushed zooms onto Lugosi’s face as Dracula wields his vampiric telepathic powers. These photographs of sunshine throughout his eyes are iconic and have been imitated within the many years since. The huge angle shot of Dracula in his cobweb-filled citadel greeting Renfield instantly conjures environment.
Regardless of being the vampire movie, it funnily options no transformation right into a bat or rat, no chunk marks on a sufferer’s neck or flowing of blood, or not one of the darkness one would possibly affiliate with darkish energy of a vampire. It’s a stale rendition of the story in that regard. It options intertitles and silent scenes of newspapers, seeming to bear hallmarks of the silent period in ways in which maintain it again. Dracula is much from a masterpiece, regardless of its well-known nature and Lugosi’s sheer charisma. Nonetheless, it stands above a lot of the remainder of its franchise for the strengths it does have, and it is just topped by one different movie….
- World Rating: #635
- 2/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 48% of its matchups
- 134 customers have it of their high 20
The king of the record comes out of a really distinctive pattern in Hollywood within the Thirties. Overseas markets have been already a key a part of the underside line for Hollywood studios within the 20s. As talkies grew to become outstanding, Hollywood confronted the wrestle of exporting these movies, as they may not merely change the language within the intertitles as they may with silent movies. Hollywood solved this downside by using the identical units, costumes, and script from their English-language productions, and easily bringing in actors who may converse the mandatory languages. By the top of the 20s, Common was particularly centered on Spanish-language cinema.
Because of this this model of Dracula happened. Whereas it’s ostensibly only a different-language model of the Browning movie, and is commonly included as a bonus characteristic on bodily media releases of Dracula, it’s totally its personal expertise. Directed by George Melford as a substitute of Browning, it was filmed at evening when Browning’s crew left for the day, making it really the creature of the evening.
Perhaps as a result of it was filmed at evening, or perhaps due to Melford’s better enthusiasm, the ultimate product is superior to the extra well-known model. Melford doesn’t tempo his movie as lackadaisically as Browning’s. He brings scenes to life with a extra enthusiastic and concerned forged. Melford’s digicam is extra dynamic, shifting amongst the units with extra diversified and attention-grabbing photographs, not content material to easily sit at a large angle as is commonly the case in Browning’s movie. This extra creeping strategy lends the whole movie a stronger and sinister environment. Lupita Tovar actually shines as Eva Seward, the movie’s personal riff on the principle love curiosity of the protagonist. She is sultry and tempting, making Dracula’s pursuit of her tackle a darker, extra sexual undertone.
That’s to not say it compares favorably in each facet. Regardless of the general higher cinematography, there may be arguably no shot as iconic as Browning’s close-ups of Lugosi’s eyes. The truth is, this movie’s makes an attempt at replicating these photographs underscores the largest detriment: no Bela Lugosi. Whereas Carlos Villarias‘ tackle Dracula isn’t horrible, it additionally isn’t notably sturdy. In using the road between over-acting and powerful presence, Villarias falls over it and comes throughout as quite hokey, like a comedy movie’s model of Dracula. He’s exhausting to take significantly as a menacing menace, particularly once you examine him to the pure gravitas of Lugosi. These close-ups of Villarias’s eyes as he makes use of his psychic powers lack the mystique of the English model.
Whilst you do lose Lugosi, Dracula‘s Spanish model makes up for it in different methods and stands as the perfect Common movie to characteristic Dracula. This movie will not be an all-time nice, as Dracula movies are surprisingly a weaker wing of the Common Monsters world. However for the perfect, most moody tackle the fabric, look no farther than this oddity.
- World Rating: #1,741
- 8/100 on Flickchart’s Dracula filter
- Wins 53% of its matchups
- 23 customers have it of their high 20
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
