Argento’s Dracula-2012

Director Dario Argento

Starring Thomas Kretschmann

Scott’s Review #158

Reviewed August 22, 2014

Grade: C-

As a huge fan of Dario Argento, his classic horror films such as Suspiria (1977) and Deep Red (1975) would surely land in my Top fifty of all time, not just in the horror genre; this film is a bit of a mess.

As I understand it, the story follows a young man named Harker, whom Count Dracula hires to work in his castle as a Librarian.

His wife, Mina, arrives later in the story and becomes the focal point of the film from that point on.

Another female named Tania rises from the dead to seduce and bite Harker. Dracula intervenes and wants to claim Harker as his own.

From this point on, Harker’s wife Mina attempts to look for her husband within the halls of Dracula’s castle.

The plot is hard to follow, uncompelling, and not one of Argento’s finest efforts.

An homage to Hammer horror films of the 1950s and 1960s, the film comes across as too campy, poorly performed, and miscast in places.

The actor who plays Count Dracula is not convincing and seems a strange choice for the part- too nice-looking?

It feels like Argento didn’t know whether to make the film serious or go completely over the top. Since when can Dracula change forms into a grasshopper, owl, and other creatures besides a bat?

Other characters like the Priest were introduced for no other purpose than to be killed.

On the positive side, the art direction is unsurprisingly amazing.

The film is filled with creepy sets, especially inside the mansion, and has a distinct 1970s feel. The ambiance effectively portrays a spooky, dark setting.

All in all, though, Argento’s Dracula (2012) is a disappointing experience, and much better films of the same subject matter have been covered in the past.