Dracula Movie Critique – The French Director’s Love-Struck Revamp of the Gothic Classic is Outlandish but Engaging

It’s possible audiences aren’t clamoring for a fresh take of Dracula from Luc Besson, the celebrated French director for stylish excess. And yet, one must admit: his opulently crafted vampire romance displays creativity and style – and with its B-movie charm, I’m not sure I wouldn’t prefer over Robert Eggers’s recent, solemnly classy version of Nosferatu. There are some very bizarre touches, such as a scene that looks like it presents a geographic divide between France and Romania.

Christoph Waltz as a Humorously Exhausted Vampire-Hunting Priest

Christoph Waltz plays a humorous yet burdened vampire-hunting priest – it feels natural for him to tackle this role before – who ends up in Paris in 1889 during the centennial of the French Revolution. Likewise present is the malevolent vampire count, played by the expert in grotesque roles Caleb Landry Jones using a distorted Eastern European tone reminiscent of Carell’s Gru character of the Despicable Me series. It’s a role that he too was born to take on.

The Plot: A Chronicle of Longing

Here’s the premise: the count has wandered endlessly the globe in anguish over four centuries following his rise as one of the undead, a punishment for his irreligious grief after the passing of his wife, Elisabeta (a movie debut role for Zoë Bleu, the offspring of Rosanna Arquette). The count has looked tirelessly for a female who would be the return of his lost love. By cruel fate, the fortunate female turns out to be Mina (again played by Bleu), the reserved future wife of the count’s timid estate manager, Jonathan Harker (played by Ewens Abid), who just traveled to the count’s castle to review his property portfolio and the small picture of the lovely Mina drew the vampire’s attention.

The Filmmaker’s Approach and Lighthearted Touch

Besson organizes Dracula’s second-act backstory of global roaming sporting extravagant attire with a sure hand, and he doesn’t shy away from providing funny bits in the style of Mel Brooks – such as the vampire’s constant unsuccessful tries to end his own life after Elisabeta’s death, as well as absurd moments that occur when Dracula applies to himself with a specific fragrance during the 1700s in Florence, which makes him irresistible to women. Ridiculous and watchable.

Dracula can be streamed online from 1 December and on DVD and Blu-ray from December 22nd. It plays in Australian cinemas starting February 5, 2026.