“Dracula Untold” (** OUT OF ****) is
a picturesque potboiler. A tapestry of gorgeous computer generated
imagery, this predictable prequel about Bram Stoker’s immortal bloodsucker
before he forsook his sword for fangs springs few surprises. Essentially, it
looks like Universal has revamped the franchise. Luke Evans, who played in “Clash of the
Titans,” “Immortals,” “The Three Musketeers,” and the last two “The Hobbit”
movies, seems appropriately cast as the virile protagonist. Sadly, he
brings little charisma to the role. When he wields a sword, rides a horse,
and cavorts about in period apparel, Evans displays more than enough
competence. Indeed, he is the ‘before’ Dracula, better known as Vlad
Tepes, who impaled his adversaries on stakes for the terrible
psychological effect it wrought. Unfortunately, Dominic Cooper struggles
to be villainous. Aside from his ominous eye-liner and elaborate armor,
the plucky little Englishman from “Need for Speed” poses little threat.
The problem is that Cooper’s Turkish Sultan Mehmed II isn’t half as wicked as
his sinister lieutenant, Dumitru (Diarmaid Murtagh of “The Monuments Men”), who
instills greater fear. Although Dracula and Mehmed clash swords in a
dramatic but drawn-out fight scene near the end, with Dracula stumbling around
on a treacherous floor of silver coins, the fight is virtually anti-climactic
after our hero’s encounter with Dumitru. Comparably, as supernatural
horror movies go, “Dracula Untold” isn’t scary. Some spooky scenes in a
cave with Charles Dance hideously made-up as the Master Vampire generate anxiety,
but this PG-13 rated release relies more on spectacle rather than shivers.
Imagine the brawny Gerald Butler action fantasy “300” crisscrossed with Peter
Jackson’s J.R.R. Tolkien trilogies, and you’ll have a clue about what to expect
from this nimble, but immaculate 92 minute melodrama.
“Dracula Untold” unfolds with a
prologue about Vlad’s sadistic wartime past as narrated by his son
Ingeras. Suspense takes flight from the outset since we know nothing
catastrophic can occur to Ingeras if he can provide fodder about his father’s
infamous feats. The imperial Ottoman Turks enthrone Dracula as the Prince
of Transylvania after his splendid sadistic exploits in battle. Our hero
marries a sweet, lovely, but naïve bride, Mirena (Sarah Gadon of “Charlie
Bartlett”), promises her peace, and they have a son, Ingeras (Art Parkinson of
“Freakdog”), who has not a care in the world. Dracula continues to appease the
Sultan of Turkey with tributes that consist of treasure chests piled with silver
coins. One day, while Dracula and two soldiers are out scouting the
countryside, they find a dented Turkish helmet in a stream and search for the army
that the Sultan has sent to their homeland. Dracula and company trace the
helmet back to a cave in Broken Tooth Mountain where they encounter the Master
Vampire (Charles Dance of “Last Action Hero”) who makes mincemeat out of
Dracula’s lieutenants. No sooner has Dracula survived this predicament
than he arrives home to be greeted by a Turkish envoy who wants more than his
customary monetary tribute. Not only does the envoy demand thousands of boys
as conscripts for the Sultan’s army, but also he specifically wants Dracula’s
son Ingeras. Naturally, Dracula refuses to hand over Ingeras.
Later, after a disastrous diplomatic episode ends with bloodshed, Dracula
returns to the mountain and negotiates a pact with the Master Vampire.
Since he lacks an army to pit against the Sultan, Dracula resorts to sorcery.
Of course, when he reveals he has sold his soul, Dracula finds himself persona
non grata. As the Sultan’s armies lay siege to Dracula’s Castle, all Hell
breaks loose, and Dracula prepares to retaliate with his supernatural powers.
Moviegoers who relish buckets of blood
as well as an abundance of severed body parts will be sorely disappointed with
“Dracula Untold.” Freshman film director Gary Shore, who has been
directing television commercials, provides a high enough body count by
anybody’s standards, but the MPAA’s chaste PG-13 rating has compelled him to
scale back considerably on the bloodletting. Swords shriek as combatants
unsheathe them and glint as the aforementioned slash with feverish abandon at
their enemy. Nevertheless, contact between blade and flesh has been
minimized. One of the more imaginative images of warfare used to mask the
violence is the reflection of bloodshed on a sword. Only time will tell
if an unrated version will accompany the home video release. Meantime,
Shore keeps the action moving briskly enough, in part because rookie co-scripters
Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless have penned such a formulaic, origins
screenplay. Memorable dialogue is certainly not one of their assets.
Meantime, after impaling thousands of combatants on pikes, Vlad must have lost
his nerve because he behaves like a wimp when the Sultan shows up looking for
juvenile recruits. Indeed, Sazama and Sharpless paint Dracula into a corner,
but it is still difficult to believe Dracula would have degenerated from a
warlord into a whiner. Since Shore had to diminish the violence, the only
thing menacing about the Sultan’s army is its immense size. Mind you,
Dumitru’s coiffure qualifies as pretty disturbing. Once Dracula acquires
immortality courtesy of the Master Vampire, he is practically invincible.
Evans is shown poised atop a cliff, gesticulating passionately like a wizard,
as he dispatches colonies of bats against the marauding Turks, emphasizing the
true meaning of the word ‘combat.’ Nevertheless, the violence is depicted
in such broad strokes that you cannot see how the bats are actually slaughtering
their opponents.
Little in “Dracula Untold”
constitutes a revelation. Most of what happens is roughly based on
sections of Stoker’s 1897 Gothic tale of terror. Francis Ford Coppola’s above-average “Bram
Stoker’s Dracula” covered his chapter of Dracula’s life with greater artistry
and action. Additional movies such as “Vlad” (2003), “Dracula the Impaler”
(2002), Vlad Tepes” (1979) as well as the made-for-television opus “Dark
Prince: The True Story of Dracula” (2000) has embellished Dracula’s origins. Universal
has tacked on a provocative modern-day epilogue should audiences want a sequel.
Although it possesses some potential, "Dracula Untold" amounts to a
second-rate sword and sorcery saga.
