Rating: PG-13 | Runtime: 92 minutes
Release Date: October 10th, 2014 (USA)
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director(s): Gary Shore
Writer(s): Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless / Bram Stoker (characters)

Men don’t fear swords. They fear monsters.

Someone really thought they had something upon thinking, “Why does Frankenstein’s monster always get to be sympathetic while Dracula is relegated to malicious villainy?”

The correct answer is bloodlust and rage as opposed to societal cruelty and a lack of autonomy. The filmmakers behind Dracula Untold turned to each other and screamed, “Superhero vampire!” instead.

I like Luke Evans. I like the idea of conquering the hunger for three days before turning human again. I even like the decision to use evil to fight evil. I guess I just wish there was more to the script than good guy versus bad guy bloodshed and obvious sacrifices to push the hero into becoming an actual monster (before still showing how the love in his heart retains his heroism).

My main gripe is hiring Charles Dance to be a creeper with Big Bad potential (sorry, Dominic Cooper, you and your bronzer never approached formidable) and then not making good on the promise because they’d rather save him for a sequel that never came.

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Luke Evans and Sarah Gadon in DRACULA UNTOLD.