Luc Besson's new Dracula movie is incredible because it recontextualizes the love story in Dracula. Bram Stoker's Dracula is an old, well-tread story and that makes it exciting when a vampire project surprises you. Let's shine a light on some of the most interesting interpretations of Dracula you can check out in our catalog.
"15th-century warrior Vlad goes off the fight the Turks. Upon his return, he finds that his wife Elisabeta, hearing he was dead, has killed herself. Maddened by this injustice, Vlad curses God, and becomes the immortal blood-eating fiend known as Count Dracula--for centuries. When English attorney Jonathan Harker journeys to Dracula's castle, the Count sees a photograph of his fiancée, Mina Murray. Dracula's patience has been rewarded--Elisabeta lives again! The Count goes to dastardly lengths to possess Mina, while her best friend Lucy, Lucy's three suitors, and Prof. Abraham Van Helsing all become entangled by Dracula's quest. The modern age is dawning, even in Transylvania. Will the Count triumph, or be relegated to the past?" from catalog description
This is the definitive live-action interpretation of Dracula in the last 30 years. A perfect introduction to Gary Oldman as Vlad the Impaler and Winona Ryder as his love interest throughout the ages. This movie set the standard for answering who Dracula is for a generation.
"King of the spoofs, Leslie Nielsen, takes on the title role as the ever-loving Count." from catalog description
Dead and Loving It was for many, the first comedic take on the Vlad the Impaler. A great entry point if you prefer a humorous touch to your gothic sensibilities.
"To you, perceptive reader, I bequeath my history....Late one night, exploring her father's library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to "My dear and unfortunate successor," and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of-a labyrinth where the secrets of her father's past and her mother's mysterious fate connect to an inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history." from catalog description
The audiobook version is incredible. The way this story takes place over so many years and plays almost like a documentary found-footage piece that is unsettling and perfect. The way the main character's father squeezes out his story is fascinating and at time heartbreaking.
This is a hard one to recommend because it is uneven in its storytelling. Out of the three parts, the first one is the best Dracula story I've ever seen. Vlad is established as charming, cruel and incredibly interested in the greater world. This one is worth watching for part one (and each one is movie length) alone. There are some interesting moments in the second and third and one of the best interpretations of the character Lucy that leaves all other versions in the dust.
If you are a purist at heart, you can always check out the original text!
