OTF's Blue Publication November 2014
In this review, I stray from what modern science fiction has become, and revisit its roots, in honor of Halloween. I recently saw Dracula Untold in theaters, and enjoyed every minute of it. It was an origin story of sorts, for how the Transylvanian prince known as Vlad The Impaler became the legendary vampire Count Dracula.
Filmed in Northern Ireland, the story weaved by Matt Sazama ad Burk Sharpless, filmed by Gary Shore in his directorial debut fleshes out and fictionalizes Vlad’s historic response to Sultan Mehmet’s (Dominic Cooper) invasion of his homeland in the spring of 1462. The story starts out with a narration by Vlad’s son Ingeras, as if he is the one telling the story about how his father became known as Count Dracula.
Vlad wants to keep the Turks from his home, and keep Mehmet from taking his son and making him a soldier. He gains the ability to defend his home and family after a visit to a Master Vampire (Charles Dance) who lives in a cave, and has made himself known to Vlad in accordance to prophecy.
Dance’s character converts Vlad to something of a proto-vampire, explaining that if he resists the urge to give into his bloodlust for three days, he will retain his mortality. If Vlad does give in, he will be a vampire for all eternity, with control over the weather, darkness, and bats. Does Vlad now have what it takes to free his family and land from the sultan? Or will he become a vampire, forced to live forever without them? If you want to know the answer, then I suggest you go to the theater. I give this movie four stars.