Not a bad Dracula

Rating: 8/10 (13 January 2009)

Back in 1992, Coppola was having troubles with Zoetrope Studios and this picture put him into the black, no small part thanks to the then property name of Wyoma Rider.
There are great performances and even very atmospheric direction of Mr. Coppola. Gary Oldman made a great Dracula and Ryder played the heroine well. Just after his success in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, Anthony Hopkins actually plays the hero Van Helzing in a very astute acting style.
There are homages that actually quite recognizable in other, better known films. The vomiting of the blood in the THE EXORCIST, the immediate slayings similar to THE OMEN and even a nod to the 1930's Dracula.
All in all, a good work by Coppola and gang. It's a little distant and Keanu Reeves isn't given a lot to do but that's not unusual. Fourth billed, still not yet the major star he would become.
I have read the book and Bram Stoker has a very melodramatic style as was it was with the Victorians. This movie generally does follow the book's part though I believe some liberties were taken in the end to give Ryder a really good scene as well as being cinematic.