The essence of vampires: Alien, erotic and enchanting.

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2017)

I never was a big fan of vampires, yet one day decided to watch Coppola's take on Dracula.
The opening sequence was all it took to convince me. Loud and intense, with visuals so breathtaking and stylish, it left me staring at the screen with my jaw on the floor. I knew i was in for a ride, and the rest of this two hour masterpiece utterly confirmed that.
Coppola sucks you into an entirely convincing, dark world with his feverish editing, impressive sets, outstanding costumes, brilliant special effects and the greatest Dracula put on film: Gary Oldman.
Oldman's Dracula appears in many different shapes throughout the movie, and he differentiates them brilliantly. Yet, the scenes to burn themselves into your mind will be those of the first act. A legendary outfit (and hairdo!), Coppola's brilliantly creepy shadows and alien moves that would make even Sigourney Weaver shriek in fear make this the most haunting imagery of Dracula yet.
As the story unfolds, Coppola adds one more secret sauce to this movie, one that elevates the image of vampires from creepy monsters to darkest fantasy: Sex.
In fact, this might just be the most erotic movie you'll ever see. No character is safe from the dark lust Dracula inflicts them with: not even the Count himself. Some scenes might outright shock you in how blatantly they display the unstoppable desire for sex that the characters display. From the first innocent chuckling at pornographic drawings in a book, to a half-naked maiden gone mad with lust, Coppola's Dracula is in control more than anything else because of his erotic aura that redefines how we perceive the vampire myth.
The tag line for this movie states "Love never dies". Indeed, this story is a tragic romance underneath it all. If you can embrace this reinterpretation of the original story, it all concludes so wonderfully, the story of Dracula becomes much more coherent. It makes sense.
In short, this is the greatest depiction of vampires ever put to film. A visual delight, with technical excellence displayed by director, costumers and a brilliant Gary Oldman. A feverish, sexual depiction that will leave drops of sweat on your forehead. An interpretation of Dracula that does not stray far, but makes the viewer understand the shadowy figure better than any attempt has before or after.
A masterpiece and the essential Dracula put on film.