fatally flawed but never less than entertaining

Rating: 5/10 (8 November 2010)

From the long-winded title (the film was originally released as 'Bram Stoker's Dracula') you might suspect Francis Ford Coppola of not wanting credit for this flawed but entertaining adaptation of the classic horror story, and he may well have a point. The umpteenth remake foregrounds all the repressed Victorian sexuality of the vampire legend with sometimes subtle, sometimes sloppy Gothic imagery and effects, but the details are by now too familiar to raise any serious goose bumps. At any rate the colorful bloodlust and overheated ambiance is diminished by all the amateur theatrics, with playacting English accents ranging from the merely embarrassing (Winona Ryder) to the downright hopeless (Keanu Reeves). A notable exception to the unfortunate casting (not overlooking an equally over-the-top cameo by Tom Waits as the spider-eating Renfield) is Anthony Hopkins deranged interpretation of fearless vampire slayer Professor von Helsing. His performance completely overshadows Gary Oldman in the title role, who shows none of the evil charisma expected from an immortal, bloodsucking aristocrat.