One of my favorite movies.

Rating: Null/10 (7 May 2003)

Although as a gothic inclined person, usually I try to avoid the stereotypical vampire ideas people have about the subculture but I must say that this is a darn good movie with a great 'gothic' feel and look to it.
I'm half way though the book and it indeed it doesn't follow the original story that faithfully but still what we have here is a very good movie.
The sets, the atmosphere and cast all are great. Even the much maligned role of Keanu Reeves doesn't strike me as annoying.
The film definately isn't you're stereotypical horror flick. Instead it tells a very visual and hypnotic story filled with eroticism, romance and blood. It's not all that scary. It just tells a morbid and decadent story about a man who has basically lost all what he believed in and feels as if he gets a 2nd chance when he sees his lost love reincarnated in a simple woman.
What we have here is a film about Dracula the man. Not the monster. Yes we see aspects of that but mostly we see the man. The count who has lived with grief and madness for so long.. I think this is an interesting view on the legend. We saw this side of vampires in Interview With The Vampire which is in my humble oppinion better and more epic but still as vampire films go this comes close.
All in all I reccommend this highly. Very stylish. Tragedy, decadence, romance and eroticism. What could you want more?