'Dracula Untold': Critics aren't won over by the vampire reboot
'Dracula,' which stars actor Luke Evans, imagines how the famous vampire acquired his powers.
'Dracula Untold' stars Luke Evans.
Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures/AP
The tale of the vampire Dracula has been adapted many times for the screen, but the new movie starring 鈥淭he Hobbit鈥� actor Luke Evans promises new material in its title, 鈥淒racula Untold."聽
The movie, which hit theaters on Oct. 10, eschews Mina Harker and Dracula鈥檚 time in England to look at his earlier life, when Dracula (Evans) was Vlad the Impaler. When Vlad seeks out a vampire (鈥�Game of Thrones鈥� actor Charles Dance), he is given super-strength, supernatural speed, as well as other powers. An unfortunate side effect is that compulsion to drink blood, though if he can avoid doing that for a certain amount of time, he鈥檒l go back to his normal state.聽
Dominic Cooper of 鈥淣eed for Speed鈥� appears as Mehmed II, the sultan of Ottoman Empire, who requires many of the young boys of Vlad鈥檚 principality, including Vlad鈥檚 own son Ingeras (Art Parkinson), to join his army. 鈥淏elle鈥� actress Sarah Gadon stars as Mirena, Vlad鈥檚 wife.
The movie has not been well reviewed and currently holds a score of 38 out of 100 on the review aggregator website Metacritic.聽
critic Gary Goldstein was one reviewer who didn鈥檛 mind the movie as much as others.聽
鈥溾�橠racula Untold鈥� proves an absorbing, swiftly comprehensive origin tale,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淒irector Gary Shore executes the competent script by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless with admirable dispatch and a strong visual sense鈥� The twist here [of Vlad having to avoid drinking blood for three days] is what provides the film with its propulsive tension and extra mythic jolt鈥� Although the resolution is predictable鈥� it's a satisfying journey, with Evans鈥� embodying his hero-villain role with requisite strength and gravitas.鈥澛�
However, others weren鈥檛 as won over, with Brian Truitt of awarding it two stars out of four.聽
鈥淎t times聽Dracula Untold聽flirts with dullness so much that it might as well just stick a stake in the heart of Bram Stoker's legacy,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淭hose聽Game of Thrones-style epic sequences balance out the weak dialogue鈥� Evans does what he can and exudes enough charisma to make his Vlad pop at times.鈥澛�
Meanwhile, Michael O鈥橲ullivan of the remembered that 鈥渇or a tantalizing half hour or so, it actually seemed like the underlying idea of 鈥楧racula Untold鈥� 鈥� an origin story drawing its DNA from superhero flicks, not monster movies 鈥� might go somewhere" and noted that modern touches in the movie like the use of the word "OK" are distracting.
鈥淭he film鈥� occasionally boasts gorgeous visuals,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淒eeper questions of logic arise from the film鈥檚 handling of established vampire lore鈥� There are moments of handsome cinematography and occasional effects that both frighten and impress.鈥�