Bram Stoker's Dracula DVD, 1992

Inventive, erotic, unsettling, Bram Stoker's Dracula was the first mainstream film version to successfully merge the immoral sexuality of vampirism with the fin-de-siécle decadence of Victorian London nightlife. Gary Oldman is masterful as the eponymous Count - he brings a malevolent vibrancy to a role that, in other hands, had long foundered in clichéd lethargy. Loaded with stylish visual trickery, this is a refreshing anomaly in Coppola's later career, and reminds us of the cinematic flamboyance of his better days.

Winona Ryder plays Mina - the reincarnation of Dracula's lost love Elisabeta - a woman courted by gentleman estate agent Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves), whose friend, Doctor Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins), wants to put an end to vampirism.

A visually spectacular rendition of the original which spares no opportunity to be as baroque as a man’s tongue passing across a bloodied razor. (AKA Bram Stoker’s Dr... more >

A visually spectacular rendition of the original which spares no opportunity to be as baroque as a man’s tongue passing across a bloodied razor. (AKA Bram Stoker’s Dracula). < less

View all 20 of richard Armstrong’s reviews

Coppola's dazzling version of Bram stoker's novel finds the director on unexpectedly good form. Inventive, erotic, unsettling, this is the first mainstream film versio... more >

Coppola's dazzling version of Bram stoker's novel finds the director on unexpectedly good form. Inventive, erotic, unsettling, this is the first mainstream film version successfully to merge the immoral sexuality of vampirism with the kinetic fin-de-siécle decadence of Victorian London nightlife. Gary Oldman is masterful as the eponymous Count - he brings a malevolent vibrancy to a role that, in other hands, had long foundered in clichéd lethargy. Loaded with stylish visual trickery, Bram Stoker's Dracula is a refreshing anomaly in Coppola's later career, and reminds us of the cinematic flamboyance of his better days. < less

View all 136 of Julian Upton’s reviews