From Book to Movie: Dracula

‘Alone with the dead! I dare not go out, for I can hear the low howl of the wolf through the broken window’

When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries about his client and his castle. Soon afterwards, a number of disturbing incidents unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked at Whitby; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman’s neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the imminent arrival of his ‘Master’. In the ensuing battle of wits between the sinister Count Dracula and a determined group of adversaries, Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of the horror genre, probing deeply into questions of human identity and sanity, and illuminating dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire.

Yesssss, this is the year of classics for me!! Well, this is only the second one I have read, but that's still two more then I ever thought I'd read.

I have been talking about reading Bram Stoker's Gothic horror for years, honestly years. The 1992 movie adaptation of this book (which we will be discussing later) is one of my top three favourite films ever. Therefore, I knew I needed to read this book. Well friends, it's happened, I have finally read it and I have a few thoughts.

The Book 

     

So, I am now realizing that reviewing a classic is impossible, I can’t do it. What I can talk about is my reading experience, while reading this book. I was pretty excited about finally reading Dracula, because in case you hadn’t noticed yet I am obsessed with the movie. So, I was excited to experience the awesomeness that brought my most favourite film. Dracula, written in 1897 and told through diary entries, telegrams, letters, ship's logs, and newspaper clippings. While this is featured in the film, it’s wasn’t a key factor and I wasn’t expected the entirety of the novel to be written this way. In fact, for the fist chunk I was waiting for the standard prose to begin. I think this waiting is what kept me from really digging into the book. 

Because the story was so familiar to me I kept waiting for certain things to happen, and they never did. I am going get spoiler-y here now- But there is absolutely NO love story between Dracula and Mina in the book. None. This is very different from what we see in the movie, the romance is a big deal. So I was little surprised not to see this in the book. The book focuses mostly on Lucy- Mina’s BFF- who gets bitten by Dracula and is in the process of transitioning. Much to the confusion and concern of her fiancé and his pals. Figuring out what’s happening to Lucy and how to fix is the key plot of this novel. Dracula himself is seldom in the novel, he’s alluded to more than anything.  

In the end, I really enjoyed Dracula- the novel. Once I got used to the way the story was being told, and the fact that the story was slightly difference than the one I knew, I able to experience this classic for what is was. Dracula was beautifully written- even this horror novel had some of the most amazingly beautifully written descriptions. While I was never scared when reading this novel, I could certainly appreciate why some people would be. This novel really would have pushed boundaries back in the nineteenth century.  Now that I am on a roll I feel like I have so much to talk about, however, I think this will suffice.    

 



The Movie

  

The Movie, oh the movie...I actually don't remember the first time I saw this movie, but I feel like I've loved it for a long time. 

You know what makes this movie for me- Gary Oldman as Dracula. Oh man, he was brilliant. I feel like I could spend so many words just gushing over how incredible Gary Oldman was. He brought so much to the character. I found I really hated Dracula, he did some really awful things. But, him and Mina, you just could not help but root for them. He didn't want to be bad right? The voice acting, also was crazily impressive.


Another key player in this movie for me was Sadie Frost as Lucy, she was obnoxious in a good way. Entitled and spoiled, slightly annoying. However, she was completely loyal to Mina and loved everyone. I found that Sadie Frost really brought Lucy to life in an amazingly authentic way.

I just love the whole concept  of the movie, I love the way it's filmed, all shadow-y and mysterious. A little campy, and I love the Victorian feel. I loved Anthony Hopkins at Van Helsing. His Van Helsing was different from book Van Helsing, more eccentric and erratic, but great all the same. I wasn't super thrilled with Winona Ryder as Mina- she was bit meh to me. I didn't like book Mina either, though. I also was a little meh about Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker. But having read the book, I understand Jonathan Harker a lot more, and I appreciate his character in a new way.

I could go on and on, about this movie. But I need to stop. Watch this movie, it's great, and read the book, it's also great. There you have it, my very discombobulated thoughts on Dracula. If you're still with me, I am impressed.

~Happy Reading Everyone!