Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest (2008)

DVD

As many of you out there know, I am a huge fan of Vampire Movies. One of my favorite things about the vampire realm, would be Dracula. Many say that that is where Vampires gained their fame, and I completely support that. While the film "Nosferatu" was probably the first depiction of Vampires, they weren't entirely famous until the release of "Dracula." One of my favorite things to check for with Vampire Movies are the many depictions that get released of the character Dracula, as well as how many adaptations of Bram Stoker's classic novel are done. Throughout the many different depictions of Dracula, ranging from Gary Oldman's display in "Bram Stoker's Dracula," to Richard Roxburgh's performance in "Van Helsing," and going to Dominic Purcell's portrayal in "Blade: Trinity," none that I have ever seen, have beaten Bela Lugosi's classic performance in the original "Dracula," back in 1931. While this portrayal of Dracula doesn't come close to that of Bela Lugosi's, or even Gary Oldman's, it does very well, and is one of the best portrayals that I have seen in a very long time. This movie isn't a retelling of Bram Stoker's telling of the classic monster, and it is not an attempt to bring Dracula into the present time (Which is something, I might add, that Gerard Butler did VERY well in the film, "Dracula 2000," back in 2000), but rather, it presents itself as a prequel to the classic story, as well as a sort of, shall we say, headline, into what made Bram Stoker think of the story, since he is a character in the movie. It's not the best Dracula story, or Vampire Movie, that you will ever see, but it is a DAMN good one, and one that I'm happy to now own. If you're a fan of Vampire Movies, or even just Dracula himself, you should definitely check this film out sometime. I'm not saying to buy it because you might not care for it, but you should definitely rent it, and try it out. You might be VERY surprised by it.

The director of this film is a man by the name of Michael Feifer. Feifer is not a very well known director to me, and I'm writing this assuming that he's not very mainstream, either. He is, however, known for his position in the Director's chair, of such movies as "Lethal Eviction," "The Graveyard," "A Dead Calling," and "Grim Reaper." Feifer's choices for this film, in my opinion, were a bit shaky, but otherwise decent. I didn't care for the way that he decided to FILM the movie, however. It felt more along the lines of a homemade movie, is the best way that I can describe it. If you watch the film yourself, then you'll see what I mean, but it just didn't feel like it had a high budget, which it might not have. Anyway, the filming wasn't the greatest. Feifer DID, however, manage to choose some very interesting angles for different parts in the films. Not all of them worked out very WELL for the movie, but most of them managed to give it a strange, and eerie feel, which added effect to the overall movie, I thought. There's a part where we see Bram Stoker climbing to the top of Dracula's castle, and we get an image of him from beneath, as he is looking down at the long fall. I thought it was a pretty intense angle, and really worked for that scene. Feifer also manages to use some interesting filters for scenes, as well, and while not all of them work, much like the angles he chose, for the most part it adds eerie feelings to things. Like one that made things look almost churchlike in Dracula's castle. It added an EXCELLENT feel for the castle, and in my opinion, it did that VERY well. Michael Feifer's directing abilities, while at times shaky, worked very nicely overall for the movie. Feifer also wrote the story for the movie by himself, and he does a wonderful job of it. Using Bram Stoker's classic character, Dracula, he manages to spin a rather interesting, and eerie storyline for the movie, that acts as a prequel to Stoker's novel, as well as a possible reason for where Stoker got the idea for the novel. He DEFINITELY does a great job with the writing of the movie, as well as a pretty good job with the directing of the movie. He definitely seemed to know what he was doing, and how he wanted it to turn out, and it turned out pretty good, if you ask me, and since you're reading this review, I'm automatically assuming that you DID, in fact, ask me. So DEFINITELY a good job, overall, with the Directing and the Writing of this movie.

Visuals are one of my all time favorite things to look out for when I'm watching ANY Vampire Movie. Another one of my favorite things, visually, to look out for, are the ways that Dracula is portrayed. Is he going to be the classic Lugosi style, with slicked back black hair, a fancy suit, with a cape, and a medallion hanging from his neck. Will he be the long-haired, sophisticated style of Dracula that Gary Oldman made famous. Or will he be something rugged and badass, like what Dominic Purcell's Dracula was in "Blade: Trinity." Whatever the case, it is still VERY fun to see the different ways that people portray Dracula in movies, and the visions that the directors and the costume designers choose for these characters. Dracula in this one, is more along the lines of the Gary Oldman-style Dracula. He's got the long hair, and the sophisticated suits and clothings. It's very interesting. I also like the fact that they chose someone who was HUGE to play Dracula. Their choice? The man who played Leatherface in both "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)" AND "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." Big guy? You don't know the half of it. Anyhow, I really enjoyed the style that they chose for him. Another thing that they did right for the movie, was the fangs. They don't look half assed, or like they were purchased from those egg-machines that Wal-Marts and Grocery Stores always have out by the entrances/exits to the store. It was definitely done very nicely, and ACTUALLY looked like normal teeth, which is a definite plus from me. Another visual that I thought was pretty awesome, was Dracula's castle in this movie. It was done very well, and the inside and decor reminded me of a church, which was definitely something new for a Dracula movie, since Dracula is supposed to be afraid of the church, and everything to do with it. It wasn't a church, per se, but it was definitely something that was reminiscent of a church. Some of the rooms were decorated weirdly, but I got the impression that they weren't walls, really, but rather a Mausoleum-like thing. You know, where they cremate the bodies, and store them in buildings inside of the walls? Or maybe it isn't JUST cremation, but whatever the case, that's what I had the impression that they were. It was cool, at any rate. The only visual that I had issues with, aside from the filming-style of the movie, was the fact that Dracula was out during the day. Isn't Dracula supposed to burst into flames in the sunlight? That wasn't explained in the movie, and while he wasn't in the daylight for very long, and most of the scenes were in the dark, it still kind of got on my nerves, but it wasn't something that was an INCREDIBLY big deal. The visuals of this movie were DEFINITELY, for the most part, done VERY well.

Another thing that I love to look at in Vampire Movies, are the different storylines that people and writers come up with for them. It's always interesting to see a fresh idea, like this one, added to movies. It's even more interesting to see fresh ideas utilizing some really old characters that haven't been refreshed in a while, again, like this movie. I also like to see how different movies, like this, "Van Helsing," and "Blade: Trinity," utilize the character of Dracula. He's a character that has been around for ages, and he'll never die away. Stoker created a legacy that not even he could have dreamed of, with Dracula, and it's always awesome to see him utilized. He's kind of like the James Bond of the undead, the way I look at it. Anyway, it's always fun to see new stories in the realm of Vampires, and this one is DEFINITELY NOT an exception to that one. I also like to see what different things people will do to vampires (Although Stephenie Meyer's sparkling vampires, while an interesting concept, was not one of my favorite vampire ideas), and what kind of different powers people give to them. Anne Rice, my favorite author, is one who did this exceptionally well with her series of books, "The Vampire Chronicles," which spawned the legendary vampire, Lestat, as well as two of my all time favorite movies, "Interview with the Vampire" and "Queen of the Damned." She gave her vampires super-strength, speed, sight, smell, super everything, and gave it the concept of gaining more and more power over time, as well as transferring power through blood. That's always been one of my favorite things that have been done to Vampires. If Bram Stoker is the King of Vampires, then by God, I picture Anne Rice to be the Queen. Anyhow, I digress. This one really doesn't offer anything new to the vampire mythos, but it does give Dracula telekenesis, which I don't recall ever having seen in any of the Dracula adaptations that I've watched. I also think he became invisible, or something along those lines, in a scene in this movie, too, which is DEFINITELY pretty awesome. This storyline is fun, and as a prequel of sorts, I REALLY enjoyed it a lot. A young Irishman, whose desperately in love, is forbidden by the woman's father to see her for an entire year. If he still has love for the woman, he can return. However, as the woman runs away from her father, she is kidnapped by a mysterious count. Now the woman's father must find this count and kill him, as well as her young lover. However, the count is not as easy an opponent as they had originall thought. It's a very good storyline. Simple for the most part, and pretty easy to follow, though distinguishing the words at points can be a bit bothersome. Such heavy accents always do that for me. At any rate it does a pretty good job of keeping your attention throughout the entire movie, and while a couple parts may drag here and there, for the most part, it's a pretty intense movie. DEFINITELY a great job with the Storyline of this movie, and creating an acceptible prequel to Bram Stokers legendary "Dracula."

Bram Stoker (Played by Wes Ramsey of "Brotherhood of Blood") is a young Irishman with a big heart. The movie starts out with a scene from later on in the movie, of Bram finding his lover, Elizabeth's (Played by Kelsey McCann of "Dead Noon") prison, and him learning that Dracula has planted his seed in her. However, it then goes back to a few weeks before this scene, and Bram and his best friend, Malcolm (Played by Ryan Christiansen of "Portrait of a Couple"), are heading out to the beach to practice fencing, and we see that Bram is the better fencer, and that Malcolm is intent to beat him. However, as they fight, it's made sure that Bram is still the better. However, Malcolm makes a comment about how Elizabeth would not like such an ungentlemanly man as a boyfriend, and it sends Bram overboard. They begin to go at each other very vehemently, and then begin to fight with their fists. That's when Elizabeth shows up and stops the fight. We then cut to the next day, as Bram is at work with his boss. His boss informs him of a client who is from a far off land called Transylvania, and who is looking to buy some land in the vicinity. However, this strange man is looking for a place that has very few windows, and a high, iron gate. Basically a castle, Bram asks. His boss laughs and says that that is so, and they are joined by a third voice. They find this voice to be the client that Bram's boss was discussing, Dracula (Played by Andrew Bryniarski of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)"). They talk with him, and Bram's boss informs him that they have yet to find a place that meet the exact specifications of Dracula's needs. Dracula interrupts them, and thanks them for their kind British manners, but in his land, he is a Count, and would prefer, instead, to be called Count Dracula, instead of Mr. Dracula. They immediately apologize, and say that of course they will call him that. He begins to leave, and he says that if they should find a place that meet his exact specifications, then to draw up the papers for the place immediately. However Bram interrupts the Count, and says that there is a place on a street near where they are that meets his expectations exactly. The only problem is the fact that it is already under someone's ownership, and this someone has owned the place for many generations. Dracula says that should they manage to convince this someone to sell their property, then he would pay them DOUBLE their normal commission. Bram's boss says that if luck be on their side, and they manage to sell Dracula the place, then they'd be more than happy to make Bram a partner, and solidify his standing in the Real Estate firm. Bram is ecstatic. Bram finds out the next day, though, that the people who owned the property that he was going to sell, died that very night of natural causes, and that he had managed to procure the rights to the building. He celebrates this news with Elizabeth and her family as they enjoy a picnic. However, we see Elizabeth's father, Admiral Murray (Played by Dan Speaker of "Bloodbath") go aside and talk with a man named Mr. Quartermain (Played by Thomas Garner of "The Curse of the Black Dahlia"). Admiral Murray tells Mr. Quartermain that he doesn't think Bram Stoker is a proper man for his daughter, Elizabeth, and that their constant lusting at each other is dispicable. He looks over at Bram and Elizabeth, seeing that Bram has his arm around his daughter, and scoffs at how disturbing of a gesture that is for the public, and Mr. Quartermain, clearly kissing up to Admiral Murray, agrees right away. Mr. Quartermain is about to say something further, when he stops and announces to Admiral Murray that Bram is on his way over. Bram goes to Admiral Murray, and greets him, rather shakily, and says that he's got something to ask Admiral Murray. Admiral Murray listens as Bram tries to get the right words across so that he can gain the grace of the Admiral so that he can marry Elizabeth, however, Admiral Murray interrupts him, saying that he doesn't think they're ready to be married just yet. Elizabeth, who had been eavesdropping very eagerly, is aghast at this, and berrates her father for saying such a thing. She is furious with him, but nothing amounts to her anger when she finds out what her father has to say. He tells them that if they can stay away from each other for an entire year, meaning that Bram is not to visit his daughter for an entire year, and come back to eachother, displaying the same affection for each other, then they will allow him to marry. Elizabeth says that she is a grown woman and he cannot control her in such ways, but the Admiral stands firm. Bram agress, knowing that his love for Elizabeth is real. He goes off, and stays in an old house that his father used to stay in. He plans to wait out the entire year in solitude and peace here in this house, with the maid, Mrs. Witham (Played by Amy Lyndon of "Slight of Life"), who is rather loud and strange, but overall a nice lady. Elizabeth, sick of her father's hand, runs away and tries to board a train, though she has no money. However, the guard will not let her on. That's when a strange man knocks the guard aside, and offers his own carriage to her. She agrees, and goes with this man. She finds out that this man's name is Count Dracula, and that he is nice. They talk for a while, and then he uses his powers to put her asleep. We then find out that Admiral Murray, Elizabeth's father, has found out that Dracula has her, and that things are going way out of control. We also know that the Admiral knows what is going on, and what Dracula really is. We also see that he's part of a group of hunters, which also includes Bram's boss. Bram one morning, takes a walk, and when he returns, he finds his best friend, Malcolm, hanging from a noose. A suicide attempt. Mrs. Witham tells Bram that Malcolm was there to inform him that Elizabeth had been kidnapped by a Count Dracula. Now Bram is furious, and heads immediately to Dracula's castle where he knows Dracula has Elizabeth. Elizabeth, in the meantime, finds her self, against her will, at Dracula's castle. He then proceeds to lock her into a dungeon, and rape her. Bram finds himself in a strange part of France, that still seems to think the Revolution is at hand, as he hurrys to save Elizabeth, and gain her back. All of the actors do a great job in this movie, and really get their parts down VERY well. They manage their character's issues, problems, worries, fears, emotions, and worries VERY well, and really nail them. My only issue was with Wes Ramsey, whom hasn't really done anything that I haven't cared for yet, being in "Charmed" for a few episodes, and playing in "Brotherhood of Blood," but his Irish Accent, which I could tell in places was forced, drove me insane. They DEFINITELY, for the most part, manage their parts REALLY well, and get them down EXCELLENTLY. They all DEFINITELY great casting choices for this movie.

All in all, this was a pretty good movie. It's not the best Dracula movie out there, but it definitely is a good one, and one that you should give a chance. It's always fun to see the different types of Vampire Movies out there, as well as the different types of ways that people utilize Dracula in their stories. This one does a pretty good job of both of those, creating a fresh story for Dracula, and using it as a prequel to Bram Stoker's "Dracula," of sorts. The Director of this film does a pretty decent job with the movie. While I didn't care at all for the style of filming that he chose because it made it feel more like a homemade movie, rather than a professionally done movie, I did enjoy the different angles and filters that he used in the movie, which, in some parts, might not have worked that great, but for the most part, worked VERY well, and really added a feeling of eeriness and spookiness to the movie that really worked VERY well for it. DEFINITELY a pretty good job by the Director of this movie. The Writer of this movie is the same as the Director, and with the Storyline, he does an excellent job. Creating a new Vampire Story, as well as a new way of utilizing Bram Stoker's classic Dracula. He DEFINITELY knew what he was doing with this movie. DEFINITELY a great job with the Writing of this movie. The visuals of this movie, for the most part, are excellent, and really do well for this movie. From creating a suave and sophisticated, Gary Oldman-esque Dracula for the movie, to creating an awesome, church-like castle for Dracula, to using creepy angles for different scenes, the people in charge of the visuals in this movie DEFINITELY knew what they were doing. DEFINITELY a great job on the Writing of this movie. The Storyline of this movie, which I've already touched on a bit, was DEFINITELY done VERY well. Like I said, they created an excellent story for Dracula, and made an acceptable prequel for Bram Stoker's Dracula. The characters in it were pretty awesome, too, and it does a good job of kind of giving a reason and story for Bram Stoker to write "Dracula." That's DEFINITELY AWESOME in my book. DEFINITELY a great job with the Storyline of this movie. The acting rounds everything about this movie together, and for the most part, does it very nicely. All of the actors and actresses in this movie deliver performances that are VERY Convincing, VERY Believable, and VERY Realistic, aside from Wes Ramsey's fake accent, and they make these characters ones that, for the most part, you can REALLY feel for, although I'm not really sure that you could RELATE TO any of them very well. DEFINITELY a great job on the acting and casting choices for this movie. So if you're looking for an interesting and pretty good Vampire Movie, as well as one that does a good job of Utilizing Dracula in a new storyline, then this is DEFINITELY the movie for you. If you're into Vampire Movies, or just Dracula, and want to watch something good, then I DEFINITELY recommend this movie to you. It may not be the best movie out there, but it's worth a watch. I wouldn't say to go out and buy it right now, but you should DEFINITELY go out and rent it sometime. Who knows? You may not get disappointed with it. I know I didn't!!!!!

I'm not really a Special Features kind of guy, so I don't really think that much of them or watch them at all. I'll just list them here so you know what's on this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest." They are as follows:

-Director's Commentary
-Stills Gallery
-Trailers
-16x9 Widescreen
-5.1 Surround Audio
-2.0 Stereo Audio
-Closed Captioning
-Spanish Subtitles

There's not a lot of Special Features on this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest," but since it's not the greatest movie ever, or one of them at least, then I don't really think anyone will care that much. Since I'm not really into Special Features, I don't really care at all, but that's just me. So if you're looking for a version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" that has a few Decent Special Features, then this is DEFINITELY the version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" for you to get your hands on!!!!!

So if you're looking for a GREAT version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest," a movie that isn't perfect, but is still pretty good, then this is DEFINITELY the version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" for you to get your hands on!!!!! The Special Features on this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" may not be that many, but for a movie like this one, that isn't near perfect, but close to excellent, it doesn't really matter. So if you're looking for a version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" that has a lot of different Special Features then you'll have to settle for this one because it's the ONLY version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" that there is available to buy. Not very many Special Features, but that is not really a problem for this film. DEFINITELY a GREAT job on the Special Features of this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest." The Picture Quality on this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" is Digitally Remastered PERFECTLY, making for an OPTIMAL Viewing Experience. The Picture Quality isn't too DARK, and nor is it to BRIGHT, but it is JUST RIGHT. DEFINITELY a GREAT job with the Picture Quality on this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest." The Sound Quality on this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" was Digitally Remastered PERFECTLY, and makes for an OPTIMAL Hearing Experience to go along with the OPTIMAL Viewing Experience. The Sound Quality isn't too LOUD, and nor is it too SOFT, but it is JUST RIGHT. DEFINITELY a GREAT job on the Sound Quality for this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest." The Packaging on this version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" was done SPECTACULARLY, and will MOST DEFINITELY sell to someone who has never even HEARD of the film before, let alone even SEEN IT before. Not ONLY will it SELL to someone whose never even HEARD of the film before, let alone even SEEN IT before, but it will ALSO look EXCELLENT on your DVD Shelves with all of the Other DVDs in your DVD Collection. DEFINITELY a great job on the Packaging of this movie. So if you're looking for a version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" that doesn't really have a lot of Special Features, but what it DOES have are Pretty Good, but has Great Picture Quality, Awesome Sound Quality, and Great Packaging, then this is DEFINITELY the version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest" for you to get your hands on!!!!! So trust me on this one, and give it a try. I'm not telling you to go out and buy it right away, but I AM telling you that you should AT LEAST rent it and give it a try because it's actually pretty good. If you're a fan of Vampire Movies, Dracula Movies, or just even Horror Movies, then you'll probably like this one a lot. It's not the BEST movie out there, but it's DEFINITELY worth a watch. So trust me on this one, and give it a try. You might not even get disappointed by it. I know I didn't!!!!!