A re-imagining of the Dracula mythology, Gary Shore’s feature-film debut serves up an origins story for everybody’s favourite bloodsucker.
Luke Evans takes on the titular role and it would appear that long before he became a nightmarish ghoul, Drac was warrior- turned-family-man Vlad. He’s called time on his impaling days and lives life as a loving husband and father.
All good things must come to an end, though, especially when there’s a fantasyaction romp to be had. Dominic Cooper’s villainous Turkish sultan Mehmed is the fly in the ointment, demanding Vlad hand over a thousand boys – his son included – as soldiers for his army. In response, Vlad seeks out a vampiric creature played by a make-up-clad, scenery-chewing Charles Dance.
Blood is drunk, a pact is made and all hell breaks loose. Revolutionary it ain’t, but action fans with a taste for the Gothic will be sated. Evans fits the bill as the square-jawed swordsman and Dance is clearly having a ball.
Dracula Untold is a Film programme that first aired in 2014 and has been classified a 15 certificate.
