Luc Besson’s Dracula: A Love Tale is a bold, visually sumptuous reinvention of familiar gothic territory, placing romance at the forefront rather than pure horror. The story spans centuries, opening with Prince Vladimir of Wallachia renouncing God after the death of his wife Elisabeta in battle. From the first scene, the film commits to portraying Dracula not just as a monster, but as a man hollowed by grief, driven by obsession, and sustained by the hope of finding his lost love reborn.
The emotional heart of the film is its greatest strength. Caleb Landry Jones delivers a mesmerising, committed performance as Dracula, presenting him as an anti-hero rather than a conventional villain. Sympathy for him is clear, even amidst gore, bloodshed, and moments of graphic horror. These elements underline the tragedy of a man who has damned himself for love, and the balance between romance and horror is handled with unexpected finesse, producing a melancholic rather than terrifying tone.
Visually, the film is consistently stunning. The sets, costumes, and cinematography are lavish and precise, from the shadowed halls of Dracula’s castle to the bustling streets of revolutionary Paris. Makeup and prosthetics are detailed and striking, with bloodwork and decapitations rendered with confidence. Danny Elfman’s score weaves everything together, enhancing the sense of doomed romance while elevating key emotional moments without overwhelming them.
Zoë Bleu brings quiet vulnerability to both Elisabeta and Mina, making the idea of love transcending time believable. Matilda De Angelis is compelling as Maria, one of Dracula’s vampiric followers, and Christoph Waltz adds gravitas as the priest who confronts Dracula with the possibility of repentance and eternal damnation. The final act lands with genuine emotional weight and stays true to the film’s central themes.
The film’s main weaknesses lie in its length and occasional casting choices. At over two hours, the pacing slows in the middle, and a tighter edit would have sharpened its impact. Caleb Landry Jones’ performance is intense and memorable, yet his slightly slight physique at times undermines the mythic presence traditionally associated with Dracula, even if his emotional depth largely compensates.
Despite these flaws, Dracula: A Love Tale is a striking, heartfelt reinterpretation. The romance and horror balance works, the story remains emotionally grounded, and the visuals and effects are first-rate. It may not redefine the genre, but it is a bold take on an immortal story that lingers longer than expected.
I would give Dracula: A Love Tale an 8.5 out of 10.
Coming to Cinemas February 2026.
