Picking the best Dracula movie is a no-win situation for any horror fan, let alone Dracula fan. Luckily the Dracula Trilogy video game is here to help. Why? Because we do have the Dracula trilogy on sale here at IndieGala. And luckily for you, we have plenty of other Dracula related games as well. So you can pick and choose the best for you. However, a quick warning is in order. The Dracula trilogy sale is ending very soon, so you’d berry hurry up. The incredible deal is nearing its end. But before I transfer to the movie portion of this post I must reflect on the games as well.
Dracula Trilogy: What’s In The Trilogy?
Developed by Anuman, Microids and published solely by Microids, the Dracula Trilogy is a trifecta of scary retro goodness. Especially for the true fans of probably the greatest villain of all time. And which are the three games that are in the trilogy? Firstly there’s Dracula: The Resurrection, the 1999 graphic adventure game. Secondly, there’s Dracula 2: The Last Sanctuary, which was published the next year. And last but not least, there’s Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon, published in 2008.
Seriously, don’t miss out and an incredible deal. If you’re a fan of Dracula, then this is an offer just for you.
Dracula Trilogy: Who Is Dracula Anyway?
I just couldn’t help but notice that while most of us are familiar with the character, not that many are familiar with the origins of Dracula. Who is Dracula and what’s the history behind him? As you may know, Dracula was first mentioned in the 1897 Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. Moreover, he was introduced as Count Dracula, and the book chronicled his attempt to move from Transylvania to England.
However, the book also introduced the other iconic but supporting characters as well. Abraham Van Helsing, Mina and Jonathan Harker, Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris. Many historians will tell you that the inspiration for the character of Dracula comes from Transylvanian-born Vlad III Dracula. He was ruthless and it’s said to have killed from 40,000 to 100,000 European civilians, mostly through impaling. Hence his nickname, “Vlad the Impaler”.
Dracula Trilogy: It’s Not Easy Picking The Best Movie
Which is why I’m not even going to attempt to do that. I couldn’t. It’s way too hard since I have a weird but diverse taste in movies. Starting with Nosferatu from the early ’20s. Then there are the Christopher Lee’s Hammer Horror series. And of course Dracula: Dead and Loving It from the ’90s. Indeed. I will forever be a Mel Brooks fan and this is a masterpiece in my book. I dare you to say otherwise. Which is why I’m going to cheat here in this post and present the best Dracula movies according to the IMDB ranking. Not my ranking. A rather different ranking. So, without further ado…
5. Bram Stoker’s Dracula
IMDB ranking: (7.4)
Gary Oldman is in the titular role here and may I just say wow. I mean, the man is incredible in pretty much everything, but here he (and granted Anthony Hopkins) saved the movie. Especially if you remember how bad Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder’s acting is in this movie. Oh, and there’s a slight chance that Keanu and Winona got really married in the re-shoot of the wedding scene. Indeed. They used real priests and everything. And according to the director Francis Ford Coppola, Keanu still (to this day) gets text messages from Winona with Hello Husband. And apparently, they’re fine with it. Cool right?
4. Nosferatu The Vampyre
IMDB: (7.5)
Written and directed by the one and only Werner Herzog, Nosferatu The Vampyre is incredible. It’s also a movie with two different versions of the film. One in English and one in German. However, Herzog’s long-time collaborator Klaus Kinski is in the role of Dracula and he’s good. Really good. Isabelle Adjani and Bruno Ganz are in the supporting roles, and to this day, still holds a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. But did you know that The whole crew comprised 16 people? Yes, twice as many as Werner Herzog had when he shot Aguirre, the Wrath of God. And the director famously said that the rats in the movie behaved better than Kinski. Ouch.
3. Count Dracula
IMDB: (7.5)
This is a TV BBC movie, but it’s good nonetheless. As a result of the very long runtime (155 minutes), Count Dracula was split into a mini-series format (three separate episodes). However, the movie is also noted for being one of the most fateful adaptations of the book. Not to mention it has incredible acting from Louis Jourdan and Frank Finlay. But, here’s a fun fact about authenticity. The opening scenes in Transylvania are in some cases verbatim from the novel Dracula. Including nearly the entire arrival scene of Harker at Dracula’s castle. Fascinating, don’t you think?
2. Dracula
IMDB: (7.5)
If you thought that Gary Oldman was great in the role of Dracula, think again. I mean does it get better than Bela Lugosi in the iconic 1931 movie? I think not. Moreover, Dracula is the first sound film adaptation of the Stoker novel and probably one of the best. Not to mention, Lugosi’s portrayal of Dracula established the character as a cultural icon. However, if you notice, Dracula never once blinks his eyes. It’s a small detail, but it enhances the undead character’s otherworldly aura nicely. Also, Thanks to Bela Lugosi, Universal acquired the film rights to “Dracula” from Bram Stoker’s widow (and the play’s writer Hamilton Deane) for $40,000. That’s right, before staring as Dracula, Bela was an unpaid intermediary in the studio, and he negotiated with the author’s widow.
1 Nosferatu
IMDB: (7.9)
This is the oldest movie on this list, but also the most highly regarded. It’s also the only silent film, but not the shortest. The 1931 Dracula movie holds that title. If you notice, plenty of the names in the movie are changed. You know, since the book was still subject to copyright laws. For instance, the Count Dracula is Count Orlok here, and you know which movie is a remake of Nosferatu? Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu the Vampyre. And if you remember, Willem Defoe famously played Max Schreck in the 2000 movie Shadow of the Vampire. In fact, the part of Max Schreck was written specifically for Willem Dafoe. And unlike the previous movie, where Dracula didn’t blink once, Count Orlok is only seen blinking once on the screen. Near the end of act one.
Your Picks For The Best Dracula Movie
Which is your pick for the best Dracula movie? Which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comment section. We’d love to know all about it.
