Film Review with Edmund Bleakley
DRACULA: VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER
Rating:MA 15+
Run Time:approx 118 minutes
Genre:Horror
Key Cast:Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, David Dastmalchian
Director:André Øvredal
‘Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter’, directed by André Øvredal is dark horror re-envisioning of the Dracula story.
The film is an adaptation of the chapter ‘Captain’s Log’ from Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel. It is told entirely through a flashback presenting the outcome of the journey taken by the Demeter before going back to tell the main story as the crew carry an unusual cargo and attempt to get to London, fighting the rough seas and other less natural challenges along the way.
Director, André Øvredal has once again delivered an absolute treat for horror fans after giving us 2019s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, a film that saw incredible success and opened at number 2 behind Hobbs and Shaw (of the Fast and Furious franchise). Øvredal‘s use of shots and sound makes him perfect for the genre, ensuring that you are at the end of your seat, engaged with the horror adventure on screen.
The film stars the best actors of genre film and television of the last 15 years. This includes Liam Cunningham who has appeared in Rick and Morty, Doctor Who and most notably, Game of Thrones. Starring alongside him is Stefan Kapičić from the Deadpool films and David Dastmalchian from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, all 3 of the Ant-Man films and his stint as Abra Kadabra on the CW television series The Flash. This film however shows a more grounded and serious side of Dastmalchian’s acting capabilities. A stand out of the movie was Corey Hawkins. Hawkins’ character Clemens acts as the emotional hook in this story through his rich backstory and his kind and friendly relationship with all those on board the Demeter. Dracula himself is played by Javier Botet who portrays the most horrific version of the character that will have you jumping out of your seat.
If you are a fan of truly dark horror with well developed characters, fantastic use of cinema techniques and a stand out monster then this film is for you. It truly provides all a horror fan could ask for and more.
