THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER

Dracula!

THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER (2023). Director: Andre Ovredal.

Taking its cue from references in Bram Stoker's classic novel "Dracula," Demeter examines what happens on that ship when Dracula, inside a box filled with Transylvanian dirt, is transported to London, feeding on the crew all the while. This is certainly a neat idea for a movie, but the execution is something else again. What could have worked as a 30 or 60 minute TV show is stretched out to two hours, and the movie is s l o w www. 

Corey Hawkins

This is unfortunate, as Last Voyage of the Demeter boasts impressive scenic design and some excellent performances, especially from lead Corey Hawkins as the black ship's doctor (no, this character does not appear in Stoker's novel), Liam Cunningham as the captain planning on retirement, and little Woody Norman as the ill-fated cabin boy, Toby, although the entire cast is effective. Dracula himself is depicted in his half-human, half-bat stage with wings and grinning maw. He shows up way too late in the game. The film is on occasion illogical and often underlit. The closing theme music by Bear McCreary has the energy that is completely lacking from the movie itself. 

Verdict: Good idea pretty much frittered away. **1/2. 

DRACULA (2006)

 

DRACULA (2006). Director: Bill Eagles. Presented on Masterpiece Theatre.

Although this adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel takes a great many liberties, it is still a very well-done and entertaining version of the classic story. In this a Lord Holmwood (Dan Stevens) is engaged to Lucy Westenra (Sophia Myles) when he discovers that he was born with syphilis due to his infected parents. His far-fetched, if intriguing (and never really fully explained) solution is to bring Dracula to England from Transylvania because he believes the evil being can somehow cure his infected blood. Dracula, of course, has other ideas. 

In this generally fast-moving, somewhat sexed-up version of the story (see photo), Marc Warren makes an interesting alternative Dracula (very different from both Lugosi and Christopher Lee, and younger than either), while Dan Stevens and Stephanie Leonidas (as Mina Murray) play with great passion and conviction. Rafe Spall and Tom Burke also score as, respectively, Jonathan Harker (it is he who embarks on the journey to Dracula's castle) and Dr. John Seward, a friend of Holmwood's and Lucy's. David Suchet, who brilliantly played Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, offers another of his incisive characterizations as Abraham Van Helsing. While the definitive version of Stoker's novel has never been made, this is -- as heretical as it sounds -- much more entertaining that the Lugosi version. 

Verdict: Very creditable. ***.