Review by Jon Donnis
Luc Besson's Dracula: A Love Tale is an ambitious, visually rich reworking of familiar gothic territory, leaning far more into romance than outright horror. Framed as a tragic love story that stretches across centuries, it opens with Prince Vladimir of Wallachia renouncing God after the death of his wife Elisabeta during battle. From the outset, the film commits fully to this idea. Dracula is not simply a monster, but a man hollowed out by grief, sustained by obsession, and driven by the hope of finding his lost love reborn.
That emotional through line is easily the film's greatest strength. Caleb Landry Jones delivers a committed and often mesmerising performance as Dracula, presenting him as an anti hero rather than a traditional villain. There is genuine sympathy for him, even as the film embraces gore, bloodshed, and moments of graphic horror. These elements are not included purely for shock. They exist to underline the tragedy of a man who has damned himself for love. The balance between romance and horror is handled better than expected, and the result feels more melancholic than terrifying.
Visually, the film is consistently impressive. The sets, costumes, and cinematography are lavish and meticulously crafted, whether we are in the shadowed halls of Dracula's castle or the bustling streets of revolutionary Paris. The makeup effects are top tier, with detailed prosthetics, striking bloodwork, and even decapitations rendered with confidence. Danny Elfman's score ties everything together beautifully, reinforcing the sense of doomed romance and elevating key emotional beats without overpowering them.
Zoë Bleu brings a quiet vulnerability to both Elisabeta and Mina, helping sell the idea of a love that transcends time. Matilda De Angelis is a compelling presence as Maria, one of Dracula's vampiric followers, while Christoph Waltz provides gravitas as the priest who confronts Dracula with the possibility of repentance and eternal damnation. The final act, lands with surprising emotional weight and feels true to the film's central themes.
The film's biggest weakness is its length. At over two hours, it often feels indulgent, with pacing issues that slow the momentum, particularly in the middle section. A tighter edit would have strengthened the overall impact. There is also some doubt over the casting of Landry Jones. While his performance is intense and memorable, he lacks the physical presence traditionally associated with Dracula. At times, his slightly weedy appearance undermines the character's mythic stature, even if his emotional depth goes a long way toward compensating.
Despite these flaws, Dracula: A Love Tale was a genuine surprise. The balance between horror and romance largely works, the story is emotionally grounded, and the cinematography, makeup, and visual effects are of the highest quality. It may not be a cinematic milestone, but it is a bold, heartfelt reinterpretation of an immortal story, one that lingers longer than expected.
I would score Dracula: A Love Tale a solid 8.5 out of 10.
Coming to Cinemas in February 2026
