Emerald Fennell is an absolute savage for releasing Wuthering Heights the day before Valentine’s Day. Does she not realize how disappointed all our valentines are going to be with us after they watch Jacob Elordi make out with Margot Robbie for two hours? Unbelievable.
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Dracula: A Love Tale
Watchlist Worthy: an 80’s icon drops the bowl cut
ICYMI Red Cap Essay: Ritual and Remarkable
This week’s movie - Dracula: A Love Tale
Letterboxd Description:
He renounced his faith to become immortal. Passion, anger, vengeance, and hatred will be unleashed into the modern world.
When a 15th-century prince’s wife is brutally murdered, he renounces God and damns heaven itself. Cursed with eternal life, he is reborn as Dracula–an immortal warlord who defies fate in a blood-soaked crusade to wrench his lost love back from death.
Best Watched With
a goblet of wine, or grape juice, in the comfort of your home.
End Credit Thoughts
The latest visualization of Bram Stoker’s Dracula is more of a rendition than an adaptation. Reading the book and knowing the world of Dracula would be helpful, but not necessary. Though playing similar roles, some of the characters are completely swapped out for new ones. This rendition is a reimagined perspective from the romantic and yearning side of Prince Vladimir of Wallachia aka Dracula while attempting to remain in the horror and supernatural fantasy genre.
The production does well bringing a gothic, horror, romance aesthetic vibe with the costumes, set designs, and music. Briefly in the 1400s, we get the royal gowns and full suits of armor made to intimidate and vanquish opposing armies. Despite us not believing one would actually be able to see through the dragon shaped, large helmet, Prince Vlad did look pretty cool in battle. In the 1800s, where most of the movie takes place, the period is brought to life through decadent ballrooms, carnivals, and gorgeous imagery as Prince Vlad wanders the world seeking for his lost love. The reliance on cellos and violins for the score emphasized the goth romance, adding to the dark tones of the gothic era and heavy emotions that come from a longing, broken heart.
Caleb Landry Jones looks the part and fits right in to what we would imagine a 1400s Prince from Romania would look like. Rather than a completely vengeful and wrathful Dracula, Jones brings an broken and beaten human side to the isolated Vampire that is holding on to a sliver of hope after 400 years of waiting for the reincarnation of his wife Elizabeta played by Zoë Bleu. This version of Dracula is less haunting than previous ones, and it was not our favorite, but Jones portrayal is moving at times. A birdie on a par five on the local golf course.
Bleu is stunning, and her performances of two characters is distinguishable from each other. Christoph Waltz is always fun to watch on the big screen, and this remains true for his role as the Priest. But he is capable of more than an entertaining watch. Jones get the closest to giving a wowing performance, but it’s the production that is the star of this movie.
It was fun to see a hopeless romantic Dracula in a love story version of a long told story, but the tone of the movie shifts a little too much for the movie to feel completely cohesive. The movie includes comedic moments that border parody or satire, which did not mix well with the horror and fantasy for us. It even felt a little campy at times, but lacked commitment to weaving the genres together. Where this movie falls short in its genre, the visuals, music, and performances pick up the slack, making this a decent watch. And there are, surprisingly, a few banger, poetic lines delivered that stuck with us on the drive home.
We weren’t convinced this one is worth the price of admission, and our verdict is to wait to stream at home.
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Masters of the Universe by
Travis Knight
I remember Masters of the Universe mostly for He Man’s bangs and the meme content it generated. I don’t think I ever actually saw the show or the original movie, but this new looks fun. Despite the fact that Jared Leto is in it (basically the kiss of death for movies recently) I am hopeful this could be a fun action flick. Fun random fact: Travis Knight is Phil Knight’s (founder of Nike) son.
-NMD
Letterboxd Description:
Witness how he became He-Man.
After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia, where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Duncan/Man-At-Arms, and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Movies Directed by Travis Knight:
Bumblebee (2018)
Tune in next week for | Wuthering Heights
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