BBC Dracula: a Vampiric Catastrophe

In a very ironic twist Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat created a perfect vampiric interpretation of Dracula. They lure you with beauty, fear and soft eroticism. That is before they drain all your blood and leave your dying body crying on the floor. Your dying breath will be paired with the question of the entrancement was even worth it all.

Let it be clear: the new show Dracula, produced by BBC and Netflix, is an absolute must-watch. Even if it is only to see how drastically a show can be ruined in just three episodes. Not only does showcase all of the weak spots of the Sherlock creators; it also managed to figure out how to fall from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. It is fascinating how truly bad it is.

The first episode is a testament to how good the show could have been. Gatiss and Moffat keep the setting close to the original novel, but are able to put their own twist to it. The dialogue is witty. The cinematographers and make-up department create stunning visuals together. The characters are likable and all acted with a charming, British style.

Especially Claes Bang, who plays Dracula, turns in an enthralling performance. His Dracula is bad to the bone, while remaining devilishly sexy. It is without a doubt that the creators drew inspiration from NBC’s Hannibal in the retelling of their own serial killer tale. Expect wicked charm and tongue in cheek comments such as: “You do look rather… drained.”

Hannibal is not the only reference used. It is clear that Gatiss and Moffat did their homework when creating their show. Movie-buffs will be rewarded with winks to vampire movie history. Jonathan Harker, played by John Heffernan, is a modern Nosferatu. One can find shot recreations of 1931’s Dracula. And the ironic, sometimes meta-humor is pretty close to What We Do In The Shadows. It even captures the sexual tension of Interview With The Vampire.

It, then, is sad that the creators drew inspiration from Twilight for the big finale. The vampire trilogy is not loved by a big audience, and the romantic plot does not suit the tone of Dracula. While the second episode is not as marvelous as the first, things only really go wrong when the last twist is revealed. When your reaction to the twist is “oh, no…”: get out now. Because after that the show takes a turn for the worse.

The third episode show decides to portray a sappy love story. This comes basically out of nowhere and the framing of the show does nothing to save it. Everything that made the start so amazing is now staked through the heart and buried underground. If you actually like the ending, you should watch The Fountain instead which tells the same story, but better executed.

But, yes. You should watch BBC Dracula. Just be aware it will leave you drained and lifeless.

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published on studentenkrant