Vlad (2004)

Michael D. Sellers, a former CIA agent, makes his directorial debut with Vlad, the latest vampire flick to focus on the true origins of Dracula (aka, Vlad Tepes Drakul). Since vampires are my favorite supernatural characters, I always have pretty high standards when it comes to these kinds of horror films. When Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula aired on television in 2000, I was really looking forward to it - after about a half an hour, those hopes were dashed and I changed the channel. It's not easy to straddle the line between history and horror. Coppola did it beautifully in 1992 with his Dracula film, but that movie is getting pretty long in the tooth now. We certainly can't expect the likes of Coppola or Neil Jordan every time a bloodsucker hits the big screen, but it's nice to have some good fresh blood every few years. When I learned about Vlad, an independent film produced by and starring folks I've pretty much never heard of, I wasn't exactly letting my expectations soar. (Actually, I have heard of a few of the stars (Billy Zane, Brad Dourif in a cameo) - but the cast is comprised largely of unknowns.)

When a group of American post graduate students (Paul Popowich as Jeff, Nicholas Irons as Justin, and Kam Heskin as Alexa) travels to the Carpathian mountains of Romania to research and study the local legend, they find much more than their grades at stake. They are joined in their quest by another student, a Romanian named Linsey (Monica Davidescu) who just happens to own a cursed necklace stolen from the skeletal corpse of Vlad Tepes; and Adrian (Billy Zane), a guide from the University who has his own motivations for taking the group out of the city. Once the group is in the deep, dark forest, the lure of the necklace draws two people from the past into the present: Vlad's favorite victim, Ilona (Iva Hasperger) and the vampire prince himself (played by Francesco Quinn, son of Anthony Quinn).

Unfortunately Vlad suffers from some rather arch dialogue, uneven pacing, and rather apathetic cinematography. The film definitely would have benefited greatly from more dynamic shots and better masters. DP Viorel Sergovic rarely shot deep into the sets, and he seldom worked with the natural beauty of the Carpathian mountains and forests. As a result, the film comes off looking more like a TV movie than a cinematic event.

That said, Vlad has enough other things going for it to overcome its limitations. The story is engrossing (with lots of plotlines intersecting - including an age-old curse, time travel, romance, and a present-day Vlad-worshipping cult); the actors do an admirable job in making their characters stand out (particularly Hasperger, who is handicapped by being able to speak only in Middle English; and Quinn as a menacing, commanding Dracula); the sparing use of CGI is quite effective; and the horror aspects are dark and hard-hitting without being gratuitous.

There's been a dry spell for fans of vampires (zombies seem to be reigning supreme in the horror arena lately), so if you're looking for a new Dracula movie that doesn't suck, you just might want to give Vlad a try. Mind you, Vlad is probably not destined to be a classic, but it's a lot better than most of the vampire flicks that come down the pike. It's only out in limited release now, but it should find its way to video stores within a few months.