When we saw the recent Nosferatu (2024) on Christmas Day, Deb was less impressed than I was and preferred 1992’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Over the weekend it popped up in one of our local cinemas and we gave it a big screen rewatch. I don’t think I’ve seen it since seeing it in theaters in 1992, but I prepared myself for Keanu’s unconvincing English accent and how the red leather armor worn by Count Dracula seemed so “stylized” it took me out of the story for that sequence of the movie. After this last viewing, Keanu’s accent wasn’t “that bad” and I’m amazed that I’d totally forgotten how the movie ended and the tragic Dracula-Mina/Elisabeta love story. 

I prefer Nosferatu’s dark tone and somewhat heavy message about the dangers of cultural limitations. In both movies the intended female victim proves to be stronger than the male heroes and more than a match for this undead creature. In all other versions of the story, Mina is a damsel in distress in need of rescuing and completely helpless to the charms of the devil and without her hero she would have ended up like sad foolish Lucy. Coppola does veer close to the horror movie trope that promiscuous teenagers/women usually end up dead and often in a most gruesome fashion. 

It’s a bit unfair comparing this year’s Nosferatu with Coppola’s Dracula. Filmmaking has changed quite a bit in the last 30-years. I find it interesting that if Coppola had gotten his way, much of his movie would have used a shadow-puppet background similar to what was used in the opening red war sequence instead of the very brightly lit Hollywood sets that were used. It might have worked, but it also might have made it feel too much like a stage play. Personally I prefer the very dark, more naturalistic backgrounds and sets used in the newer film. Both films are products of their time and reflect the messages of their eras (though I still feel like Coppola’s was more “Hollywood” and less subversive than the newer Nosferatu). I did enjoy the rabbit hole of videos about Coppola’s Dracula that I got a chance to view in the course of writing this reflection. Enjoy and remember:

“I have crossed oceans of time to find you.”

[Movie was viewed on 2025-02-02 at Cinemark Suncoast with Deb]

Bonus video: More of a behind the scenes telling of making Bram Stoker’s Dracula:

Sources:

Tags: 1990s movies, bram stokers Dracula, Francis Ford Coppola, Nosferatu, Video Wednesdays

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