PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000 is a nostalgic film for me. Sure, it’s not exactly the best acting, but not exactly the worst. And maybe not exactly the best vampire, but not exactly the worst, either. It is the light, fun sexiness to the movie that creates that nostalgic feeling.
Dracula 2000 takes place in modern times in New Orleans, Louisiana, and begins with a really cool museum heist scene involving a 1990s cast to be reckoned with which includes Danny Masterson (That 70s Show), Johnny Lee Miller (Trainspotting 1996), Omar Epps (Scream 2 1997), Sean Patrick Thomas (Halloween: Resurrection 1997), and finally, ’90s singer Vitamin C, who we remember fondly with the musical hit, “Graduation (Friends Forever),” which was released in 1999. If you are old enough to remember the 1990s and some of the amazingly (good) cheese it brought us horror movie wise, Dracula 2000 is a movie for you.
Gerard Butler (300 2006) stars as the long stowed away Dracula, who was entombed by Van Helsing, played by Christopher Plummer (The Lake House 2006). A group of thieves break into the museum where Dracula’s coffin has been kept hidden. Thinking there are valuables in the there, they steal it and try to take it home with them on a jet. Not the best idea. Dracula is suddenly reborn and hungrier than ever.
Creating an army of vampires to help him in his cause, he is determined to find his love, Mary Heller-Van Helsing, played by Justine Waddell (Killing Bono 2011). Mary has been dreaming about a mysterious man for a long time. Unbeknownst to her, that man is Dracula, the monster her grandfather is determined to destroy. Dracula 2000 is a bit of 1990s goodness mixed with classic tales of the vampire and his love.
Released on December 22, 2000, the movie opened to negative reviews and disappointing box office numbers. However, the film did very well when it was released to video. The soundtrack is highly celebrated and includes music by Powerman 5000, Linkin Park and Monster Magnet.
Dracula 2000 was filmed by Patrick Lussier who directed My Bloody Valentine 3D in 2009 (read our retro review here), and also edited and directed episodes of Scream and The Purge. In fact, he has a long history of editing horror including the Scream film series, Wes Cravens’ New Nightmare (1994 – read our retro review here) and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998 – read our retro review here). Dracula 2000 actually fits nicely in with these other 1990s classics.
All in allm if you are looking for a light, fun vampire movie, I would recommend Dracula 2000. If you are more in the mood for one for the serious and dramatic tone of classic vampire movies such as Nosferatu or Interview With The Vampire, you may want to steer clear. On it’s 20th birthday, however, Dracula 2000 may be worth picking up for a quick jaunt down 1990s memory lane.
