Yet another vampire film featuring the greatest of them all himself. Dracula.

I personally love what they did with this film. Not only does it introduce a fantastic new ideology on how Dracula was truly made, but it also finally explores something most vampire films featuring his name neglect: who created him? Other adaptations tend to gloss over this, leaving his origins a mystery. But Dracula Untold gives us an answer.

The film wastes no time throwing you into its world, opening with intense scenes of death and war. It tells the backstory of a man who will soon call himself Dracula. Before he was a creature of the night, he was a prince. Then, by choice, he became the “monster” he needed to be in order to save his people and his family—though in the end, he failed. Well, mostly failed. He saved at least one.

The vampires in this film aren’t your standard Hollywood bloodsuckers. Forget the Twilight nonsense—these are the real deal. A fresh addition to their lore is their ability to transform into bats, using this form to travel unknown distances and even fight. One particularly stunning moment is when Dracula commands an entire swarm, forming the shape of a massive fist and striking down his enemies.

Visually, Dracula Untold is breathtaking. One of the most powerful scenes is when he tries to save his wife from falling to her death but isn’t quite fast enough. The cinematography in that moment—angled shots, third-person perspectives from behind him—perfectly captures his emotions: rage, regret, sorrow. That scene alone was a masterpiece.

Now, let’s talk about the son.

Honestly, he barely felt relevant for most of the movie—until, suddenly, he became the most important person in history. While Dracula Untold is obviously about Dracula, the film also brings his family into the equation. His wife gets a fair amount of focus as a supporting character, but the son’s role is… questionable. Sure, there are touching family moments, moral discussions, and dramatic hugs, but overall, his character mainly serves to keep two different plotlines alive: Vlad (Luke Evans) becoming a vampire to protect his people, only for them to turn on him in the end because he was a “monster.” His wife is the only one who prevents him from completely losing himself.

Then comes the betrayal.

Mehmed (Dominic Cooper), Vlad’s former mentor and the Sultan, tricks him in one of the most frustrating plot twists. Somehow, his army manages to enter the monastery completely undetected—walking through halls, up stairs, and into rooms without a single alarm being raised. It makes no sense. And once inside, they slaughter almost everyone, including Dracula’s wife. You could argue about who’s to blame, but regardless, the loss devastates him. In his grief, he does the unthinkable—he feeds on his wife. And once you watch the film, you’ll understand why.

With nothing left to lose, he turns his followers into vampires, creating a small army to exact revenge. But once again, he is betrayed.

Dracula wipes out everyone, including himself (excluding his son). He tries to end things before more destruction unfolds, but as we all know—Dracula never truly dies.

The rest? Well, only modern times can tell. Literally.

If you enjoy real vampires, epic battles, medieval settings, and a story that blends mythology with fresh ideas, give Dracula Untold a watch!