Dracula Untold (2014) directed by Gary Shore
In an unexpected blend of historical fiction and action horror, this picture reformulates the origin story of Dracula. The movie begins with the misery of the Walachia, Vlad the Impaler's country, which stands between the forces of the Ottoman Empire and the heart of Europe. The Ottomans have demanded tribute from Walachia, including children to serve as hostages and in their army. Vlad was one such child many years ago. He returned home as an adult after gaining a reputation as a ruthless killer. He has settled into a domestic life with a wife (Sarah Gadon) and child (Art Parkinson). Ottoman ruler Mehmed (Dominic Cooper) sends a delegation on Easter to collect the financial tribute and also a thousand boys to come and serve in the Ottoman army. Vlad balks at this. So does his wife since their child has also been demanded. Vlad defies the order but realizes his country does not have the power to turn away the Ottomans. He knows of a strange creature hiding in a cave on Broken Tooth Mountain. That creature has the great strength and lethal abilities that Vlad needs to defend his country. He goes to make a deal with this monster but can Vlad worm his way out of his fate?
While this film did not do well with critics or at the box office, thus putting another nail in the coffin of Universal's attempt to create a Dark Universe like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it has a lot of merit. It successfully recasts Dracula as a tragic hero who wants to save his family and his country. He is willing to do almost anything and gets caught up in circumstances. He isn't a sexual predator or rat-faced monster, so he's much more easy to sympathize with. The horror elements in the film are not the main focus, even though they are plentiful. The movie is more of an origin story with a new take on the character, though the very ending (centuries later) suggests he's slipped into the sexual predator role. Unfortunately, the reimagining didn't take with audiences and further stories did not happen.
Recommended if you are ready for a different type of Dracula.