Dracula: A Love Tale (2025)
Dracula: A Love Tale (2025)
Genre: Gothic Romance / Fantasy / Drama
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz, ZoΓ« Bleu
Overview:
Dracula: A Love Tale (2025) is Luc Bessonβs ambitious reinterpretation of Bram Stokerβs legendary vampire myth β not as pure horror, but as a tragic romance spanning centuries. The story follows Vlad, a grieving prince who renounces faith after losing his beloved wife and becomes the immortal Dracula, wandering for 400 years in search of her reincarnation.
Rather than focusing on fear, the film leans into gothic melodrama, emotional obsession, and the cost of eternal love, presenting Dracula as both monster and romantic anti-hero.
Highlights:
Caleb Landry Jones as Dracula β Tormented and EccentricJones delivers a strange, emotionally raw performance, portraying Dracula as an anguished soul driven by grief and obsession rather than simple evil. Critics noted his eccentric presence as one of the filmβs most compelling elements.
Christoph Waltz β The Intellectual HunterWaltz plays a sharp, unconventional priest and vampire hunter, balancing humor with menace. His performance adds energy and unpredictability to the narrative.
Romance Over Horror
Besson transforms the classic myth into a melancholic love story filled with lavish visuals, theatrical drama, and fairy-tale aesthetics. The film prioritizes emotional longing and existential themes over traditional scares.
Divisive Tone & Style
The filmβs grand visuals and melodramatic storytelling impressed some viewers but also drew criticism for excessive kitsch, heavy-handed style, and clichΓ© elements that sometimes overshadow the narrative.
Final Verdict:
Dracula: A Love Tale (2025) is a visually extravagant and emotionally driven reimagining of a familiar legend β bold, romantic, and unapologetically theatrical. While its melodrama and eccentric tone wonβt satisfy everyone, fans of gothic romance and stylized cinema may find it a fascinating, flawed, but memorable take on the immortal vampire.
βImmortality isnβt a curseβ¦ until love becomes eternal.β
