Dracula Untold REVIEW

Many believe that Bram Stoker's Dracula was loosely based off of Vlad the Impaler, a high ranking member of the Romanian court in the 15th century. This film is loosely based on that rumor. Dracula Untold tells the tale of Vlad the Impaler, a Transylvanian prince who becomes the vampire Dracula. During a battle against the Turkish army, Vlad finds his way into a dark cave where a monster who feasts on human blood resides. Legend states that this monster became the way he is after a deal with a demon went awry. After the Turkish army demands 1000 Translyvanian boys as tribute, Vlad seeks out help from the monster in the cave. This monster tells Vlad to drink his blood and he will become like him for three days. However, if Vlad drinks the blood of another human, he will remain that way forever. 

After drinking the monster's blood, Vlad gains super hearing, super speed, and the ability to see in infrared (like Predator). He also becomes sensitive to light, which isn't much of an issue in the perpetually dark Transylvania, and he develops an inconvenient allergy to silver. Vlad's new strength enables him to win a battle against the Turkish army, but during post-battle sexy times with Mrs. Impaler, the only throbbing vein

Dat human blood, doe

on Vlad's mind is in his wife's neck. Vlad then spends the next three days resisting the urge to drink blood while simultaneously fighting off the Turkish army to protect his people. They seek refuge in a precariously perched monastery atop a cliff, where the final battle takes place.

There are rumors that Dracula Untold is the first in a series of Universal Studios's shared universe of classic movie monsters. Next in line is The Mummy, due to be released in 2016. Dracula Untold is director Gary Shore's first feature film and stars Luke Evans (Immortals, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) as Vlad the Impaler, Dominic Cooper (Captain America: The First Avenger, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) as Mehmed the sultan, and Sarah Gadon (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) as Mirena, Vlad's wife.

2/5 Dracula Untold was neither terrible nor extraordinary. There was nothing in it that stood out or was particularly surprising, making it incredibly easy to forget, but it was still a better vampire movie than Twilight.