When Bram Stoker’s Dracula came to the big screen in 1992, I ran to the theater twice over that weekend to see my boy, Gary Oldman in the monster role of a lifetime – the bloodsucking vampire, himself. Granted Dracula Eternal is an independent, low budget film that will most likely be up on several streaming services any day now, my expectations (and age) have changed drastically since the 90’s.  

Let’s start with some good: Mike Ferguson.

Mike always has a remarkable and commanding presence in almost every movie I’ve seen in his filmography. I certainly wasn’t disappointed to (finally?) watch him in a more romanticized role as Detective Drake, a no-frills cop who is instantly and curiously smitten with the young Mina who (alongside her bestie Lucy) was attacked by an unhinged and unforgettable “Mr. Fields” (aka Renfield).  

As legend tells us, the ancient warrior Vlad, was in battle when his beloved Mina took her own life at the inaccurate word that her dearest betrothed had been killed. Learning this upon his return, Vlad curses god and makes the ultimate devil’s pact. He becomes immortal, controlling the beasts and feeding off the blood of mortals, thus creating blood-curdling chaos and enduring a loveless existence.  

That said, the Stoker tale is brought into modern day times with a cast of carefree characters including Mina’s now-boyfriend Jonathan Harker, and some additional “new” individuals that unfortunately don’t lend much to the development of this primeval myth based on tragic long-lost love.  

While the city is being attacked by a dark and sinister serial killer draining his victims, Mina and Lucy take refuge in their sorority-like apartment to avoid Mr. Fields and any others trying to harm them. Obviously, Lucy isn’t so lucky and becomes an undead new bride to the creature lurking in the shadows while the plot unfolds at a peculiarly slow pace. Perhaps slow isn’t a fair assessment, as there were pick-up times of unexpected attacks here and there that did manage to hold my interest when I thought my attention span was zoning out.  

Unfortunately, those moments were fleeting and followed with strange obscurity which left me feeling cringy. (A 3-minute scene of Lucy gyrating to metal music in her undies after being shot down by Mina for some lesbian action, somehow didn’t make much sense. You know?) Maybe I’m being too prude, but sometimes there is no need for forced sexual escapades at the expense of a creating a “woke” moment. Then again, like I said….I certainly have aged since 1993. And Dracula Eternal only reminded me that it was past my bedtime.