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As a goth, I’m contractually obligated to keep track of all new screen adaptions of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. It’s one of the ur-texts of our subculture — without it, we wouldn’t have Bauhaus crooning “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” after all! But one of the first screencaps I saw of this latest edition, Dracula (2025) aka Dracula, A Love Tale, was this…
Dracula (2025)
Oh come on now. That’s an obvious ripoff of this…
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Sure, slightly different wig shape and the robes are blue in the new movie, red in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 version. But if you can’t see this as a blatant callback, you need your eyes checked.
The more I looked into this new movie by director/screenwriter Luc Besson (probably best known for The Fifth Element), the more I saw that the whole thing is just a wanna-be of the ’92 movie. In Besson’s version, a 15th-century warrior-prince’s wife dies, so he curses God, and this turns him into a vampire who wanders the centuries trying to find the reincarnation of his wife. Same gist as the 1992 movie, because Coppola invented the whole “Mina is Dracula’s reincarnated wife” love story. That isn’t in Stoker’s book at all!
The trailer confirms it:
Besson even goes on in the press saying this is a romance, not a horror movie, telling Deadline and others: “It’s a totally romantic approach. There’s a romantic side in Bram Stoker’s book that hasn’t been explored that much.” OK, maybe not “that much,” but in at least one other, very well-known movie, dude!
At one point in 2025, his movie was mocked for ripping off a different recent vampire movie‘s promo poster:
Talk about retreads.
This latest Dracula doesn’t come to U.S. theaters until February 2026, but we know the story, and between that trailer and these screencaps, let me tell you how much more you already know. Like how Prince Vlad starts out in fantasy armor:
Dracula (2025)
In 1992, it was red and veiny looking, now it’s silver scales, but neither are historically accurate, I can tell you that much.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Oh, maybe this is a new Game of Thrones franchise spin-off?
Dracula (2025)
Gotta get that Vlad-Tepes-heads-on-pikes thing going.
Dracula (2025)
Been there, done that.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Dracula meets Mina in 1889 Paris instead of London (a change from the book and Coppola’s movie), but I’m still getting a copycat vibe.
Dracula (2025)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Before Gary Oldman, Dracula had short hair like any other vaguely Victorian guy, sometimes with a wacky widow’s peak that hinted at his blood-drinking ways:
The Horror of Dracula (1958)
Then there’s Mina. Her basic blue bustle gown looks fine.
Dracula (2025)
Obviously not as perfect as costume designer Eiko Ishioka‘s creations, but also going for the pale look.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
I want to rip the cheezy daisy appliqués off her bodice so very much.
Dracula (2025)
The newer movie does have some, uh, innovations. While the director copies the reincarnated wife idea, he and the costume designer Corinne Bruand seem to be confused or not give a fuck about what time period she’s from. The story says “15th century,” but the costumes say “Russian renfaire fantasy princess by way of AliExpress.”
Dracula (2025)
I didn’t know face-eating French hoods were a thing, but now I do. She also gets a head necklace!
Dracula (2025)
I admit I’m intrigued by the part where Dracula stops in at Versailles to test out a perfume he’s created that lures women to him. Guess he can’t get chicks any other way.
Dracula (2025)
Does the perfume make him sniffle? Why so weepy, fella?
Dracula (2025)
Some fun, if very wiggy-looking, wigs and a whole bunch of recycled costumes, but I might watch just for these scenes since this seems like the most original and entertaining bit.
Dracula (2025)
Then there’s some stuff that just makes me go HUH? Like Dracula pulling a Scrooge McDuck with piles of gold coins as Egyptian mummies look on.
Dracula (2025)
A subset of shitty historical portraits is shitty historical woodcuts, because no actual 15th- / 16th-century woodcut would have a face like that.
Dracula (2025)
Also, there’s a mermaid! Why? Your guess is as good as mine.
Dracula (2025)
Will you be watching this latest Dracula?
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