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Christopher Brand, Roger Daltrey, Jane March, Peter Weller, Claudiu Bleont ... see more see more... , Razvan Vasilescu , Rudolph Martin , Michael Sutton , Radu Amzulescu , Dan Badarau , Dan Bordeianu , Niels Brinks , Sebastian Lupea , Roxana Marian , Claudiu Trandafir , Victor Ungureanu

Charles Band has been making horror movies in Rumania for several years, so it should come as no surprise to find his local collaborators, associate producer Vlad Paunescu and costume designer Oana Pa... read more read more...unescu, among the crew of this ambitious historical epic from The Kushner-Locke Company and director Joe Chappelle (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers). It's an impressive attempt at rehabilitating the image of Vlad Tepes (Rudolf Martin), the famous Transylvanian prince who inspired Bram Stoker as the model for his vampiric count in the novel Dracula. That's part of the problem with Chappelle's film, because Martin plays Vlad as a sultry, pouting romantic figure in the Frank Langella mode rather than as a man who might have been capable of such astonishing savagery and physical strength on a battlefield. He pouts for money from the King of Hungary (Roger Daltrey being out-pouted for once), romances Jane March, speaks in a petulant growl, and generally looks like he'd be more at home on the dancefloor of a chic discotheque than on a corpse-strewn battlefield. Only the unavoidable feeling that he might be a vampire (he isn't) makes him seem even remotely threatening or dangerous. The rest of the film is better, with authentic-looking locations, some surprising gore, and nicely-handled battle scenes. Peter Weller comes off the best among the cast, playing the creepy Father Stefan with a suitable gravity and authority. It is very difficult to take the historical Dracula away from the vampire legends after over a century of Stoker-inspired over 150 films, but Chappelle and his cast make a game effort, and if they don't exactly succeed in removing the shadow of the vampire from their heroic prince, they have at least produced a rousing entertainment which is far better than anyone had a right to expect. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Flixster Users

63% liked it

7,130 ratings

Critics

20% liked it

5 critics

R

Directed by: Joe Chappelle

Release Date: October 31, 2000

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DVD Release Date: April 23, 2002

Stats: 209 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (209)


  • December 27, 2010
    This had its moments, but overall, felt too tv-ish.
  • March 22, 2006
    This movie could have been SO much better than it was. The story of Dracula the merciless prince was a good one, but they tried to murk it up with half-hearted supernatural bunk. It wasn't very well cast either. Disappointing.
  • October 7, 2009
    I thought this was a vampire film, nevertheless I watched the whole thing. I thought it was pretty good for what it was a historical / horror film.
  • November 26, 2007
    Story of Vlad Tepes and his love of a woman. His most torturous ways of keeping people in line, the sad and twisted suffering of his and his brother's youth. The rise and fall of Tepes and his wife's sad suicide... unable to cope with hearing the screams of Tepe's victims and the... read more death of her father by his hands.
  • September 12, 2007
    Now before you get excited this about how the legend of Vlad the Implaor came to be it not to be confused with Vlad the vampire.
  • August 5, 2007
    Another version of Dracula. Very different and entertaining. I enjoyed it and so did the rest of the family.
  • August 5, 2007
    It's not an idiotic play on the vampire story of Dracula, those who like history and the true blood and gore of Vlad the Impaler will love this movie.
  • March 9, 2007
    My all time FAVORITE movie of Martins... seriously i am SOoo in love with him...


    blushes *stupid fangirl*
  • March 9, 2007
    great movie tells the truth about the romananian prince and his devotion to his country not the false folklore myths

Critic Reviews


Mark Bourne
April 5, 2006
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

It plays hell with the facts and reduces its potentially gripping subject to cheesy soap operatic melodrama. How can hats being nailed to Turkish emissaries' heads be dull? Full Review

Ryan Cracknell
October 15, 2002
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide

Unlike the multitudes of generic rip offs that come out annually, this low-key effort finally puts a new spin on an old myth. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
July 27, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Well-intentioned but goofy take on the old bloodsucker legend.

Christopher Null
April 9, 2002
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

If you're looking for more of that Buffy experience, you've come to the wrong place. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 22, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula (Dracula - The Dark Prince) Trivia

Dark Prince: The True Story of Dr... Trivia


  • Lydia was going to the convent until Vlad met her in Dark Prince : The Real Story Of Dracula ?  Answer »
  • Vlad sent Lydia to the nunnery because she thought Vlad was cruel in Dark Prince : The Real Story Of Dracula ?  Answer »
  • Vlad sent for Lydia when she had been in the nunnery to ask for her forgiveness in Dark Prince : The Real Story Of Dracula ?  Answer »

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