Almost everyone knows the basic story of Dracula – at least form a literature or historical perspective.
I mean, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” novel came out in 1897, so, I think we’ve gotten a good grasp of it by now.
Still, most on-screen iterations have focused more on the monstrous and horrific aspects of the story.
This film centers itself on Dracula’s romantic drive and grief with a sprinkling of his villainy.
Everything about this film sucked me in – the scenery, framing, and the soundtrack – it all painted Dracula in a newer light.
Tale is a 2025 English-language French Gothic Romantic fantasy film, written and directed by Luc Besson, based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.
It stars Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz, Ewens Abid, Matilda De Angelis, and Zoë Bleu.
The movie clocks in at 129 minutes long and is rated R for violence, some gore and sexuality.
The film opens with a flurry of segments showing Prince Vladimir of Wallachia (Jones) and his wife Elisabeta.
Unfortunately, the romantic couple has their interlude cut short by Ottoman insurgents.
As Vladimir receives a Catholic blessing from his local priest, he stresses that nothing must happen to his wife or else he will not survive the battle before him.
Unfortunately, Elisabeta’s escape is target by a small group of Ottomans while Vladimir dukes it out with a much larger force.
Just as Valdimir is preparing for a second wave of attacks, he’s informed that his wife is in danger while being pursued by Ottomans.
He arrives and in a frenzy kills the pursuers but fails to save his wife – she dies in his arms and he is driven mad with grief.
Over the centuries, Dracula attempts to track down the reincarnation of his wife.
He ends up creating vampiric agents to assist in his search and develops a perfume designed to lure women to him.
Four hundred years later, in 1889, while negotiating a real estate transaction with the Parisian solicitor Jonathan Harker (Abid) Dracula discovers that Harker's fiancée Mina is the reincarnation he seeks.
After imprisoning Harker in his castle with his gargoyle henchmen, Dracula reinvigorates himself with the blood of nuns and heads to Paris, France.
With the help of Maria - one of his vampiric followers - Dracula manages to track Mina down.
Dracula helps Maria escape her mental asylum imprisonment to help connect him with Mina.
He decides to destroy the perfume, but struggles in his attempt to naturally awaken her memories of her former life as Elisabeta.
The only thing that seems to help is a music box he’d gifted his former wife since the song helps unlock more of her memories.
Ultimately, he decides to take her back to Wallachia to escape Jonathan, a vampire hunting priest (Waltz) and other men who were wounded by Dracula in some form or fashion.
Once she returns to Dracula’s castle, Mina begs him to turn her into a vampire to live eternally by his side.
From there, things turn desperate and fairly depressing for Mina and Dracula.
Well, aside from Dracula showing off his fighting prowess while trying to protect Mina from her would-be rescuers.
Overall, I enjoyed the film and think that it even qualifies as something worthwhile for a Valentine’s date night experience.
