preview

Film Adaptation Of Bram Stoker 's Dracula

Decent Essays

Bram Stoker’s frightening tale of Count Dracula has struck horror into the hearts of many since it was originally penned. In 1987, Bram Stoker wrote the revolutionary tale Dracula that played off the fears of the people of the era. The plot and characters that make the novel great also translate nearly perfectly to cinematic adaptations. Starting in the early 1900’s, directors have done their best to portray the terror that the original novel inspired. Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula was released in 1992 and follows the book’s storyline very closely. However, to appeal to his generations ideals on relationships and sex, Coppola made some changes to the plot; however, many of the characters and themes are kept intact. He also …show more content…

This is much different form the novel version of the Count, who Harker describes as a monster will wants to “satiate his lust for blood, and create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons to batten on the helpless” (Stoker 53) Another difference that is different in Dracula’s film version is how he is killed. In the book, Harker slits his throat after a climatic chase and battle, and immediately turns to dust (Stoker 325). This battle still occurs in Coppola’s version; however, he is eventually killed by Mina and the act is seen as one of compassion and kindness. Stoker does not explore this idea in his novel. Stoker does not explore this idea in the novel, as doing so would have taken away from the frightening, undead character that he was trying to create. This is not to say that Coppola was wrong to go this route, however, only that the perception of vampires had shifted and he needed something to fit along with this shift. On top of this, Coppola also decided to make his movie much more erotic portrayal of many characters in the film. This starts with the brides, who have a much more sexual way of approaching Jonathan than in the book. The sexual tone continues into how Lucy is depicted in the film. Lucy originally had more of a sexual undertone than the other characters in the book. For example, she

Get Access