The fangtastic Shake & Stir clan has revived the iconic 'Dracula' into a fierce, passionate and bloody spectacle.
Though embracing the 17th Century horror, the cast breathe fresh and contemporary life into Bram Stoker's classic novel. Keeping the audience entangled with their foreboding grasp, the thriller is seductive and fantastical in every sense of the word.
Pulling equally between good and evil, sacred and sin, right and wrong; the narrative illustrates even the mighty fall victim to weakness – be it lust, compassion, blind love or naivety. Peppered with humour, the tale connects on an emotive level – odd considering fantasy leads the plot.
The set's interchangeable design is formidably cloaked and allows the cast to journey from the Count's Transalvanian castle in the Carpathian Mountains, to the cobbled streets of Victorian London. On occasion there are more than one place and time depicted, but confusion is absent.
Tim Dashwood as Jonathan Harker is strong, and embraces the young lawyer's helplessness and innocence. His love for Mina (Nelle Lee) is pure and his face reads of heartbreak and terror after suffering nightly attacks by Dracula's three nymphs.
Steering clear of modern vampires and keeping to the roots of the undead, Nick Skubij's menacing movements and eloquent accent as Dracula transcends expectations. Though current style is sprinkled through his appearance; bleach blond hair that becomes short with his uprising, and his black, flowing cape which evolves into an all-leather outfit.His mannerisms also become bigger; from shuffling slowly through the halls of his castle to scaling the walls and attacking his victims with force. Depicting rise in power; from his isolation as a master to few through to his creation of minions and kingship over them.
Visually all elements are synchronised. From lightening cracks revealing a spy in the darkness, to the gore and brutality that comes from a vampire's feast, and ultimately, death. Three particular scenes stand out among the rest. The first is Lucy (Ashlee Lollback), who, while turning into a ghastly creature, is visited by her creator multiple times. Perching behind the innocent girl, Dracula bites the neck of his victim, an alluring and intimate affair.
The second is after Lucy has turned. Graciously walking down the stairs, sucking the neck of a bub, she attacks Van Helsing (David Whitney) by leaping into his arms. And last, in the final battle between life and death (literally), Van Helsing, Jonathan and Jack are in Castle Dracula to kill the beast. After continuous scuffle, Dracula hoists Jack into the air by his throat – the timing and structure of the stunt is effortless and smooth, leaving the audience gaping.
