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Luc Besson’s Romantic ‘Dracula’ Opens Friday as Early Reviews Spotlight Caleb Landry Jones and Tonal Whiplash

The film reframes the count as a lover driven by a 400-year search for his wife.

Overview

  • The film opens in theaters on Feb. 6 via Vertical Entertainment and carries an MPA R rating for violence, some gore and sexuality.
  • Caleb Landry Jones leads as Vlad/Dracula, with Zoë Bleu playing both Elisabeta and Mina, and Christoph Waltz portraying an unnamed priest who hunts the vampire.
  • Besson shifts the tale from a 15th‑century origin to late‑19th‑century Paris, emphasizing longing and reincarnation over pure horror.
  • Reviews note theatrical, sometimes corny flourishes such as CGI gargoyles and dance interludes, alongside gothic production design and a Danny Elfman score.
  • Early notices praise Jones’s committed performance while questioning narrative detours and tone; the running time is 129 minutes.