Day 11: Dracula [Horror Film Review]

To be completely honest, the original 1931 version of Dracula with Bela Lugosi isn't my favorite Dracula film, or Universal Horror film.  Now, don't get me wrong, I don't hate this film either, but it was the first big Universal Horror film, and Dracula is what kick started the classic monster era of the 1930s.  Bela Lugosi is a great actor and played a great Dracula, but it was Tod Browning's direction that ruined the film for me.

So, we're all familiar with the story of Dracula.  Pretty much every Dracula movie that came out afterwards would ultimately be compared to this one.  Tod Browning and crew kind of butchered the story, changing characters around, and omitting characters, etc...I mean, they took the whole "artistic liberties" a little too far.  Putting all that aside, the film is very atmospheric, and Bela Lugosi truly is tremendous as the Count.  This is one of those films I think every horror fan should see at least once.  I mean, the film is like 70 minutes, so you have no excuse to skip over it.

Contrary to what many people may think, Bela only played Dracula twice.  The second time would be in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, which just happens to be the film that turned me on to the classic Universal Monsters.

Editor’s note: Each day in October, Ramone is picking a classic (or cheesy) horror film to review and share