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Year: 1979
Runtime: 109 min
Language: English
Director: John Badham
When Dracula descends upon Hollywood, his sinister charm casts a shadow over the city of dreams. Haunted by a past tragedy, renowned vampire hunter Van Helsing embarks on a perilous quest for vengeance, determined to stop the Count's reign of terror before it consumes everything in its path.
Warning: spoilers below!
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As the darkness envelops the Carpathian Mountains on Walpurgis Night, a secret rendezvous unfolds between Tania and Milos in the woods near Passo Borgo. Their passionate yet forbidden romance meets a tragic end when Tania, spurned by Milos, invokes a violent confrontation, resulting in her brutal murder at the hands of a mysterious owl. This horrific episode sets a disturbing tone that will soon engulf the entire village.
Fast-forward to the arrival of Jonathan Harker, a young librarian whose new assignment involves cataloging the vast collection in Count Dracula’s foreboding castle. As he begins to acclimate to his eerie surroundings, Tania, now resurrected as a seductive undead siren, has her sights fixed on him. However, their clandestine encounter is abruptly interrupted by the count himself, heralding a cascade of events that will blur the line between the living and the damned.
As night descends, Tania’s seductive advances are thwarted by Dracula, whose powerful intervention signals an ancient and malevolent force at play. On the following night, Harker experiences another assault on his senses; this time, Tania, liberated from Dracula’s control, aims to possess him once more. Yet, it is Dracula who takes the initiative then, mercilessly biting Harker’s neck with calculated aggression, leaving him weakened yet alive.
Simultaneously, the deranged Renfield, bound to madness and servitude, awakens from his stupor to acknowledge Dracula as his “Master.” As Harker grapples with the horrors cloaked within the castle, he faces the unholy monstrosities lurking in the shadows. The next day, Mina, Harker’s wife, arrives in the village, only to find herself caught in a web of deceit woven by the charismatic and sinister Count Dracula.
As the boundaries between the natural and supernatural grow thin, Mina finds herself irresistibly drawn into a realm of despair and darkness. Her encounter with the count is nothing short of hypnotic, as he manipulates her actions, awakening memories long buried. In this diabolical game, Mina is ensnared, much like a moth captured by an insatiable flame.
Upon returning to the Kisslinger estate, Mina is met with devastating news—the tragic passing of Lucy. This event triggers a series of bizarre and sinister happenings. Responding to these ominous occurrences, Van Helsing, a revered expert in the field of vampirism, is called into action. With the stakes perilously high, he quickly assembles the necessary tools to confront these bloodthirsty fiends. Upon inspecting Lucy’s crypt, he finds it mysteriously empty, ultimately dispatching the reanimated Lucy with swift brutality before she can harm Mina. Setting his sights on the ominous castle of Count Dracula, Van Helsing resolves to confront the looming evil.
Meanwhile, Dracula ventures to the village tavern, where he violently silences a group of traitorous conspirators. Back within the castle, Van Helsing levels the undead Tania, Renfield, and an undead Harker, sending them to their eternal rest. Undaunted by setbacks, Dracula remains fixed on reuniting with his beloved wife, Mina, whom he has hypnotized into coming to the castle. Awaiting him there, Van Helsing prepares for a life-and-death clash with his malignant adversary. As their fierce battle intensifies, Van Helsing realizes his garlic-coated, silver-bullet-loaded gun is missing—only for Mina, breaking free from her trance, to seize the weapon and deliver the final shot. This act turns Dracula to mere ashes as the enchanted bullet takes effect.
As Mina limps alongside Van Helsing out of the graveyard, the spirit of the undead lord rises from the ashes, transforming into a colossal wolf that charges forth with a bone-chilling howl, leaving the two survivors forever shaken yet resolute.
Last Updated: November 22, 2024 at 16:19
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