Dario Argento's new film is a rather enjoyable adaptation of "Dracula", full of affectionate nods to old horror movies made in the 50's and 60's, like the ones directed by Mario Bava, Riccardo Freda, Antonio Margheriti and of course the vampires movies from Hammer Films. It doesn't rank among the Maestro's best films because the screenplay is very generic, the editing a bit abrupt and the pace (never the director's biggest strength) slow at times, but overall "Dracula 3D" has an appealing "old school" style, nicely enhanced by Luciano "Suspiria" Tovoli's polished, colorful cinematography, Antonello Geleng's nice set design and Claudio Simonetti's pleasing retro soundtrack (aside of the out of place, loud "Kiss Me Dracula" which can be heard during the end credits!). Most of the FX are decent (except the CGI used for the wolf bit and the weird, nosferatu-esque scene of praying mantis..) and the casting is OK, especially Rutger Hauer as a solid and charismatic Van Helsing, Marta Gastini as the appropriately cute and -not so- fragile heroine and last but not the least, a deliciously wooden Thomas Kretschmann as the melancholic Count Dracula. Neither "Deep Red" nor "Phenomena", "D3D" is just a fun, charming throwback to old style Horror.
Review of Dracula 3D
