Luc Besson's Dracula – 4K Edition Review

From the late nineteenth century to today, Dracula has become one of the most represented characters in the history of popular imagination. Dozens of adaptations have sprung from Bram Stoker's novel, with over a hundred versions across cinema and television. A myth that spans different eras and styles, from the iconic Bela Lugosi of the 1930s to the dark charm of Christopher Lee, Werner Herzog's Nosferatu of the 1970s, up to Francis Ford Coppola's stunning baroque reinterpretation in the 1990s.

In such a crowded landscape, every new adaptation strives to distinguish itself but doesn't always succeed. With his Dracula - A Love Story, Besson attempts to insert himself into this long tradition by proposing a version that focuses primarily on aesthetics and the romantic dimension of the myth. More than a pure horror, the film moves between gothic melodrama and visual spectacle, seeking to restore to the Count his nature as a tragic figure, suspended between love, death, and damnation.

Yet another reinterpretation of Bram Stoker's novel

The result is a work that clearly looks to the character's history but also tries to redefine its tone, shifting the focus from fear to the sentimental dimension. A choice only partially successful and inevitably destined to divide, confirming the need for a pause on this iconic figure who currently seems to have exhausted his golden vein. Here is Elisa Giudici's full review.

Shot entirely digitally (Arri Alexa 35, iPhone 15 Pro for some scenes only), original image format 2.39:1 (3840 x 2160/24p), HEVC encoding on a triple-layer BD-100. The choice to offer the work at UHD video resolution with only SDR support is incomprehensible and unexpected, thus not exploiting the color space and lower dynamic compression of lights typical of 4K material, which would have brought it closer to the work of cinematographer Colin Wandersman (DogMan).

Knowing LuckyRed's passion and precision, it is entirely plausible that these are choices made by the rights holders of the work, who prevented a different color correction and the inclusion of HDR. Furthermore, the native resolution of the footage is not even confirmed. Alas, the blacks appear rather lifted for much of the material (viewed on a Panasonic OLED Z85 55"), preventing a greater sense of three-dimensionality in the many dark scenes, especially those inside Count Vlad's castle. For the rest, the level of detail remains interesting and gains something compared to the 2K counterpart, included here on BD-50.

What really stands out are the Italian and English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (+13 objects) ATMOS audio tracks. Both are 24-bit and deliver an entertaining, aggressive soundscape capable of making the narrative even more engaging. In this sense, it is enough to witness the prologue with the battle against the Ottomans or the finale with the assault on the castle, to realize the merits of a soundtrack that has much to say. Well-contrasted dialogues, impetuous music and effects, strong subwoofer presence for a multichannel listening experience closer to a cinema hall. The same audio offering is available on the 2K disc.

Extras include the Italian trailer and 3 short featurettes: behind the scenes (2'); the music (90"); the direction (2'). Italian subtitles. Cardboard slipcover (O-Card), including a booklet with textual insights by Manlio Gomarasca.