Tag: Dracula

The Humanity of Dracula Untold Gets Explored, A Movie Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Dracula_Untold_posterTry as Dracula Untold might, this film does not endeavour to be historically accurate in every detail about how Vlad Dracul the Prince (played by a daunting Luke Evans) saves his people from Turkish rule. There are little nods to recall how he was raised by them to become a brutal soldier and how he earned his reputation (to which he’d become known as the Impaler, hence Țepeș) but a lot of that origin is quickly marginalized than expounded upon.

The reason about to why he was fearsome is missed in favour for a PG-13 rating to show why he was much-loved. When he returns home to Wallachia, he gets warmly embraced as this country’s lost son. All he wants to do for much of the film is to protect them from a darker world at large. He’s experienced a lot of horror and he does not wish to share that. When the Ottoman’s demands are ill met, war and rebellion is inevitable. This movie shows him reverting to his old ways.

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[Victoria, BC] Exploring Dracula, The Blood is The Life’s Revisions & News for Next Year

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Dracula

Craigdarroch Castle
1050 Joan Crescent
Victoria, BC V8S 3L5

Ticket Reservations:
250-592-5323

Dates and times:
October 30th 7pm & 9pm
October 31st 8pm

Lord Dracula is back, and this time, the terror is twice as bloody, if not wickedly fun. Launch Pad and Giggling Iguana Productions revisits the legend of the vampire king in a show that’s said to be pumped up to an extra level of terror. Practically all of the classics from the Golden Age of Terror — Dorian Gray, Jekyll & Hyde, Poe and Faust — has been covered, and the news that The Wolfman will be appearing next will be highly anticipated. To round out the world, Frankenstein may be a massive undertaking to pull off. It can be done, if the management of Craigdarroch Castle allows it.

But for visitors pondering a visit to Victoria, BC for All Hallows Eve, they might want to consider purchasing tickets in advance to ensure this type of site-specific play will not be missed.

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[Victoria, B.C.] You’ll have to Wait … for Dracula: Blood is Life if you Dare

And no October can go without some kind of horror themed experience until Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman are here

Dracula2-300x287Two shows have been added on Oct 28th to Giggling Iguana‘s production of Dracula: Blood is Life. This interactive theatre show is playing at Craigdarroch Castle, located in Victoria, B.C. Canada. At time of press, tickets are available via wait-listing by phoning the Castle and these added shows are reportedly to have been sold out. All other shows are at capacity as people planned for their All Hallow’s Eve fun during last weekend.

I reviewed this play last year for 28DLA.com. In summary, this site-specific theatrical show proves that even a complex novel like Bram Stoker’s Dracula can be distilled down to its very essence. To see it performed without missing the most important themes from this Irish novelist’s work in under an hour is very impressive. This year, this production is kicking the terror up a notch with what I hope to be more supernatural delights in the form of poltergeist activity. More bite is definitely going to be added.

Despite what the Castle management tells its tourists and staff, this building is indeed haunted!

And no October can go without some kind of horror themed experience until Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman are here. Well, maybe next year. The full moon has passed. At least there is no holding the terror down. If the popularity of this particular play is an indication, Dracula: Blood is Life might become a staple for the Halloween tradition here in Victoria. But Ian Case, director of Giggling Iguana Productions, has confirmed that there will be a new show next year.

At least for the time being, all Dracula can say, “Fangs for the memories!”