The news this week concerning the Universal Monsters has been coming fast, like popcorn kernels popping, in the wake of the massive success of THE INVISIBLE MAN. And that is a very good thing. I’d wondered when we would get that Dracula movie we’ve all been hoping for. Ah, ask and we shall receive—again! Variety reports that Blumhouse will be undertaking a new spin on Dracula, with Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay writing the script and Karyn Kusama attached to direct. The three latter have all worked together before on DESTROYER and THE INVITATION. Kusama is probably going to be most recognized by the Horror community for directing JENNIFER’S BODY, an underrated little film that managed to shine despite suffering from lousy editing and the fact that its lead actress, Megan Fox, cannot. Act, that is.
We don’t know any other details at this time, but it’s Blumhouse and it’s Dracula. That should be more than enough to excite all good vampire marks. What form will this new Dracula take? Chances are good that it won’t be the classic Bela Lugosi, cape-wearing, widow’s-peak-sporting iteration, and I’m perfectly fine with that. Any attempts to remake that particular version of the Count are doomed to failure. (The old “if it ain’t broke” thing.) Keep the essence of the character in place and I’ll be onboard with whatever they choose to do, within reason. I hope they keep the fangs, though.