Origins rewrite fails to draw blood

BEFORE Transylvania became a dark and foreboding place, before its most famous permanent resident developed a thirst for human blood, it was ruled - firmly but fairly - by Vlad the Impaler, a stand-up guy (despite his title) who would stop at nothing to protect his kingdom and its subjects and above all, his family. Vicious in battle and a loving family man underneath the heavy armour, Vlad just wants to be left alone - but an army of invading Turks threatens to ruin the domestic bliss.

Dracula Untold is the story of how Vlad is compelled into making a Faustian pact with an ancient cave-dwelling vampire in an effort to save his kingdom - not such a bad deal, especially since it comes with a long-term guarantee of immortality. "I just want peace," pleads a desperate Vlad (Luke Evans) as his grizzled, bloodsucking tormentor (Charles Dance) licks his lips (and Vlad's exposed neck) in anticipation.

Students of Bram Stoker's gothic novel starring one Count Dracula may be puzzled by this entirely different origins tale, directed by Gary Shore and written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, but given the various existing movie interpretations of Stoker's book and the growing thirst for dark fantasy tales featuring fanged heroes and translucent-skinned damsels, it must have made sense to go with a total rewrite.