Quick Review: BBC “Dracula” Trailer and Advertising (Spoilers)

OUT NOW – Released 1st January 2020 !

The BBC British Tv series Dracula directed by Jonny Campbell; Damon Thomas; Paul McGuigan was released on the 1st January 2020 featuring 3 episodes.

I became quickly intrigued to watch the Dracula series after seeing the the best marketing initiative I’ve recently seen executed. This was the Dracula Billboard that has recently been released. The billboard only fully comes “alive” in the dark which personifies Dracula’s persona and identity as dark and mysterious. This media immersive experience by day has a random assortment of stakes hammered oozing in blood into a billboard but by night, transformed, in the form of a looming shadow. The stakes, blood and the shadow are all features that are seen within the trailer which gives a sense of continuity for what the audience will expect for Dracula’s key characteristic. Also it gives an impression that the target audience are to be more suitable for older audiences as the poster only reaches its full potential at night. Just wanted to address before i begin commenting on the trailer review, I haven’t watched the BBC Dracula series yet, i just have purely been captivated to watch the series through the billboard campaign. 

The BBC synopsis starts when Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to meet a new client and finalise the sale of a stately house in London, but finds himself trapped in a terrifying maze-like castle of undead brides with a vampire Count whose ambition is to conquer the world.

I find it interesting how the tone in the teaser trailer is very different to the official trailer. I think the teaser trailer has a more dramatic tense soundtrack which creates a lot of suspense (this trailer really got my heart moving faster). However, the official trailer seems to be more uplifting and comedic. So it was then i started to ask myself what kind of adaptation is it? As it started to become quite comedic as well as horrifying. Well i did some research and realised the co-creator Mark Gatiss wanted to “keep horror weird” – by keeping horror transgressive and never safe and comforting.  By creating jokes within the trailer people don’t take notice of the information as much. It also gives Dracula more of charismatic persona to add to his many traits along with being immortal. Also the uplighting music allows the piece to move and make the plot more adventurous.

I loved the cinematography throughout the trailer. Every shot it though out and has a purpose. My favourite shots including;

Wow, amazing establishing shot to set the scene. This shot is vital to show the setting and tone for the whole piece that it will be dark and mysterious. This is due to it being set at dusk with the full moon out. This also emphasis the fact that supernatural creature are about to come out (Dracula is all about the fantasy of vampires).  The outline of the castle to the side of the shot is important in order to create a scary medieval atmosphere of where Count Dracula lives. The audience need to be lost for words; i looked at it personally thinking its massive (i would defiantly get lost in here).

The extreme close up to the flies on eyeballs. This creepy shot is followed up with nails being removed and plenty of screaming.

The medium close up of the vigilante nuns with their blades create a sense conflicting imagery with good vs bad.

The side shot of the candle being held is key as shows it goes dark when a shadow walks in front of the the camera. This also set the era of the trailer to medieval times.

This close up of Dracula himself is very important – his creepy smile, make-up and prosthetic enhancements included growing fangs and ‘dead eyes.’ The smile seems to gives him a bit of charisma as well as seeming very patronising along with his dialogue “try and still very still, you are doing very well”. As a person who has never watched any Dracula remakes i understand a lot about the fictional charismatic character through our culture and society typing Dracula as the legendary of bloodsucking.

Personally, i first knew about the Dracula through intertextuality within the Simpson’s episode where Count Dracula is portrayed as Mr. Burns character in the segment “Bart Simpson’s Count Dracula” of “Treehouse of Horror IV”. (Seemed to of learnt a lot through the Simpsons haha). I later released that the scene where the Mr Burns shadow doesn’t sync and align with his movement is a reference to the “Bram Stokers Dracula”.  Also the pun intended that Dracula’ home was in Transylvania whereas Mr burns mansion was located in Pennsylvania. This intertextuality puts a comedic spin onto it to therefore be able to reach younger audiences.

Dracula originated all the way back to 1897  from the classic gothic novel by Bram Stoker which introduced the famous character Count Dracula which continues to inspire generations of filmmakers including the BBC. For instance, it focuses on typical folktales vampire fantasy seen in the period, era and books of Dracula. This plays back on my idea that i believe we live in a remix culture wheres everything’s based off inspirations and adaptations.  Director Coppola adapted Bram stoker novel – his trailer focuses more when Dracula turns into a bloodthirsty demon after his wife Elisabeta commits suicide. He travels to London after finding out that his wife has reincarnated in the form of his lawyer’s fiancee Mina. His film is more about love whereas the novel more focuses on the theme Evil. The original Dracula was more classed as Drama/Historical drama contrasting with the modern day Horror genre where in the latest BBC trailer you can expect it to be a lot more gory.

Dracula goes way back, but will always be forever loved and adapted. I love how the new BBC series kept the authenticity of the basic story and character. The only big change really was making Dracula more the central character fir the first time to tell his only story. Therefore, this gives new insight into uncovering what lies beneath the rules of count Drucula and creating more of a persona rather then just a shadowy character seen in only part the plot. The series is also noticed to most likely gain a lot of attention as it will please the ongoing fanbase as well as capturing eyes of younger generations. I do love the way every era adapts Dracula the iconic legend in a new way. 

Hope you enjoyed reading my first quick review and comment down below what you think about Dracula and the different remakes !!

Right I’m off now to dedicate the next 4 and half  hours of my time to Dracula…

Lizzie X