Van Helsing

Release date:

2004 USA/Czech Republic

Running time:

126' (cover 126') - Source: DVD (RC 2/PAL)

Rating:

Germ.: 12; UK: 12; US: PG-13

Main Crew:

Director: Stephen Sommers (The Mummy Returns 2001; The Mummy 1999; Deep
Rising 1998; The Jungle Book 1994; The Adventures Of Huck Finn 1993)
Producer: Universal Pictures / Stillking Films
Score: Alan Silvestri
Writer: Stephen Sommers
Director of photography: Allen Daviau

Cast:

Summary:

Deep in the mountains of Carpathia lies the mysterious and mythic land of Transylvania - a world where evil is ever-present, where danger rises as the sun sets, and where the monsters that inhabit man's deepest nightmares take form. Into this world comes Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman), the legendary monster hunter born in the pages of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". In his ongoing battle to rid the world of its fiendish creatures, Van Helsing, on the order of a secret society, travels to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), who is out to rid her family of a generations-old curse by defeating the vampire.

Note:

- The film was originally planned in 1994 as a direct sequel to Coppola's Dracula (1992), with Anthony Hopkins to reprise the title role. As the project got pushed back, many story elements were changed to become this film.
- Director Stephen Sommers changed the main character's name from Abraham Van Helsing to Gabriel Van Helsing (Abraham's "kid brother"), as he did not think he could have a lead character named Abraham.
- The Van Helsing character first appeared onscreen in Universal's classic Dracula (1931), and has since then appeared in dozens of motion picture adaptations of Bram Stoker's novel.
- The film is a homage to the 1930s and '40s Universal Monster horror films (although Mr. Hyde was never one of the Universal Monster roster, except for their comedy Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1953), but of Universal's rival M.G.M. instead) - the black & white opening sequence follows, shot for shot, the original sequence from Frankenstein (1931), right up until Dracula shows up to talk with Victor. Another direct reference is the use of the "Werewolf Poem", which was first used in the original The Wolf Man (1941), and quoted in every subsequent Universal film featuring that creature.
- Writer/director Stephen Sommers wanted Kate Beckinsale (who was accidentally set on fire while shooting Van Helsing) for the role of Anna Valerious, but feared it was too similar to the vampires-against-werewolves film Underworld which she was shooting at the time, and didn't ask her, but her agent got Sommers to send the script and Beckinsale immediately signed on.
- The role of Igor was written specifically for Sommers's friend Kevin J. O'Connor, a staple Sommers player who most will remember as the wise-cracking Beni from The Mummy .

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Our Ranking

short review:

When the first rumours about a new vampire movie with Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman (both actors I like) occurred, I was full of delightful expectations. This might become a nice blockbuster. When more and more details were released, and after watching the trailer my expectation began to sink. Unfortunately, the finished movie made my fears come true. Sure, this flick has been a Big-Budget Hollywood production and Beckinsale/Jackman are both a part of it. Nevertheless, I expected much more from a movie with an estimated budget of 180 million bucks. But alas, that has been my fault. The endresult of a director like Stephen Sommers should have been obvious. This movie mostly focuses on its SFX (not even very good ones I should add) in such a merciless manner, that the story (which had a good intention) is completely ignored. Not to forget the finale, which can't possibly be topped with any more cliché. Sure, Van Helsing still got some good elements: Beckinsale and Jackman are just fine as usual, the costumes were great too as were the sets. I even liked Jackmans machinegunlike crossbow or those 3 vampire bridesï¿½ unfortunately what used to be a good idea has been converted into a far too colourful, slightly dark Indiana Jones variant for teenies. What could have been done, if directory like Ridley Scott or David Fincher had got their hands on the script?!?

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