Bram Stoker's Dracula (R, 1992)

common sense media says

Bloody, sexy, scary Dracula for mature teens only!


parents & educators say
  • 57% say violence is an issue
  • 57% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie is not your average run-of-the-mill Dracula flick but a highly sexualized and violent version. It's for mature audiences only because the movie is filled with multiple, graphic images of violent, blood-letting sex. Parents should be very careful in allowing even remotely squeamish teens to watch this film.

Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence: Graphic violence from the beginning (people impaled on spears and arrows, rivers of blood), self-cutting, cannibalism (including of a baby), torture of the insane, wolf attack, decapitation, stake through the heart.
Sex: Sexually suggestive discussion, drawings of sexual positions, brief lesbianism, evil topless women writhing on and sucking blood from Harker, sadistic sex with a wolf man.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: One brief incident of laudanum use by the doctor in the asylum and drinking of absinthe.

More on Bram Stoker's Dracula

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about issues regarding religion and the supernatural as both subjects arise throughout the film in unsettling ways. It may be useful to explore their teen's feelings here, even if it is just to make sure they are not too spooked. This may also be a good time to discuss style in horror films. Why does this film feel the same as or different from scary movies set in more commonplace contemporary settings?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Blood soaked and highly sexed, this movie based on Bram Stoker's classic novel, BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA tells the story of the Count's pursuit of Mina (Winona Rider), the reincarnated embodiment of his lost love, Elisabeta whom he lost to suicide while he was off defending the cross in a great battle. Upon the discovery of her death, Dracula (Gary Oldman) rejects the church and vows everlasting life and vengeance. The movie takes place in the nineteenth century beginning in London, where the count lures Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) --the present-day fiancé of his deceased love--to his castle in Transylvania. Through the duration of the film, individuals fall victim to the undead Count and his lascivious minions as wolves, rivers of blood, and overall turmoil set up the ultimate battle between good and evil.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Bram Stoker's Dracula has been said to have saved Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope Studios, by recovering from the previous years' underperformers (Wind, The Godfather: Part III). The movie found critical acclaim with Academy Awards for Costume Design, Sound Effects Editing, and Makeup.

Like much of Coppola's work, this film walks a fine line between the visually stunning and the bizarre or grotesque (The Godfather, One From the Heart, Apocalypse Now). Tom Waits gives a characteristically out-there performance as the insane bug-eater Renfield, and Keanu Reeves appears to have strayed little from his Bill and Ted days. Anthony Hopkins, Gary Oldman, and Winona Rider give good performances.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Columbia Tristar
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder
Genre: Horror
Run time: 127 minutes
Theatrical release: November 13, 1992
DVD release: September 30, 1997
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: sexuality and horror violence

This review was written by Kelly Kessler
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15
Based on 7 parent & educator reviews:
  • 57% say violence is an issue
  • 57% say sexual content is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

klow
adult
 
i love this movie and own the new dvd

Riks
adult
 

mattenator
kid, 13 years old
 
this movie is probably so awesome, there's no comparing this, to something like Goosebumps, there is one very disturbing scene though when Harker is being sexually seduced by Dracula's brides, Dracula barges in and forbids them to touch him, they ask if they can have fresh blood for supper, Dracula gives them a crying baby, they huddle, you hear the baby cry and the brides shriek as they suck blood, Harker screams in horror and anger as Dracula laughs evilly.

antoineisthebest
teen, 15 years old
 
I love it
The only problem with this movie is there is a scene where see pornogrhaphy in 101 arabian night and we also see girl Breast at least 10 Time in the movie

Mina
teen, 18 years old
 
Visually Stunning, but not for Fans of the Book
Let me start out by saying that the original novel is one of my all-time favorites, and that I recently decided to see the most popular movie versions. A more appropriate title would have been "Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula". It's not exactly, shall we say... *true* to the original novel in anything more than basic plot. Some (or rather, most) of the casting was badly done. I played Mina in my high school's production and I felt that the preformances given there were MUCH more realistic and emotionally complex. I did enjoy Sir Anthony Hopkins as Professor Van Helsing, though. He is a marvelous actor and the only one of the bunch who doesn't seem to think a little facial expression will kill him. Having said this, the movie in itself is gorgeous (set, costuming, etc.), and it's a wonderfully creepy horror flick.

branagh
adult
 
Faithful, But Blood-Soaked, Adaptation Of The Horror Novel Written In 1897
Francis Ford Coppola ("The Godfather" movies, "Apocalypse Now") takes a bite out of literature with this faithful version of the classic horror novel written in 1897. I have not seen the 1931 film starring Bela Lugosi or any other film version of this story, but I have to say that this one is very faithful to the novel, while changing some bits and improving on others, especially the ending, which in the novel, seemed forced and came off as ridiculous. There's a line in the novel which is really obscure, but the movie did a great job fleshing it out. (When the brides accuse Dracula of not being able to love, he looks intently at Jonathan and says, "Yes. I too can love. You yourselves can tell that from the past." In the novel, this is never explained, while the movie fleshed it out in greater detail). With a mild warning about the violence and brief sexaulity/nudity, I can recommend this movie to mature teenagers. Great cast, awesome performances and a great script make this a true feast for the eyes... and fangs. "Love Never Dies." Rated PG-13.

angeloo0
teen, 14 years old
 
The best movie ever!
I only saw this movie when I was about 9-10. I thought there were a few scary parts though when i first saw it. now, though I really love this movie! This movie really shows Dracula not as the hiding old dude like in other movies.

SomeGirl
teen, 15 years old
 
Excellent!
I love this film. Probably one of the best adaptations ever. The reason I have aged it as I have is because I watched it when I was 6 or 7 or 8 and it didn't affect me at all. I watched it last night and have just realised how adult it is. :) Despite the gore it is an excellent film and I would recomend it to kids who don't mind the sex and blood, the ones who watch it for the film.

 
A very interesting and beautiful representation of Bram Stoker's novel (with some stuff added in).
This movie is a true masterpiece, with brilliant writing, great acting, and a nicely adapted storyline that will leave people familiar with the "Dracula" novel hungry for more. I would definitely recommend reading the book before watching this, because there is a lot added into the movie that was not in the book and a lot in the book that was omitted from the movie. The movie contains an astonishing amount of gore and sexual content (although there is little actual sex), but it has a certain literary quality to it that is not in many modern horror movies. The deciding factor on whether or not a teen should see this movie is their motive. If their motive is that they just want to see a lot of gore and lesbian sex, then why should they be allowed to see it? And if their motive is that they want to be scared, then they should watch something that's a bit scarier than this (there's a lot out there). But if they really want to see a literary masterpiece being brought to life through innovative filmmaking, this is a great choice. But only, of course, the teen is old enough to handle the content.

 
A classic!
Blood, sex, and more blood - what more can you ask for with a movie starring Gary Oldman and Winona Rider? Though thoroughly enjoyable, this movie definitely isn't for the kids, unless you know them well enough. I saw it at thirteen and was pretty shocked at some points, but the fantastic plot, acting, and occasional corny (yet delightful) special effects make this flick what it is: the best vampire movie, ever.

asoooq212
parent of 17 year old
 
This movie is the MOST bloodiest gory-fest EVER,NO ONE WOULD EVER SEEN this!,This movie of only for 17 year olds!,Not for big boys or small babies!,VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!

movie man 5
teen, 13 years old
 
Perfect for 14+
An amazing movie! There are movies that are terrible, OK, good, and the masterpieces! This is a masterpiece! (dispite all the gore, sex, and nudity)

 
R-18. Not for teens and below.
Restricted to adults. Graphic violence, explicit sexual content, nudity, sexual violence, and strong horror themes.

nickycetkovic
kid, 13 years old
 
*NOT FOR KIDS UNDER 12*
Well this movie is great but it's not for kids under 12 years old I think.Actors are brilliand,Reeves and Oldman were really cool and they can really act!

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