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Retro BloodAuthor: Retro Blood
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Retro Blood 227: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Episode 247
Saturday, 21 February, 2026
Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood wraps up its third annual 1980s/1990s Vampire Month with a huge deep dive into Bram Stoker's Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This week, we go all in on Coppola’s lavish and operatic vision of the Prince of Darkness. We break down how the film has aged, the bold gothic style, the rich costume and set design, and the decision to use old-school in-camera practical effects instead of early ’90s CGI. We compare the movie to Dracula, discussing what stays true to the novel and what Coppola reinvents — especially turning Dracula into a tragic romantic anti-hero. We dig into why the film was made when it was, where Coppola’s career stood at the time, and how this project became both a creative risk and a comeback moment. We talk about the powerhouse cast — Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves — why they were chosen, and how their performances shaped the film’s legacy. Of course, we also get into the on-set drama, including Reeves’ well-known discomfort with the role and the tension behind the scenes. Finally, we deliver a full scene-by-scene breakdown, from the epic prologue battle to the haunting castle sequences, the hypnotic seduction of London, and the emotional, blood-soaked finale. We talk iconic moments, memorable lines, unforgettable imagery, and whether this remains one of the definitive vampire films of the ’90s. It’s gothic romance. It’s operatic horror. It’s Dracula at full power — and the perfect way to close out Vampire Month on Retro Blood. 🦇🩸
