You are here:
Bram Stoker's Van Helsing

Bram Stoker's Van Helsing

2021

Director

Steve Lawson

Runtime

86 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

England, 1897. Abraham Van Helsing receives a letter from his former student Dr John Seward requesting his urgent assistance in the northern town of Whitby, where his fiancée Lucy is showing all the signs of vampirism. Van Helsing follows the bloody trail to the coffin of Count Dracula himself. Van Helsing is a fresh take on the legend of Dracula through the eyes of his greatest enemy.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

2.7/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film centers on a traditional heteronormative romantic crisis involving Lucy. There is no evidence of non-cisnormative identities or narratives that challenge these norms.

Gender Representation

Limited

Lucy is positioned as a passive recipient of vampirism. This aligns with Victorian tropes where women serve as catalysts for male heroism rather than driving the plot.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

Set in 1897 England, the narrative suggests a likely homogeneous Anglo-Saxon setting. The framework adheres to the conventional historical demographics of the era.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

The film utilizes a classic Western literary framework. It functions as a traditional morality play rather than a critique of systemic power or Western institutions.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The narrative provides no information regarding the portrayal of neurodivergence, physical disabilities, or chronic illness.

Strengths

  • The film maintains a faithful adherence to the classic Gothic horror structure and historical period setting.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative relies on passive female roles that serve as catalysts for male heroism.
  • The story lacks representation of non-cisnormative identities or diverse racial backgrounds.
  • There is a missed opportunity to deconstruct Western institutions or systemic power dynamics.

AI Analysis

Bram Stoker's Van Helsing (2021) functions as a traditional period horror reconstruction. It follows a classic Gothic structure that prioritizes established literary archetypes over the subversion of social hierarchies. The story centers on a singular male protagonist responding to a crisis involving a female romantic interest. This approach reinforces conventional genre tropes rather than offering a modern recontextualization of the Dracula legend. Ultimately, the film leans into historical period norms. It lacks the intersectional identities or narrative disruptions required to move beyond a standard Victorian horror framework.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.