Dracula (BBC 2019)

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

The earliest I'll be able to answer your question will be next Tuesday, when (hopefully) the Christmas TV listings magazine (the print version) should be out. But that will only go up to Friday 3rd January.

I’m getting this mixed up with A Christmas Carol, which is over three nights.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Martoto

I’m getting this mixed up with A Christmas Carol, which is over three nights.

I'm not that keen on Mark Gatiss, but I did like the giallo documentary he did several years ago. I liked what I saw of the original Doctor Who series, but I've just not been that keen on wanting to watch the revival series, as when I've seen it promoted in interviews there's been this smugness in the air.

But I am interested in seeing this Dracula mini-series.

[Murray Futterman]

I saw episode one at the BFI Southbank premiere in London, where it went down a treat with an audience. Like Sherlock, it is not a faithful adaptation of the original book, but rather it takes inspiration from many of the versions of Dracula throughout the years, and is faithful to the legacy of the character, while adding a few new twists. I'm sure some elements will prove controversial amongst fans who are perfectly accepting of very similar diversions from the text in old Hammer movies, but it shouldn't prove as controversial or disappointing as the recent War Of The Worlds adaptation. That was the first period adaptation, so when it diverged from the text it frustrated people who have been waiting a lifetime for a proper adaptation, but there's been six trillion version of Dracula at this point, so a little fresh blood to make things new should be a boon. More importantly, War Of The Worlds was also dull, dull, dull, which this is not.

Personally, I thought it was a blast: It's very funny, and a little bit camp, but not a spoof: It takes the horror very seriously, and is very dark and wonderfully gothic. They really go for it with the gore (there's probably going to be complaints!), and used lots of practical effects too. One effect reminded me of an effect (I think done by Stan Winston's team rather than Rob Bottin's) from John Carpenter's The Thing, though we were sworn to secrecy by Messrs. Gatiss and Moffat, so I can't give any specific details about anything. Suffice to say it was stylish, scary, witty, hugely entertaining, and Dolly Wells gets all the best lines. And what a cliffhanger to episode one! I think it might just be the sort of thing that people will be talking about for years. It's certainly going to be difficult for me having to wait until 2nd January to see part two.

[Murray Futterman]

I hope there will be a Blu-ray release in early 2020, not sure if it's being on Netflix in the rest of the world (from 4th Jan) will block or delay a Blu-ray release.

[HotRats]

Mark Gatiss is also doing an adaptation of M.R. James' Martin's Close, starring Peter Capaldi. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000cr9v

[OceanBlue]

Also being shown on BBC Four on Christmas Eve along with Martin's Close, is a repeat of an MR James documentary (called The Lost Ghost Story with Mark Gatiss). It's being repeated at midnight.

[Murray Futterman]

Blu-ray confirmed, Feb 3rd (the Blu-ray.com page for the title incorrectly says March 2nd).

Special Features:
• WHO IS DRACULA?
• STYLING DRACULA
• THE SCORE
• BUILDING CASTLE DRACULA
• THE BEAST WITHIN
• ARWEL’S SET TOUR
• AUDIO COMMENTARY (EPISODE 3) WITH MARK GATISS, STEVEN MOFFAT, SUE VERTUE AND ARWEL WYN JONES

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dracula-Blu-ray/259297/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08...KL5A1OLE&psc=1

https://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/dracula/12434368.html

https://www.zoom.co.uk/product/dracula_blu_ray_435893