Aspiring screenwriter Bragi Schut Jr. worked at a model shop in Hollywood and became fast friends with the model makers. He loved looking at their past work, but what caught his eye was a schooner used for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This inspired him to write an Alien-like movie set on the doomed ship, The Demeter, from Bram Stoker’s novel. Unfortunately, the project languished in development hell for decades, with various studios, directors, and actors coming and going. Directors like Robert Schwentke, Marcus Nispel, Stefan Ruzowitzky, David Slade, and Neil Marshall were all attached at some point. It wasn’t until 2019 that André Øvredal, who previously helmed Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, was hired. The movie was shot in Berlin and Malta between June and October 2021 with a $45 million budget. After languishing for years, The Last Voyage of the Demeter finally hit theaters in August 2023.
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Synopsis
The Demeter has docked in Bulgaria to transport valuable cargo to London, though the villagers refuse to help load it. A local doctor named Clemens (Corey Hawkins) overhears that the Demeter needs a crew, so he volunteers. Though initially rejected, the ship’s captain, Elliot (Liam Cunningham), welcomes Clemens aboard after saving Elliot’s grandson Toby (Woody Norman). While investigating the ship, Clemens finds one of the cargo crates has broken open and finds a young woman inside. He uses his medical knowledge to revive her through blood transfusions, but everyone else is skeptical about the stowaway. The young woman, Anna (Aisling Franciosi), wakes up and tries to warn the crew about a monster on board. Soon, a mysterious figure picks off crew members individually, which Anna reveals is the legendary vampire Dracula (Javier Botet). Will the crew survive, or will this bloodsucking monster ensure this is Demeter’s last voyage?
Review
The Last Voyage of the Demeter is a very atypical Dracula movie in that Dracula isn’t the main character. Sure, Dracula is in the film, but the focus is more so on the crew of the ship. Some audiences might be disappointed that Dracula isn’t the central focus, but it’s an exciting take on the source material. It helps that the crew comprises some fantastic actors, particularly Corey Hawkins, Liam Cunningham, and David Dastmalchian. Hawkins makes for a tremendous lead, Cunningham gives his usual commanding presence, and Dastmalchian shows versatility in his performance. Aisling Franciosi, who was also in Game of Thrones with Cunningham, performs excellently as a victim-turned-hero. Even though he has no lines, Javier Botet makes for an excellent Dracula, and his design is familiar yet unique. Seeing his transformation from a sickly creature to a demonic monster is interesting.
André Øvredal’s is fantastic, giving the movie a gothic feel reminiscent of old Hammer films of the 50s and 60s. Even the daytime scenes have a sense of dread, especially with the surviving characters reflecting on what happened. Also, the practical effects used to create Dracula are impressive, and I appreciate that they hide him until needed. Admittedly, the climax is hampered by some hastily thrown-in CGI, but it doesn’t ruin the overall tension. Without getting into spoilers, the ending feels out of place, like it clashes with the tone they established early on. Lastly, a few moments could’ve been trimmed from its under two-hour runtime, but the length isn’t a huge deterrent. This is still a unique and bold take on the classic character that horror fans will undoubtedly enjoy. Overall, The Last Voyage of the Demeter isn’t perfect, but it’s better than most movies released in August.
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