Dracula

Dracula – Bram Stoker

Evan’s ESS = 7 out of 10

Erin’s ESS = out of 10

Content = PG-13 (Adult Concepts, Violence, Blood Used as a Beverage)

“Yo soy Dracula.  Le doy la bienvenida, señor Harker, a mi casa.”

Why: Because at some point everyone needs to understand true Vampire lore and because Count Dracula could kick Edward Cullen’s butt.  That being said, he better not touch Edward’s dreamy facial features.

While Bram Stoker’s Dracula, was not an immediate success back in 1897 when it was published, over the years it has grown into a subculture phenomenon.  The plot is presented entirely through a series of journal entries, letters, captain’s logs, and a plethora of other hand written correspondence.  Rest assured; there’s also plenty of goose bump generating creepiness.  The group members that hunt Dracula are the original vampire hunters and even though Abraham Van Helsing does not have the same muscle mass or wavy black hair as the character Hugh Jackman portrayed with the same namesake, few can match his wit, or fervor to donate blood to helpless vampire victims.  Bram spent seven long and tedious years researching the undead.  In fact, up until a few weeks before publication, the manuscript was titled The Undead. 

There is little questioning the impact Dracula has had on popular culture.  More than 200 films have been made that feature the infamous Count (most of which portray him with an attractive triangular hairline coming to a point in the middle of his forehead).  Unfortunately, we can’t recommend any of the interpretations as we have seen very few.  Still, we are fairly confident that based on title alone, you can’t go wrong with the following B movies: Billy the Kid vs. Dracula, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (special appearance by Dracula), or Dracula: Dead and Loving It. 

Editor’s Note: Contrary to popular belief we found that reading Dracula while eating a large bowl of Count Chocula cereal does not enhance the horror level of the novel.