The movie inspired by the captain log entries from Bram Stoker's Dracula starts by letting us know exactly what will happen with the Demeter: it crashes on the shore. So even if you did not read Dracula or watched any of its many adaptions you already know the ending. The rest is a not very accurate depiction of sailors, lasting two hours and introducing a Black character which is supposed to be smart and educated, but comes off as close minded. Even as he spouts angry accusations of racism and a desire to understand the world, he absolutely refuses to see the things in front of his eyes. The actions of all of the other characters are superficially believable, but on closer inspection make no sense. The ending tries to fix the major issue of the film, but fails miserably, because we know how the story ends and it holds no future for the main character of the film.
Now, the film is well done, the atmosphere dark and oppressive, the sets good, the acting good. It is a testament to the quality of the production that I didn't feel the need to stop watching, even if the glacial pace and the boring characters did nothing for me. If this were done in the 80s it would have been great. But we've seen the same thing, with better story, faster, more exciting, better characterized and so many times... Take the vampire lore and update it, adapt it, remake it, if you will, but the classical Dracula side of the myth should have stayed buried after the 1992 movie, which did it to perfection.
Bottom line: nice classical mood, acting and sets, but a pointless and often nonsensical story, with no relatable characters.
Now, the film is well done, the atmosphere dark and oppressive, the sets good, the acting good. It is a testament to the quality of the production that I didn't feel the need to stop watching, even if the glacial pace and the boring characters did nothing for me. If this were done in the 80s it would have been great. But we've seen the same thing, with better story, faster, more exciting, better characterized and so many times... Take the vampire lore and update it, adapt it, remake it, if you will, but the classical Dracula side of the myth should have stayed buried after the 1992 movie, which did it to perfection.
Bottom line: nice classical mood, acting and sets, but a pointless and often nonsensical story, with no relatable characters.