THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER Review — Creative and Creepy
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Last Voyage of the Demeter review says it’s a terrifying take on the Dracula story, that may discourage you from going anywhere alone in the near future.
You’ve got to hand it to Universal for the way they handle their classic monsters.
Instead of decking them out in the same costumes and storylines they’ve been inhabiting for decades, as so many superhero franchises do, Universal monsters get comedy, horror, suspense—even romcom treatments.
Just a few months ago we saw the horror comedy Renfield with Nicholas Cage playing Dracula, and now we have the consummately intriguing Javier Botet in a singularly creepy Prince of Darkness role.
You probably won’t be hearing about either one of them come awards season (if it ever arrives), but that doesn’t mean they’re not films worthy of your time and money. And one of them will scare the daylights out of you, as a good horror movie should.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter review: What’s it all about?
The Last Voyage of the Demeter explores a chapter in Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic horror novel Dracula, the tome that started it all. It covers Dracula’s journey from Romania to England in an unmarked wooden crate aboard the sailing ship Demeter, and the unsuspecting ship hands who must deal with his bloody appetite.
The game cast is probably not one you’re readily familiar with, although you may know lead Corey Hawkins from Straight Outta Compton, In the Heights or BlacKkKlansman. Liam Cunningham, of Game of Thrones fame, plays the captain of the ill-fated ship.
André Øvredal (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Trollhunter) directs. And while his palette is dark and murky and it’s often hard to discern who’s doing what to whom, he makes some terrifying choices that leave you wrecked, defying tired horror movie tropes.
I knew a film like this has had a profound effect on me when I want to call my husband to grab the neighbor and have him run Jim down to the theater so he can drive me home. I was this close to pressing the call button.
Rated: R
One Hour, 58 Minutes
If you dare go to the cineplex after reading this review, get times and tickets on Fandango.com.
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Last Voyage of the Demeter review says it’s a terrifying take on the Dracula story, that may discourage you from going anywhere alone in the near future.
