Chris Schwab discusses modern Dracula adaptation

Director Chris Schwab has discussed the creative vision behind ‘Dracula: The Night Around Us’, a modern adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel. The film shifts the focus to the character Dr. John Seward, played by Eric Toms, and utilizes a contemporary setting due to budgetary constraints. Schwab noted that he used modern architecture, such as large concrete overpasses, to evoke the imposing feeling of a traditional castle.

Schwab aimed to portray Dracula as a monstrous and mysterious figure, drawing inspiration from the second half of the original book. The character of Renfield, played by Spencer Weitzel, was also designed to be creepy and unsettling rather than a stereotypical lunatic.

Critical reception for the film includes a three-star review, which praises the director’s understanding of the source material and the film’s unsettling visual storytelling. However, the review noted that the film suffers from a lack of deep characterization and a washed-out color grade, despite its impressive filmic aesthetic.