The October chill has hit which means the Bram Stoker festival has begun. It’s Dublin’s time to celebrate and honour Bram Stoker, the author of the most famous vampire around- Dracula. Events over four days and four nights lead you all around Dublin City, from the Casino of Marino to Dublin Castle, you are sure to learn all about Stoker and Dracula’s life.
On Friday the 25th of October a fantastic family friendly spectacle ‘Frank and McSteins Monster Laboratory- Out of the Lab and into the Fire’ took place in Dublin Castle.
Starting the evening early- queues had begun building up half an hour before the event started. Groups of people entering the grounds at 6pm sharp- the tower highlighted red for Dracula himself People were starting to warm up to the spooky ideas with interactive games and flames Frank and McSteins helpers putting out the fire Fire and crazy scientists meet art and street theatre for Halloween Frank teaching the youth of today his evil waysWhere there’s smoke there’s fire Getting gothic at Dublin CastleFrank gave us a wave before the big show- little did we know what was to comeFrank led the crowds through bringing this animatronic to life, many attempts were made, and many arguments were had with the other mad scientist McStein. Eventually, the two scientists pulled it together. There he is, slowly coming to lifeAnd after a long day of creating life, fighting fire… and lighting fire, witches and ghouls alike skipped home ready for bed.These guys had seen enough madness to last them through Halloween
IT’S that time of the year again when a whack of horror movies appear in cinemas nationwide, delivering graphic images of blood-thirsty creatures, possessed individuals, and dark magic.
Dracula Untold is a ‘spook-tacular’ film that sets the ‘stakes’ high in the lead up to Halloween with its ability to both haunt and entertain the anxious viewer.
The dark fantasy re-introduces the history and origins of Dracula and Vlad the Impaler. Its modern take alongside the use of state-of-the-art costumes and props, crafts this movie into the success that it is.
However, at some points, the supposedly spine-chilling vampires end up looking like disturbed zombies.
Dracula Untold tells the tale of a strong prince named Vlad the Impaler who rules over a small Transylvania kingdom with his wife and son and who allows no harm to come to his district and its inhabitants.
However, the peace is short-lived when a warlord called Mehmed, the Sultan of Turkey, demands 1000 Transylvanian boys including the prince’s son. Mehmed sees it as an obligation and has strict plans for the boys.
Vlad quickly realises that the only way to protect his people is by defeating Mehmed and his army of men. The clock is ticking and Vlad does not have the powers and resources he needs. That is, until he comes face to face with the monster every man fears.
The casting of Dracula Untold seems to have been done with precision as Luke Evans, Sarah Gadon, and Dominic Cooper are superb for their roles and play their characters to perfection.
Lasting a total of 92 minutes, Dracula Untold is not the lengthiest film to be released this year but, in this case, any longer and the movie would have been dragged out.
Rated 15a and directed by Irishman and Dubliner Gary Shore, this is the perfect movie for those seeking a bit of horror without the usual jumpy and frightfully sinister insertions.
Audio extract from ‘Dracula in the Cathedral’, Saturday 26 October 2013 in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin. Performance by Gerard Lee (Jonathan Harker) and Michael James Ford (Count Dracula).
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