The master of modern horror, Wes Craven, presents this thrilling tale of terror featuring Gerard Butler (300), Jonny Lee Miller (Hackers), Justine Waddell (Mansfield Park), Omar Epps (Love & Basketball), Jennifer Esposito (Summer Of Sam), Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Picard), and Christopher Plummer (Knives Out). When a team of techno-savvy thieves breaks into a high-security vault, they don’t discover priceless works of art … they find a crypt unopened for 100 years! Suddenly, the ancient terror of Dracula (Butler) is unleashed, and his first destination is the city of New Orleans – a place where he feels right at home. Not far behind is a vampire hunter (Miller) determined to save a young woman (Waddell) with whom Dracula shares a dark legacy.

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Video Quality

Dracula 2000 comes to Blu-Ray via Scream Factory with a 1080p transfer that is derived from a new 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative approved by director Patrick Lussier. This film was first released on Blu-Ray in 2010 courtesy of Echo Bridge in 1080i and in the incorrect aspect ratio. Some of these issues were corrected in a subsequent two-pack release with the sequel, but none come close to this fresh transfer. This new release is mostly terrific with a naturally filmic presentation that brings out the creative flourishes of the production design. The only real disappointment is that this title didn’t receive a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release with this revisit.

The color palette is purposefully exaggerated with a rich depth when it comes to lighting and background elements. Black levels are pushed to the brink but provide a strong amount of depth and detail. Highlights never stumble with blooming. The transfer delivers when it comes to showcasing fine detail as textures emerge from the clothing, production design, and other elements of the scenery. The CGI is a bit inconsistent, but this is inherent to the source and not an issue with the transfer. Any previous damage has been eliminated for a clean and consistent viewing experience. The transfer does not succumb to any density fluctuation or other serious anomalies. The lack of a 4K UHD Blu-Ray feels like a miscalculation, but this new Blu-Ray release is still a terrific release that fans should enjoy.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings this to life effectively. Environmental noises are integral to making this world feel properly three-dimensional. The sterling score from Marco Beltrami flows through without any hint of damage or distortion. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear in all situations. The film is not overly action-oriented, but there are a number of thrilling moments. The low end provides excellent texture that expands the world without being overly aggressive. Scream Factory has provided a formidable audio experience that handles this one well. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: This disc provides one archival and one new commentary track from the creative team and some film historians that tackle the film from a personal and analytical perspective. Throughout these two tracks, you get some background information on the production, the evolution of a classic character, the themes, the casting process, the special effects process, and more.

- Audio Commentary #1 (Archival): Patrick Lussier and Screenwriter Joel Soisson

- Audio Commentary #2 (New): Film Critics Emily Higgins and Billy Dunham

True Evil Cannot Die – Directing Dracula 2000: A terrific new 47-minute piece in which Director/Editor/Co-Writer Patrick Lussier reflects on the creation of this movie with some interesting insights into the development of the script, the Biblical elements, the casting of the performers, the challenges of the production, and more.

Beyond The Reach Of Death – Designing Dracula 2000: A new 23-minute interview with production designer Carol Spier in which she discusses her work on the film, the importance of storyboards, shooting the New Orleans material, the construction of various sets, working with other departments, and more.

Forever Be Contained – Scoring Dracula 2000: A new 15-minute conversation with composer Marco Beltrami about Scream kicking off his work with Dimension, working with Patrick Lussier, the inspiration for various themes, and more.

Deleted Scenes: A nearly eight-minute collection of unused material is provided with optional commentary from Patrick Lussier and Joel Soisson.

Extended Scenes: A nearly nine-minute collection of unused material is provided with optional commentary from Patrick Lussier and Joel Soisson.

Vintage Behind-The-Scenes Featurette: A nine-minute promotional look at the film, the enduring popularity of the character, and more.

Auditions: A nine-minute collection of audition tapes featuring Gerard Butler, Colleen Fitzpatrick, and Justine Waddell.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Dracula 2000 takes some surprising turns on the narrative journey, but it cannot quite shake off its glossy execution. It is a movie that feels very much of its time, and there are no performances to elevate it to a higher level. The movie does stand apart for having a truly stacked ensemble even if they are not used to great effect. It is not a complete nightmare, but it is not a misunderstood masterpiece either. Scream Factory has provided the film with a new Blu-Ray release that delivers a fantastic A/V presentation and a surprising amount of special features. If you like the film, this is a great addition to your collection. Recommended

Dracula 2000 is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.