The novel “Dracula” by Bram Stoker was, is and will be an immortal classic of literature. Stoker created many of the foundations of the horror genre, and the style and intricacy of the book’s plot intrigues open up endless possibilities for interpretation to modern creators. Therefore, it is not surprising that more and more new stories based on Dracula are being published regularly. The Last Voyage of Demeter is one such story, focusing on just one chapter of the source novel. We’ll tell you in our review how it turned out.
Pros: well-created thriller atmosphere; not your average Dracula presentation; excellent portrayal of the psyche and actions of people in a crisis situation Cons: the final part of the film hints at an unnecessary sequel; In some places the pace of the story is too slow and can cause boredom
“The Last Voyage of the Demeter”
Genre thriller
Directed by André Øvredal
Starring: Corey Hawkins, Ashling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, David Dastmalchian
Premiere cinemas
Release year 2023
IMDb website
The story of the film centers on that very ship “Demeter” (or “Demeter” in some localization options). His team was tasked with transporting several mysterious boxes, and the delivery fee was very impressive. However, quite quickly mysterious and frightening events begin to occur on the ship. As a result, the crew will have to face one of the main enemies of humanity – Dracula himself.
The plot of the film understands perfectly well why it exists. “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” can be called a chamber film, because the action is limited almost exclusively to the scenery of one ship. The pressure of the environment is felt in almost every frame, which perfectly complements the thriller genre component of the film.
The local enclosed space became a trap for the crew, but an excellent field of action for the script and the audience. The crew, sailing through vast waters, are initially unaware of the horrors hidden in the mysterious cargo they are transporting. Moreover, the film emphasizes that even the adversities familiar to sailors, such as lack of provisions or storms, pale in comparison with Dracula.
Dracula himself here is devoid of human traits, but at the same time he seems to constantly strive for them.
This approach allowed us to create an unusual and frightening image. This is not a charismatic vampire, looking at some versions of which you sometimes understand why people follow him. No, the local Dracula is an infernal otherworldly force to which the concept of morality and kindness is alien. And he inspires genuine awe.
As in any chamber film, the main part of the plot is carried out by the actors. Moreover, the script does not delve too deeply into quarrels between crew members. Quite the contrary, the film shows the unity of very different people who overcome their differences in order to try to survive in the fight against the supernatural. And this has its own charm and even some sublime morality.
The film takes its time with the story, making the most of just one chapter of the original novel. Because of this, at some points the pace of the plot development seems a little slow, which can cause distraction and even boredom for the viewer.
However, the local suspense itself is quite specific, and there is practically no action, so in this regard, not everyone will like the film.
At the same time, the ending seems to hint at an inevitable continuation, which in the context of the film’s history seems completely unnecessary. Yes, the problem of Dracula has not gone away, but the charm of the movie lies precisely in the atmosphere of the last voyage of one ship. And excessive attempts to turn an independent work into a whole series very rarely led to something good. Therefore, I would like to believe that the authors will not pursue “franchising”.
The brevity and laconic nature of the film somewhat limit its impact on the minds of the audience. And even the image of Dracula here seems to be just another way to show how people used to experience long journeys across oceans. To some extent, the movie can be considered another variation on the “man versus nature” trope, only with elements of the supernatural. But it works – and that’s the most important thing.
Conclusion:
The Last Voyage of Demeter is a good film that connects viewers to its story with an almost invisible magic. There are no revelations in it, but everything that is there is done at a decent level. To some extent, the movie can be seen as further proof of the greatness of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But as a separate work, it fully deserves to exist.
