Before going into this, the majority of what I had heard about the film revolved around Keeanu Reeves' terrible accent, and lackluster performance.

Little had I heard about the impeccable performances from Anthony Hopkins, Winnona Ryder, and Sadie Frost. Gary Oldman is also very good in his role as the titular Dracula, but some scenes leave a bit to be desired, and I also don't much care for his Transylvanian accent, though it's not as bad as Reeves' English one.

Aside from all of that, the most striking part of the film for me was the atmosphere it sets. With astounding set pieces lit by otherworldly hues, framed in such a manner to evoke a feeling that these were not sets that were photographed, but instead surreal gothic oil paintings brought to life by some unearthly means.

This feeling is cemented even further by Wojciech Kilar's gloomy and unnerving score, lending a sense of dread to the film, yet also has a feeling of mysticism to it.

I must also mention the astounding special effects, most of which are practical in nature, and, alongside the rest of which I have mentioned, add to the overall art direction and atmosphere of the film.

This atmosphere is, however, occasionally interrupted by the script, which has some bits of typical Hollywood comic relief that does not feel out of place in a film from the early-90s.... but can certainly feel a bit out of place when compared to the setting and tone of the film. Still, this is a minor complaint, all things considered.

All in all, Francis Ford Coppola does a fantastic job adapting the story of Dracula to the screen, and this version is well worth seeing for anybody who is interested in gothic horror films.