Film Analysis Of The Film Dracula

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The film, Dracula was directed by Tom Browning and first premiered in 1931. The movie starts by following Mr. Renfield as he travels through Transylvania to reach Count Dracula’s castle. This young man was there on business to finalize Dracula’s plans to move to a new home in London. Renfield becomes enthralled with the vampire and agrees to do his bidding in exchange for small, animal lives. This is discovered when both Renfield and Dracula are on a boat back to England. On this boat, Dracula had murdered the entire crew and when the authorities had found it they only found Renfield and assuming he was crazy, sent him to an asylum run by Dr. Seward. Dracula meets with Seward and his daughter Mina and her friend Lucy. Dracula ends up turning …show more content…

The background space tended to be left open and free of other individuals. The frame mainly consisted of only who was speaking at the moment. Furthermore, the actors were typically centered within the middle of the shot. This created a sense of importance and urgency. On another note, to emphasize Dracula’s powers of persuasion and hypnosis, the director performed a close-up of Dracula’s face. To further express this power, they cast shadows around his face, except for the eyes. The only object that seemed to carry any sort of significance was the cross, which was the sole object that frightened all vampires and those possessed by …show more content…

It particularly correlates well with Monster Culture (Seven Theses) by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen. Dracula relates most with the sixth thesis, which states, “We distrust and loathe the monster at the same time we envy its freedom, and perhaps its sublime despair” (17) Dracula, as well as other vampires, attracts and both repels humans. Dracula has a unique interaction with humans. To some, he appears as a seductive and exotic force. Most noticeably is the possession of Lucy and Renfield. Both these characters exhibit a trance like state once they encounter this vivid character. He enamors them and attracts them with his mystery. On the other hand, some humans express more repulsion than attraction. Instead of feeling the desire to embrace the darkness surrounding the vampire, they push themselves away through fear of

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