Director Patrick Lussier doesn't stage the best fright sequences--only one, involving Danny Masterson is effective--but he knows his way around the vampire subgenre, exercising just the right amount of restraint. The acting is also a mixed bag. Gerard Butler is capable as Dracula, but lacks the magnetism that might have made the character more effective. It's simply not enough for him to hypnotize the ladies; he has to do it to the audience as well. Whether it's his or Lussier's fault that this doesn't come through, I don't know. And I know it's a silly complaint, but I had trouble shaking his resemblance--or that of his hair--to Chris Sarandon in Fright Night. Generally speaking, the rest of the actors are decent as humans, but most of the ones that turn bloodsucker retune their performances to go over the top; some were actually reminiscent of Corey Feldman in Bordello of Blood, frighteningly enough. As the heroine, Justine Waddell is just . . . normal, and that's great--her performance gives the movie the basis in reality it needs to operate. (On the other end of that spectrum is Christopher Plummer, playing Matthew Van Helsing with some of his customary bombast. Don't take that as a complaint; his performance is appropriatefor the part). I've no problems with Jeri Ryan's performance (it's so nice to see her break from her cold, cold Star Trek: Voyager) and Colleen Anne Fitzpatrick is a blast to watch. On the other hand, alive, dead, undead, whatever, Jennifer Esposito is grating--her performance lacks any sort of realistic human emotion.

When it was worked, I found Dracula 2000 to be fun, and when it didn't, I found myself wondering what was in the fridge. It's a cut above most teen-focused horror movies, and actually seems to have a little respect for its audience's intellect. That alone is a welcome change. (Jul 11, 2001)