Infectious!
Violetta | 06/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm giving this 5 stars because back in 1991 when I watched this during its original airing, I never willingly missed an episode. By today's standards the special effects are interesting but simple, and yes, it is campy. The production understood itself though, and the camp actually adds to the fun.
This show had some of the wittiest dialogue I've ever heard, beautifully executed by some of the most engaging actors I've ever had the pleasure to watch on-screen. Some of whom have become quite popular since their Drac days. I was pleased to see it released on dvd and I've purchased both volumes. It may surprise some people but this is actually one of the most cleverly written shows to date.
Dracula, played to the hilt as the charming, sophisticated and wickedly ruthless villain by Geordie Johnson, is so much fun to watch. His relationship to the vampire hunters, Gustav Helsing and his 3 young charges, Max and Chris Townsend and Sophie Metternick, is far more complex than a 1/2 hour horror-sitcom (it's really unclassifiable)would lead you to believe. They may all be mortal enemies, but there is a level of gruding respect and fondness between them that is really sort of addictive. Both sides had plenty of opportunity to destroy their opponents but they never did. I think Dracula actually enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game ... and so did the hunters in their own way.
Yup, Dracula is evil and enjoys the hell out of it but you just can't help but like the guy in spite of it. The back-story between Dracula and Helsing is really interesting and different (displayed to best effect in the episode "The Decline of the Romanian Vampire") Some of the scenes between Dracula and Max are actually touching ("Bad Blood"), given the fact that old Drac can't have children of his own and Max seems to often represent the more whimsical side of his personality. The characters connect on an eerily comical wavelength ~ especially Klaus, played by Geraint Wynn Davies of "Forever Night" fame. You have to see once of his guest-appearances in an episode to know exactly what I'm talking about.
This is not a blood-and-gore vampire television show. It is intelligent, fun and witty ... and warm. It has extraordinarily complex character relationships, which is probably one of its most endearing qualities. But it is NOT a gratuitous, fx-ridden action-romp. Thank goodness.
Many years ago I wrote a few of the cast members and some of the production team and was lucky enough to receive personal responses. They were very kind and seemed to love the show just as much as the very loyal fans who still continue to love it to this day. It is not difficult to see why it still has a place.
Immortality of a sort. Dracula would be proud.
It's 2007 now and I still enjoy watching it every now and again."
Worth buying
Robert S. Brown | 01/12/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Glad I purchased this, it was a great price and just about what I expected. 11 episodes of the tv series kind of a cross between the lost boys,goonies,and bat man. It is brings to mind Charmed also although I feel Charmed is quite a bit better. I would think eight to twelve year olds would enjoy it. Good harmless fun and a great introduction to Dracula which hopefully would inspire further interest in the genre for the uninitiated."