Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Dracula: Dead and Loving It is arguably one of the most controversial films ever released and has been banned in several countries due to its graphic portrayals of sex and violence, it is one of the many so-called "undead documentaries" created after the success of the groundbreaking Night of the Living Dead: however critics have accused Dracula of simply using it as an excuse to create what may well be one of the most intimate insights into the love life of the famous Count ever to be filmed.
Film[edit | edit source]
The film was shot in 1995 and was done almost exclusively by Dracula himself using home-video footage and editting tools he found online - the film showcased several of the Count's most favored hangouts, which included local gay bars and strip-clubs: this film marked the moment that Dracula revealed his bisexuality to the world - though it had long been rumored at amongst the media.
What followed was a rollercoaster-style documentary showing the Count's many sexual exploits - much of which was left uneditted to the point that a large chunk of the "documentary" has been labelled as little more than pornography by critics.
Inbetween the many scenes of the Count's sex life the audience were treated to interviews with Dracula and his closest friends as they talked about the Count and how he had managed to build a successful life for himself despite experiencing considerable undead prejudice since childhood - a notable scene in this movie came when the former anti-undead militant known as Van Helsing gave a heartfelt apology to the undead community and even hugged Dracula (although he declined the offer of anything more).
The film ended with Dracula giving the audience a brief speech about how he had a dream that someday everyone could be like him and that he hoped that by watching the film people would gain an understanding on the undead, bisexuality and the idea that people truly can change.
Critical Reception[edit | edit source]
The film was a huge box-office drop, mainly due to the intense controversy surrounding its release and many theatres refused to play the movie at all - those that did were often targetted by undead protesters, anti-undead protesters and Jack Thompson (see controveries).
Critics were quick to jump on the film's graphic display of sexuality and labelled it a "cheap and nasty porn-film" - the involvement of Van Helsing also drew fire from many critics who said Dracula "may well have driven a stake into his own heart by associating with a known militant".
Despite, or perhaps because of, the film's controversy it has become a popular subject for black market trade and their are some who see the film as a geniunely inspiring work - though they tend to be in the minority.
Controversies[edit | edit source]
Most of the controversies surrounding "Dracula, Dead and Loving It" stem from the film's graphic portrayals of sex and the Count's bisexuality, with a number of protesters taking objection to what they viewed as offensive content: some saw the film as little more than a pornographic exploitation film.
Both Undead and Anti-Undead protest groups were angered at the film for Van Helsing's involvement - the undead taking objection to a known anti-undead militant being allowed onscreen and anti-undead taking objection to Van Helsing rebuking his beliefs to become an undead sympathiser.
Jack Thompson also found the content of the film objectionable and started a brief personal vendetta against the film - which he quickly abandoned after he realised he was allowing his obsession with the film to pull him away from his true purpose in life: however he was reported to have taken strange delight in successfully banning the videogame based on the movie - having gone on record as having "killed two birds with one stone".
Popular Culture[edit | edit source]
The scene in which Van Helsing hugs Dracula has been parodied countless times in countless media and has spawned several internet memes - sometimes Van Helsing is replaced with the Wolfman, who is also a prominent anti-undead militant (though unlike Van Helsing he retains his beliefs).
Another scene from this movie that is frequently parodied is the moment where Dracula transforms into a bat midway through one of his many sexual exploits - the Gotham-based crime-fighter Batman is known to take offence to this scene and his frequent public rants on the subject have become a popular topic for online trolls and pranksters.