Summary
The Last Voyage of the Demeter is a survival-horror take on Dracula, focusing on a chapter often overlooked in the novel.
Stephen King, initially doubtful, ultimately found the film enjoyable, noting its similarity to the iconic Hammer movies of the 60s and 70s.
Given King's proficiency in vampire narratives evident in his works such as Salem's Lot and The Night Flier, his endorsement carries significant weight.
Stephen King surprised by giving a positive review to The Last Voyage of the Demeter, the new Dracula movie. Throughout film history, there have been various interpretations of Bram Stoker's famous creation, from the classic Universal monster movie featuring Bela Lugosi to this year's darkly comedic Renfield, with Nicolas Cage playing the vampire. The latest adaptation, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, takes a slightly different approach, focusing on a lesser-known chapter from Stoker's novel, where Dracula terrorizes the ship's crew during their journey from Transylvania to London.
Before the release of The Last Voyage of the Demeter, renowned horror author King expressed his support for the film on social media, praising it and comparing it favorably to well-known Dracula movies from the past. King tweeted that he was originally skeptical of Demeter but assured his followers that it is a thrilling experience, stating that it reminded him of the exceptional Hammer movies from the 60s and 70s. Take a look at King's exact words below:
Last Voyage Of The Demeter Puts A Survival-Horror Spin On Dracula
Traditionally, Dracula films have focused on specific chapters from Stoker's novel, set in Transylvania and London. However, Last Voyage of the Demeter brings attention to a passage commonly overlooked: the "Captain's Log" section, which takes place aboard the ship carrying Dracula from Transylvania to London. By confining the action to this space and pitting a monstrous Dracula against a terrified ship crew at sea, the film takes on a survival-horror twist reminiscent of Alien, rather than the Hammer or Universal Dracula movies. Whether this combination of survival-horror and Dracula will result in a successful movie remains to be seen, but Stephen King, who is well-acquainted with vampires due to his own works such as Salem's Lot and The Night Flier, appears to be impressed with The Last Voyage of the Demeter.
Source: Stephen King/Twitter