What is the first adaptation of Bram Stokers literary masterwork,Dracula?
But even before that stage work, F.W.
But then theres also that lost Hungarian film that Michael Curtiz co-wrote in 1921…
Indeed, the transformative power ofDraculahas proven as mystifying as the undead fiend himself.
And now passionate Stoker scholar Hans Corneel de Roos appears to have added another wrinkle to his billowing cape.
tangents to the cauldron.
And a bloody enticing one for vampire lovers everywhere.
One whose differences few noticed until the 21st century.
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If only Francis Ford Coppola had known about this 25 years ago, no?
So how did this book come to be?
And it is Caine who provides the most likely clue toPowers of Darkness existence.
This is based primarily on American rumors (enflamed by, of all people, H.P.
It amounts to suggestingPowershad access toDraculamaterials that academic researchers do not (and likely never will).
The Icelandic preface and the modified plot are interconnected in a way that points towards Bram writing both.
How much Stoker was aware ofPowers changes to his own story is thus fairly speculative.
Yet, what is in the book is a curious glimpse at whatmighthave been in Stokers earliest vision.
For starters, the book is again mostly about Thomas Harkers misadventures in Castle Dracula.
Hence Asmundsson padding the narrative here considerably, nearly doubling its length.
Yet, this woman much more explicitly and sexually tempts Thomas with repeated clandestine rendezvouses.
More curious still is the fact that the Count claims this kept woman is his cousin.
As a whole, this much more alpha male version of Dracula is driven by warped political ideas.
He tells Harker at one point that the strongest must prevail and conquer the world.
Those who are weak are only created to satisfy the needs of others more powerful.
Dracula, who also wears military galloons, relates that to politics, social engineering, and to sexuality.
This extends to his supernatural schemes, too.
He seems to believe Lucia is supernaturally touched.
However, Lucias fate after she is turned into a vampire is ambiguous, as is much else.
Powers ofDarknessis in stores now courtesy of The Overlook Press.
