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‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’, drawing inspiration from Ridley Scott’s Alien and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” involves the vampire stealthily creeping through the eerie gloom of a ship on its way to London.
Director André Øvredal is on a mission to craft the most terrifying version of Dracula by leveraging the fear and enigma associated with his name and the Demeter’s mysteries.
The film’s setting, a shadowy ship in 1897, along with a desperate Dracula hiding in the rain-soaked and foggy gloom, amplifies the fear factor for the crew.
It’s no mystery that The Last Voyage of the Demeter borrows elements from Ridley Scott’s iconic Alien. The unique adaptation, based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s chapter, that recounts the infamous count’s sea voyage from Carpathia to England, depicts the vampire stealthily moving throughout the ship, veiled in the misty darkness, ready to prey on the crew when opportunity strikes. Director André Øvredal strived to create a sense of Dracula being a lurking threat ready to strike at any moment, much like the Xenomorph, especially in dim light. An exclusive featurette released by Fandango encapsulates this palpable terror from the perspectives of the film’s cast and crew.
The sneak peek underlines how The Last Voyage of the Demeter fosters its fear factor. Øvredal’s vision is to create the “most terrifying portrayal of Dracula ever” by exploiting not just the residual fear attached to the Count’s name and his lore but also the enigma surrounding the events on the Demeter. Despite Dracula being universally known, the Demeter is a source of enduring mystery, with the only certainty being the horrific occurrences onboard. This depiction of Dracula is distinct, as he’s desperate to reach England to find an abundance of victims. The moment the lights are dimmed, he begins his prowl.
For Øvredal, the influence of Alien was a primary attraction to join the project. The shift from the Nostromo with its small tunnels for the Xenomorph to appear, to the Demeter with its shadowy cabins and the sea mist obscuring the night vision, posed an appealing challenge for the director. With the timeline being 1897, the crew has meager defense against the flying monster’s brutality, further intensifying the horror as there’s no escape when the hunt begins. Liam Cunningham, who portrays the ship’s captain, calls this Dracula the “ultimate monster” as it conceals itself amid the rainy, foggy gloom, while Corey Hawkins, the film’s lead, labels the scenes of the Count’s silhouette illuminated against the thunder and lightning a “magical” horror spectacle.
Image via Universal
Who Else Joins The Cast of The Last Voyage of the Demeter?
In addition to Cunningham and Hawkins, The Last Voyage of the Demeter also stars Aisling Franciosi and David Dastmalchian, with Javier Botet, known for his roles in various horror films, playing the dreadful Dracula. Dastmalchian previously expressed his excitement about being part of the film to FilmSweep’s Perri Nemiroff and particularly lauded Øvredal for his understanding of Stoker’s timeless tale and his inclination for taking “bold risks” with his horror movies. “He took a bold risk with this film,” he said at the time. “I believe it’s going to absolutely terrify people, but it’s also going to be one of those cinematic experiences that transport you to this otherworldly place.”
Completing the cast are Jon Jon Briones, Stefan Kapicic, Nikolai Nikolaeff, Woody Norman, Martin Furulund, Nicolo Pasetti, and Chris Walley. The screenplay is penned by Bragi F. Schut and Zak Olkewicz. The Last Voyage of the Demeter is set to launch on August 11. Check out the sneak peek below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about The Last Voyage of the Demeter
What is the inspiration for ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’?
‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ is inspired by Ridley Scott’s classic film ‘Alien’ and Bram Stoker’s iconic novel “Dracula.”
Who is the director of ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’?
The film is directed by André Øvredal.
What is unique about the depiction of Dracula in ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’?
In this film, Dracula is depicted as a lurking, desperate creature traveling on a ship from Carpathia to England. Director André Øvredal aims to evoke the feeling that Dracula could strike from anywhere, especially when the lights go down, making it a terrifying portrayal.
Who are some of the actors in ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’?
‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ features actors such as Liam Cunningham, Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, and David Dastmalchian among others. The role of Dracula is played by Javier Botet.
When will ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ be released?
‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ is scheduled to be released on August 11.
What does the new featurette released by Fandango highlight?
The new featurette released by Fandango captures the terror from the perspectives of the cast and crew behind the film. It emphasizes how the film builds its horror and introduces the distinct depiction of Dracula.
More about The Last Voyage of the Demeter
- The Last Voyage of the Demeter on IMDb
- Ridley Scott’s Alien on IMDb
- Bram Stoker’s Dracula
- Director André Øvredal’s filmography
- Fandango’s exclusive featurette
- Bram Stoker’s Dracula Chapter: The Last Voyage of the Demeter
5 comments
Desperate Dracula lurking in the shadows. Terrifying! I just hope they don’t overdo the horror element.
Wow! Sounds like a fresh take on Dracula. Can’t wait to see how they’ve mixed elements of Alien into it. Øvredal hasn’t let me down yet.
omg this is gonna be epic. Love Alien and Dracula so cnt wait 4 this 1!
Alien style horror on a ship? Count me in. Øvredal sure knows how to keep us on the edge!
Interesting how they’re revisiting the old Dracula tale. let’s see how this turns out. Not a huge fan of modern horror but this seems intriguing.