Since yesterday, the first trailer for »The Last Voyage of the Demeter«, which Universal is expected to bring to cinemas on August 17th, went online:
https://youtu.be/6FgUUO9Ztd0The film is based on a chapter from Bram Stoker's novel DRACULA. The Russian schooner Demeter sets sail in Varna on the Black Sea. On board 50 wooden boxes with earth. When the ship arrived in Whitby harbor in a heavy storm a month later, there was no trace of the crew. Only the dead captain, tied to the wheel, was on board. From his log we learn that there was a dark presence on board and the crew disappeared sailor by sailor until finally only the captain remained. As the ship docks in Whitby, a large black dog jumps ashore and disappears. That is what the novel tells...
In the storm at sea no one can hear you scream.
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau already dedicated a few impressive scenes to the voyage of Demeter in his film »Nosferatu«. In the Universal »Dracula« from 1931, that's a little tighter. The storm was illustrated here with archive footage. The Spanish version showed a bit more of Demeter's voyage and is clearly influenced by the Murnau film.
The inevitability of the situation provides the perfect background for a horror film. In addition, the template leaves enough leeway to fill the gaps in Stoker's story with new life. Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat also recognized this recently, and in their »Dracula« three-part series, they dedicated »Blood Vessel« to the events on the Demeter, probably the best episode of their Dracula interpretation.
»The Last Voyage of the Demeter« was stuck in pre-production hell for over 14 years. At some point, Ben Kingsley and Viggo Mortensen were traded as actors. Neil Marshall (The Descent) was being discussed as a director at the time. Then nothing was heard from the project for a long time until André Øvredal was hired to direct in 2019. After another forced break, this time due to the pandemic, filming finally began in 2021. Above all, Øvredal proved with »The Autopsy of Jane Doe« that he has a knack for atmospheric suspense and seems to us to be the right man for this position. There's also a reunion with a much-loved sailor - Liam Cunningham, whom we know as smuggler Davos Seaworth from »Game of Thrones«.
For all fans of the most famous bloodsucker in literary and film history, the movie is of course an absolute must see. We are happy that Dracula is enjoying a renaissance. In addition to »The Last Voyage of the Demeter«, we're excited for »Renfield«, starring Nicolas Cage as Dracula, and the forthcoming »Nosferatu« remake by Robert Eggers (The Witch). No wonder that various manufacturers like
NECA,
Iron Studios and especially
Kaustic Plastik are continuously treating this exciting topic and giving us great collectibles from it 🥳🦇🧄!