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Dracula 2: Ascension is, logically, the sequel to Dracula 2000. And yes, a third chapter is due within a few months. So go catch up now!

Or better yet, don't. Because Dracula 2 is, despite having next to nothing to do with its predecessor, exactly as disposable as the one that came before. Oh sure, there are a few solid moments of grisly gore and vampiric mayhem, but one is asked to withstand a whole lot of high-tech jibber-jabber delivered by blank-faced performers before you get to the good stuff.

The plot this time around sees a stupidly brave group of young scientists (or whatever) who snatch themselves a crispified vampire, strap him inside a swimming pool, and use his blood for things better left undone. Needless to say, we're firmly entrenched in 'vampirism as social disease' territory, a subtext that seemed a whole lot fresher say, 20 years ago. But hey, why not stick with the standards?

Highlights include Roy Scheider as a priest, Jason Scott Lee as a vampire-ass-kickin' Italian priest superhero, Rutger Hauer in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo, Craig Sheffer as a grumbly paraplegic, and Jason London as an actor. Each offer their own distinct brand of entertainment, most of it coming in the 'unintentionally hilarious' variety.

Having said all that, the scrappy little flick does earn some praise here and there. A few kooky new 'vampire rules' are tossed in to liven the pot. (I never knew vampires HAD to untie any knots they came acroiss; why then has nobody ever just tossed a giant fishing net onto a vampire?) Dracula 2 actually comes close to being sincerely creepy during its frankly bizarre finalé, and there are a few choice sequences scattered about...but if the best thing you can call a flick is "not awful...by direct-to-video standards" - you're not exactly talking about something that warrants a stampede to your Netflix queue.

Taken on a bored, rainy night (courtesy of HBO, of course) you could do worse, vampire-wise.

link directly to this review at http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=9107&reviewer=128
originally posted: 04/30/04 11:13:14
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