10 Weirdest Dracula Adaptations

It seems Andy Warhol had a fondness for good old Dracula. This is the second entry here to be associated with Warhol. The movie was presented as Andy Warhol’s Blood for Dracula, leading most to believe that he directed the film. The role Warhol actually played in the production is unclear and has been disputed over the years, but it seems most likely that he served as a producer.

The movie shows us a vulnerable Dracula who is weeks from death, due to not being able to locate any virgin blood in Transylvania. In search of this blood, essential to his survival, he moves to Italy. Unfortunately, Italy doesn’t have enough virgins either.

Dracula is hammed up to eleven in a comedically melodramatic performance from Udo Kier. This was a role that foreshadowed many vampires to come for Kier. He really is the perfect vamp.

It’s not bad as a movie, but it is bizarre and ethically dubious at best. It is obviously intended to be silly and comedic at points, but at the same time, there is a seriously conservative, moral and political agenda on display here. The socio-political sub-text is in no way veiled. The clear message of the movie is that sex is bad, female virtue has gone down the toilet, and the left-wing of the political spectrum are rapists. Oh, and right-wing establishment vampires are the good guys.

Someone had their heroes and villains mixed up.

Got to wonder if Andy Warhol even watched this movie. Its conservative message seems entirely in conflict with Warhol's values.