As Halloween grows closer, many moviegoers hope to seek thrills and chills in their cinematic voyages. While titles such as Annabelle and Ouija are growing increasingly popular, there’s one movie that can stand toe-to-toe with both films; Dracula Untold.

The film tells the story of Dracula in a different manner than more recent installments, providing the viewer with a clear picture on why Dracula became the monster he is known as.

Vlad Tepes played by Luke Evans, returns to his homeland of Transylvania only to have his kingdom threatened by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. Vlad, having not as big an army as the Turks, makes a deal with a cursed vampire, played by Charles Dance, for a taste of the power he possesses; but if Vlad falls victim to the ways of a vampire, he will carry the curse forever.

The viewer will have no doubt that some of the scenes in the film are special effects and green screen heavy. Some scenes in the film were shot in Northern Ireland, giving the film a proper European setting to follow where the legend originated. Nonetheless, the special effects are a keen factor in bringing to life this alternative version of Dracula’s legend.

I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a horror film as much as it is a science fiction-action film. While still keeping the shock factor, it keeps to the PG-13 rating it was given.

The film is a part of the rebooting of the Universal Monsters franchise, which is also home to horror monsters such as Frankenstein, The Mummy and The Wolf-Man. This film is great for the Halloween season and for any fans of vampire films, also a good choice for those who are intrigued by the legend of Dracula himself.