Dracula II: Ascension (2003) (V)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Patrick Lussier

Writers:

Joel Soisson (written by) &
Patrick Lussier (written by)

Release Date:

7 June 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

"Dracula II: Ascension" is a sequel to "Dracula 2000," with the ageless vampire again returning from apparent extinction...

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Dracula | Dracula 2000 | Sequel | Priest

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Jennifer Kroll	...	Twins of Evil
Jason Scott Lee	...	Father Uffizi
Craig Sheffer	...	Lowell
Diane Neal	...	Elizabeth Blaine
Khary Payton	...	Kenny
Brande Roderick	...	Tanya
Jason London	...	Luke
Chris Hunter	...	Corello
Tom Kane	...	Doctor (voice)
John Light	...	Eric
Stephen Billington	...	Dracula II
Nick Phillips	...	Officer Smith
John Sharian	...	Officer Hodge
Dragos Balauca	...	Altar Boy
Silviu Olteanu	...	Young Priest
David Gant	...	Old Priest
Roy Scheider	...	Cardinal Siqueros
Daniela Nane	...	Cat-Woman
David J. Francis	...	Jesus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vasile Albinet	...	Horseman (uncredited)

Directed by
Patrick Lussier

Writing credits
Joel Soisson		(written by) &
Patrick Lussier		(written by)

Produced by
W.K. Border	....	producer
Nick Phillips	....	executive producer
Ron Schmidt	....	co-producer
Joel Soisson	....	producer

Original Music by
Marco Beltrami
Kevin Kliesch

Cinematography by
Douglas Milsome

Film Editing by
Lisa Romaniw

Casting by
Sam Chandley
Carrie Hilton

Costume Design by
Oana Paunescu

Makeup Department
Daniela Busoiu	....	key makeup artist (as Dana Busoiu)
Cristina Catanescu	....	assistant makeup artist
Christopher K. Grap	....	special makeup effects artist: crew
Snowy Highfield	....	makeup effects sculptor
Marina Ionescu	....	assistant hair stylist
Steven Lawrence	....	special makeup effects artist
Viorel Militaru	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Mirela Nitu	....	key hair stylist
Gary J. Tunnicliffe	....	makeup effects designer (as Gary Tunnicliffe)

Production Management
Jack Skeets Gleeson	....	assistant production manager: Los Angeles
Bogdan Moncea	....	executive in charge of production
Jason Mundy	....	production supervisor: Los Angeles
Jake Myers	....	executive in charge of production
Ovidiu Stoia	....	production manager: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cris Andrei	....	first assistant director
Cris Andrei	....	first assistant director: second unit
Bogdan Barbulescu	....	second assistant director
Irina Bryson	....	third assistant director (as Irina Niculin)
Oana Ene	....	second second assistant director
Monica Lazureanu	....	second second assistant director
Gary J. Tunnicliffe	....	second unit director

Art Department
Gabi Bálint	....	swing gang (as Gabi Balint)
Adriana Bucataru	....	assistant set decorator
Mihai Buciumeanu	....	assistant property master
Crina Cartos	....	construction coordinator (as Crina Cartas)
Stefan Curelaru	....	assistant art director
Costin Dragan	....	assistant property master
Viorel Ghenea	....	property master
Adriana Iurascu	....	storyboard artist
Iasar Memedali	....	leadman/on-set dresser (as Iasar Memedari)
Petre Nicolescu	....	swing gang
Ciprian Oprea	....	on-set carpenter
Mihaela Poenaru	....	assistant art director
Florin Samoila	....	lead painter
Christian Simion	....	construction foreman (as Cristian Simion)
George Stanciu	....	set painter
Mihai Stanciu	....	set painter

Sound Department
Steve Baine	....	foley artist
Todd Beckett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alex Bullick	....	second assistant sound editor
Tony Currie	....	adr editor
Stanomir Dragos	....	sound engineer: post-production
Nelson Ferreira	....	dialogue editor
Peter Persaud	....	foley recordist
Jill Purdy	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Kevin Carter	....	special effects contact lenses
Lucian Iordache	....	special effects coordinator
Ionel Popa	....	special effects consultant

Visual Effects by
Chadd B. Cole	....	digital artist
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging: iO FILM
Jamison Scott Goei	....	visual effects supervisor
Adam Hawkey	....	digital film opticals: iOFilm
Ivo Horvat	....	digital artist
Sookie Park	....	digital artist
Kevin VanHook	....	visual effects supervisor
Pam Vick	....	digital artist
Chris Zapara	....	visual effects
Sean C. Cunningham	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Mariana Apostu	....	stunt player
Dicu Aurel	....	stunt player (as Aurel Dicu)
Florin Barcun	....	stunt player
Ferenc Berecz	....	stunt player
Aurel Boata	....	stunts
Gabi Burlacu	....	stunt player
Anne-Marie Caragea	....	stunt player (as Ana-Maria Caragea)
Nelu Caragea	....	stunt player
Nicu Constantin	....	stunt player
Zuzana Drdacka	....	stunt player
Marius Florian	....	stunt player (as Florin Silviu Marius)
Julian George	....	stunt player
László Imre	....	stunt player
Péter Katona	....	stunt player (as Peter Katona)
Catalin Mancafa	....	stunts
Laszlo 'Sancho' Mecseki	....	stunt player (as László Mecseki)
Domonkos Pardanyi	....	stunt player (as Domonkos Pardany)
Adrian Pavlovschi	....	stunt coordinator
Ken Quinn	....	stunt coordinator
Béla Unger	....	fight coordinator (as Bela Unger)
Mihai Ungureanu	....	stunt player
Fanel Ursu	....	stunt player
Vasile Albinet	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Gabi Burlacu	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Marius Florian	....	stunt double: Father Uffizi (uncredited)
Dicu Marian	....	stunt double: Jason Scott Lee (uncredited)
Vasilescu Valentin	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Raduta Adi	....	additional generator operator (as Adi Raduta)
Manole Bogdan	....	grip
Alessio Bramucci	....	best boy electric
Patrick Bramucci	....	gaffer
Pascu Cioc	....	electrician (as Cioc Pascu)
Calin Constantin	....	gaffer
Florica George	....	electrician
Ilie Georgica	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as George Ilie)
Catalin Grigoras	....	electrician
Cristi Grosu	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Gheorghe Ionel	....	grip
Adrian Ionescu	....	electrician
Marcu Ion	....	electrician
Radu Ion	....	best boy electric
Marcu Laurentiu	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Costel Musat	....	electrician
Vali Pal	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Emanuel Parvu	....	still photographer
Ionut Perianu	....	loader
Raniero Raparelli	....	generator operator
Antonio Scaramuzza	....	Steadicam operator
Alexandru Sterian	....	camera operator (as Alex Sterian)
Vaclav Svehla	....	additional generator operator
Ladislav Szucks	....	additional generator operator (as Ladislau Szucs)
Ion Tincea	....	grip
Michael Tsimperopoulos	....	Steadicam operator (as Michail Tsimperopoulos)
Sorin Udrea	....	key grip
Gheorghe Ursescu	....	electrician (as George Urescu)
Malek Vilem	....	additional generator operator

Casting Department
Rita VanderWaal	....	casting: USA (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mihaela David	....	wardrobe supervisor
Carmen Ilie	....	costumer
Aurelia Ivascu	....	costumer
Florinela Popescu	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Diana Negoitescu	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Kevin Banks	....	music editor
Michael Stern	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Ion Balcan	....	driver
Costel Barbu	....	driver (as Barbu Costel)
Dan Brezeanu	....	driver
Gheorghe Ciocarlea	....	driver
Dragos Constantinescu	....	driver
Eugen Dinu	....	driver (as Dinu Eugen)
Ion Eremia	....	driver
Nae Ioana	....	driver
Gheorghe Ionel	....	driver
Marcu Ion	....	driver
Giancarlo Lanzeri	....	driver
Marcu Laurentiu	....	driver
Gabi Marin	....	driver
Cornel Nevala	....	driver
Gabriel Pop	....	driver
Sarmis Stamatescu	....	driver
Ion Stefan	....	driver (as Stefan Ion)
Petre Surugiu	....	driver
Marin Traian	....	driver
Dan Trica	....	driver
Mircea Tudor	....	transportation coordinator
Bobby Barbacioru	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Madalina Bland	....	assistant to director (as Madalina Simionescu)
Michele Boudreau	....	production accountant
Wes Craven	....	presenter
Simone De Camargo	....	post-production accountant
Clara Jacobs	....	production secretary (as Clara Gheorghiu)
Devin C. Lussier	....	computer consultant
Ruxandra Popescu	....	production accountant
Paul Serbanescu	....	production assistant
Cornelia Stefan	....	script supervisor
Ovidiu Stoia	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Castel Film Romania
• Neo Art & Logic

Distributors

• Art Port (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Dimension Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Dimension Home Video (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2003) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Neo Digital Imaging
• Two Hours In The Dark (special make-up effects)

Also Known As:

Wes Craven Presents Dracula II: Ascension (USA) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/gore and language.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

UK:15 | Spain:18 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 | Germany:16 | Japan:R-15 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Castel Film Romania

Goofs:

Continuity: Luke throws a knotted rope on Dracula, which then disappears and reappears between shots.

Quotes:

Tanya: Maybe we need virgin blood.
Kenny: [rolls eyes] Why?
Tanya: Didn't Elizabeth Bathory always bathe in virgin blood?
Elizabeth Blaine: No, no. Because when my blood touched its skin, it reacted.
Kenny: There goes the virgin theory.

Movie Connections:

Follows Dracula 2000 (2000)

An unusual twist on the 'Dracula' mythos, but needed some work

This is a sequel of sorts to "Dracula 2000", and the opening moments will be somewhat confusing to those who haven't seen that movie first. D2K had one original idea going for it (Dracula was actually Judas Iscariot, consumed by his own guilt in his betrayal of Jesus, and who hanged himself), and in the end of D2K, Dracula is both hung from a giant cross AND burned by the rising sun, the combination of which is supposed to be enough finally put the King Of Vampires to rest once and for all.

So D2:Ascension opens up with a paramedic team pulling the fried remains of Dracula in from his hanging gibbet. Apparently the heroes of D2K couldn't be bothered to actually either a) finally dispose of his body or b) explain to the authorities that the 'corpse' might still be dangerous, which strikes me as REMARKABLY irresponsible of them. But anyway, the cleanup crew who pulls in the body only sees Dracula's remains as those of another anonymous John Doe, and ship the remains off to the nearest morgue. By an INCREDIBLE coincidence, the young lady in charge happens to be part of a group of medical students (and a professor) who are on the lookout for vampire remains. She becomes suspicious that these remains might be those of an actual vampire, and the group carts the remains off to a lonely mansion to soak Drac's corpse in a bathtub full of blood (don't worry, it's plasma from the hospital). Drac revives, and hijinks and hilarity ensue.

I give the creators credit for adding a few interesting twists and details to the standard vampire tale. The idea of a group of researchers trying to hold a creature as insanely powerful and dangerous as the King Of Vampires while they try to isolate the factors that grant him power and immortality is potentially quite good. The group dynamics are also interesting, with internal dissension and betrayals tearing the group apart almost from the beginning. And some of the little touches - the 'sun gun', the use of seeds and knots and chains soaked in liquid silver, the idea of the vampire blood itself as a viral infectious agent - are fun to play with. The plot also throws in Jason Lee as a half-vampire priest who is trying to rid the earth of all vampires, especially Drac. Lee is a great ham, and his presence in the movie is a good excuse to do be-headings and fisticuffs and glares filled with Jesuitical outrage, etc.

But in the end, the whole thing falls short. I really don't have a problem with the cast, but no one here has half the acting firepower of Christopher Lee OR Christopher Plummer. (Of course, that's true of most movies!) The guy who plays the revived version of Dracula seems to have a bit more charisma this time around than Butler's D2K version, (or maybe it is just that the plot has him acting in ways that are a bit less cliché than the normal run of vampire movies.) but it's still an pretty subdued performance. The movie suffers a bit from lack of internal consistency and cohesion about how the whole vampire infection things is supposed to work. And all but two of the group members turn out to be hateful creeps (except for a member who gets killed early on), which murks up the 'good versus evil' theme common to most horror movies.

But there is ONE great moment moment near the end of the film where Dracula finally escapes his bonds and confining measures with contemptuous ease and bites the face off one of his captors ("Go ahead - I'll still live forever!" "But will you *WANT* to?!?" C-H-O-M-P!!!) that reinforces the fact that messing with the Prince Of Darkness under ANY circumstances is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle.

So in the end, is this movie worth watching? Yes, in fact, I prefer it to D2K for the sheer novelty of the plot. Is it a great movie? No, because there is no actor here who does more than a competent job, and the screenplay doesn't live up to the promise of the premise.