THE UNTOLD STORY
from BRAM STOKER

The lost chapter of ‘Dracula’ follows Jonathan Harker, making his fateful journey to meet our titular character…

Ignoring the warnings from his superstitious coachman, he stumbles upon an abandoned village on Walpurgis Night - a night of traditional celebrations, invoking the supernatural.

Whilst exploring a deserted graveyard, he shelters from a violent storm inside a mausoleum, encountering the eerie tell-tale signs of a vampire. As both the danger and storm escalate, a mysterious wolf protects him from harm until soldiers arrive and rescue him. The story suggests that Count Dracula secretly arranged the traveller’s rescue, indicating that he was watching from afar all along on this fateful journey...

This film is set to be the first true telling of the story, which remains faithful to the original period setting of Dracula’s Guest and remains as close to the source material as possible. While we acknowledge that there have been some adaptations, this has only been where necessary, to make it more suitable for the screen. We have worked hard to keep the tone and integrity of the story intact, both in script and in the scenes we have shot so far.

From a stylistic standpoint, the Hammer - Dracula films of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s have been a huge influence on our approach and look for the film. The classic incarnations from Universal Pictures have formed our foundation for both story and character(s) to ensure our creation is authentic and honours the legacy that already exists surrounding the source material.

Dracula’s Guest will be a true Gothic tale. Dripping in atmosphere, we certainly will not be relying on gore and violence, but rather on moody cinematography and nail-biting tension. We do, however, hope that it will be, in some places, truly terrifying! You will have to be the judge...

The project began back in late 2024, when screenwriter & actor Jonathan met with Dacre Stoker, great-grand-nephew of Bram Stoker, who referred to the fact there was ‘no real adaptation of the story on film’.

Following this, Jonathan approached SuperFreakMedia and Dracula’s Guest was born.

ABOVE: Dracula’s Guest • Bram Stoker • Arrow Books • 1966 Paperback - the exact vintage copy we worked from when adapting the original short story into our original screenplay. (Image & Copyright to Arrow Books)

TIMELINE OF TERROR:

1893 - Setting of both ‘Dracula’ and our short film Dracula’s Guest.

1897 - May 26th - Bram Stoker publishes ‘Dracula’ to the world!

1912 - April 20th, Bram Stoker passes away in London, England.

1914 - Dracula’s Guest is first published with other short stories.

1924 - May 15th, the first stage version of ‘Dracula’ opens in Derby, UK.

1927 -Bela Lugosi stars in the updated stage adaptation of ‘Dracula’ On Stage.

1931 - February 14th, Universal Pictures release their version of ‘Dracula.

1962 -All of the works of Bram Stoker enter the UK public domain.

2024 -May, Dacre Stoker visits Derby to deliver a talk on Dracula’s Guest.

2025 - July 23rd, Production begins on our adaptation of Dracula’s Guest.

THE DERBY CONNECTION:

The film was first conceived to tie in with ‘Dracula Returns To Derby,’ a project that has been ran in partnership with the University of Derby and Derby Museum(s).

There is an undeniable link with Dracula and Derby as it was the home of the first theatre adaptation of the book in 1924, bringing with it much of the iconography now associated with Dracula - like the high- collared cloak and the slicked-back hair. In 1927, a later revised version of the play featured Bela Lugosiin the titular role before he’d claw his way on to the silver screen.

As many of the production team studied at the University of Derby, our personal aim is to keep that connection with the area and utilise as many local resources as possible. It’s our goal to have the first true adaptation of Dracula’s Guest originate from Derby, just like the first stage play 102 years ago.

So far, we have shot in Coxbench Wood, Little Eaton; The OldBell, Derby City Centre; and The Olde Salutation Inn, (one of England’s oldest public houses).