Dracula's origin story tries to combine history with horror. However, what we get is a swords-and-shields war film that tries to awkwardly juggle those two elements in order to give reasoning for why it's conflict even exists in the first place. The result is a movie that's more talking than fighting. Had the dialog been better and the action more appealing that might not have been a bad thing. In the end though we are left with a really boring experience. The lines the talented cast (two Game of Thrones stars are present) are given are unbelievably cheesy and just awkwardly written. Luke Evans plays a hero who goes to the dark side for noble reasons, but there's no moral conflict. Our lead actress Sarah Gadon can't act. As a result there's no one to really root for in this film.  The Dracula aspect isn't even well used. It's part horror film, but there's no horror. Dracula simply doesn't feel like Dracula. His powers are on display, but they aren't exciting to witness and they don't add any spice to the lackluster battle scenes. Director Gary Shore tries hard to dazzle with special effects that present Dracula as a super powered foe not to be messed with, but ultimately what we get are brief, yawn inducing affairs.  The reboot of Universals "Monsters" universe is just plain bad. It's a poor start that's lacking in thrills. Perhaps it's biggest sin is that it doesn't tap into the horror aspect at all. Simply making the sky black, the world gray, and having bats everywhere doesn't cut it. It's not a monster movie at all. This vampire has no bite.