Today’s quick review: Van Helsing. Hugh Jackman stars as the titular Van Helsing, a Victorian-era monster hunter who uses a wide array of weapons and gadgets to fight the unholy creatures that prey on humans. The Catholic Church sends him to Transylvania to help Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale) in her quest to kill Dracula. Anna is the last surviving member of her family, and an oath sworn by her ancestor dooms all their souls to hell should the bloodline perish before Dracula is slain. Together Van Helsing and Anna go toe-to-toe with a host of monsters from the gothic horror tradition, including Frankenstein’s monster, a werewolf, and Dracula and his brides, to stop Dracula before he completes his plan for unlimited power.
Van Helsing is an enjoyable, action-heavy take on the monster genre. The fights are fast-paced and creative, the tone is just the right blend of horror and adventure, and the visuals hold up well. The plot is satisfactory for an action movie, moving the action along without feeling too linear. The setting includes a few interesting bits of lore, and its grab-bag approach to the gothic horror genre gives the movie plenty of material to work with. The characters are entertaining but not especially deep. The film features a few comedic moments, particularly involving Van Helsing’s aide Carl (David Wenham), a put-upon monk from the Vatican. Between these moments and Van Helsing’s exaggerated weaponry (handheld rotary saws, an automatic crossbow, and more), the movie manages to effectively balance out its dark setting and horrific monsters, producing an overall tone that dilutes horror with fun.
Overall, Van Helsing is an excellent popcorn film. The action is exciting, the monsters are frightening, and the premise is an excuse to cut loose and have some fun. Those who prefer their movies serious should skip it, as should those who can’t stomach horror or violence. But anyone who is in the mood for a fantasy action movie and doesn’t mind watching a few monsters get killed should give Van Helsing a try. 6.0 out of 10 on IMDB.