Eerie, romantic and operatic, this exquisitely mounted revamp of the undead legend is a supreme artistic achievement. Francis Ford Coppola's film is grandiose in visual approach and uses every cinematic trick - from the basic atmospheric lighting of the silent era to today's more sophisticated techniques - to accentuate the poetic sensuality of Bram Stoker's novel rather than the more exploitative blood-sucking elements. Keanu Reeves's acting as threatened estate agent Jonathan Harker may not be to everyone's taste, but, as the tired count who has overdosed on immortality, Gary Oldman's towering performance holds centre stage and burns itself into the memory.

Count Dracula, a 15th-century prince, is condemned to live off the blood of the living for eternity. Young lawyer Jonathan Harker is sent to Dracula's castle to finalise a land deal, but when the Count sees a photo of Harker's fiancée, Mina, the spitting image of his dead wife, he imprisons him and sets off for London to track her down.