Van Helsing (2004)

Stephen Sommers’ Van Helsing (2004) is a gothic horror-action extravaganza that reimagines the legendary vampire hunter in a monster-packed adventure set in 19th-century Europe. Featuring iconic creatures like Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and werewolves, the film blends Universal Monsters lore with CGI-heavy action and a fast-paced, pulpy tone.

Detailed Summary

Opening: The Monster Multiverse Begins

The film begins with a black-and-white sequence in 1887, a clear homage to classic monster films. Dr. Frankenstein has just created his Monster, but Count Dracula betrays and kills him to gain control of the Monster for his own sinister agenda. The villagers storm the castle, and the Monster flees into the night, taking Frankenstein’s body with him. This sequence sets up Dracula’s twisted plan involving life, death, and a whole lot of creepy science.

Enter Van Helsing

Cut to the Vatican, where we meet Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman), a mysterious monster hunter plagued by amnesia and a haunted past. Working for a secret Catholic organization, Van Helsing is sent to Transylvania to assist the Valerious family in their centuries-long battle against Count Dracula. He’s accompanied by Carl (David Wenham), a friar who provides comic relief and gadgets worthy of a steampunk James Bond.

Meeting Anna and Facing the Vampires

In Transylvania, Van Helsing teams up with Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), the last surviving member of her family. They’re immediately attacked by Dracula’s three seductive vampire brides in a dazzling aerial battle that sets the tone for the film’s action-heavy style. Van Helsing discovers Dracula is immune to typical vampire weaknesses and realizes this will be no ordinary hunt.

Dracula’s Plan: Baby Vampires and Frankenstein’s Monster

Dracula’s grand scheme involves reanimating thousands of his undead offspring, which he’s trying to do using Frankenstein’s Monster as a biological conduit. Apparently, vampire babies need a “spark of life” and Frankenstein’s Monster is the missing battery. Van Helsing and Anna race against time to prevent Dracula from unleashing a new breed of horror on the world.

Werewolves and Curses

The twist: the only thing that can kill Dracula is a werewolf. Cue the subplot about Velkan, Anna’s brother, who becomes one. Eventually, Van Helsing himself is bitten and begins transforming into a werewolf. This sets up the inevitable final showdown, as Dracula knows the one thing that can kill him is now coming for him with claws and fangs.

Movie Ending

In the climax, Van Helsing—now a fully transformed werewolf—engages in a brutal battle with Dracula, who also reveals his own monstrous form. They fight in Dracula’s frozen castle while Carl and Anna work to destroy the lab and save Frankenstein’s Monster.

Van Helsing finally kills Dracula by biting into his throat, ending the vampire’s centuries-long reign. But in his feral werewolf state, he cannot control himself. Tragically, Anna rushes in with the antidote to cure him but is accidentally killed by Van Helsing in the process.

The next day, Van Helsing burns Anna’s body in a Viking-style funeral pyre. As he watches the smoke rise, he sees a ghostly image of Anna, reunited with her family, smiling down from the sky. Frankenstein’s Monster rows away on a small boat, returning to obscurity. Van Helsing and Carl leave, ready for the next hunt—but visibly changed by their losses.

The film closes on a somber yet hopeful note, emphasizing sacrifice, redemption, and the high cost of battling evil.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Van Helsing does not include any post-credits scenes. The movie ends definitively, with a slow fade after Anna’s spirit appears in the clouds. There’s no teaser, no setup for a sequel—even though Universal originally planned to create a monster-filled franchise from it.

Type of Movie

Van Helsing is a dark fantasy action-horror film with strong adventure elements. It’s packed with supernatural creatures, high-speed chases, gothic castles, and exaggerated fight scenes. Think of it as Indiana Jones meets Dracula, with a generous dose of CGI and leather trench coats.

Cast

• Hugh Jackman as Gabriel Van Helsing
• Kate Beckinsale as Anna Valerious
• Richard Roxburgh as Count Dracula
• David Wenham as Carl
• Shuler Hensley as Frankenstein’s Monster
• Will Kemp as Velkan Valerious
• Elena Anaya, Silvia Colloca, Josie Maran as Dracula’s brides

Film Music and Composer

The intense and dramatic score was composed by Alan Silvestri, known for his work on Back to the Future and The Avengers. The music enhances the gothic setting and action sequences with a sweeping, orchestral sound that mixes suspense, heroism, and horror. The violin-heavy Dracula themes and werewolf transformation tracks are particularly memorable.

Filming Locations

The film was primarily shot in:

• Prague, Czech Republic – Used for the moody, gothic landscapes of Transylvania.
• Los Angeles, California – For interior sets and green screen effects.
• Paris, France – Briefly featured in the film’s early scenes.

The Czech countryside offered the perfect eerie forests, snowy mountains, and medieval villages that contributed to the movie’s dark fairy-tale aesthetic.

Awards and Nominations

Van Helsing didn’t sweep the awards circuit but received:

• Nominations at the Saturn Awards for Best Horror Film and Best Costume Design
• Multiple Razzie nominations for Worst Supporting Actress (for all three vampire brides)

It was more of a fan-favorite popcorn flick than an awards darling.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Stephen Sommers wrote the part of Van Helsing specifically for Hugh Jackman, fresh off his X-Men fame.
• The film used over 1,400 visual effects shots, an ambitious feat for 2004.
• Hugh Jackman spent months training for wirework, swordplay, and werewolf fight choreography.
• Kate Beckinsale had just finished Underworld, making this her second leather-clad vampire-hunting role in a year.
• The Dracula castle set was so large it had to be partially constructed on multiple sound stages and digitally stitched together.

Inspirations and References

• Based on Bram Stoker’s Van Helsing, but greatly reimagined.
• Inspired by the Universal Classic Monsters—Dracula, The Wolf Man, and Frankenstein’s Monster.
• Influences also include James Bond, Indiana Jones, and Hammer Horror Films.
• The Vatican-based monster-hunting order echoes the Knights Templar mythos.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While no fully alternate ending was shot, deleted scenes include:

• A longer intro sequence exploring Van Helsing’s amnesia.
• Additional screen time for Dracula’s brides.
• A deleted scene where Carl’s inventions backfire spectacularly, adding more slapstick.

None of the deleted scenes drastically change the plot, but they add color to character dynamics.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film was not based on a single book but took inspiration from multiple literary and film sources. However, a novelization was published alongside the film that adds backstory to Van Helsing’s mysterious past and expands on Dracula’s motives.

Key differences from classic vampire lore include:

• Van Helsing being a cursed, immortal warrior rather than a professor.
• Dracula having offspring and conducting mad-scientist experiments.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Dracula’s dramatic entrance through stained glass.
• The first werewolf transformation sequence in the forest.
• Anna and Van Helsing’s ballroom infiltration and the masquerade reveal.
• The final monster-on-monster fight: Van Helsing vs. Dracula.

Iconic Quotes

• Van Helsing: “I’ve got a score to settle with you, Count.”
• Carl: “Do you think God would let you be cursed with such responsibility?”
• Dracula: “We are both part of the same great game, Gabriel… but you have never known freedom, have you?”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The film briefly shows a portrait of Mr. Hyde, linking Van Helsing’s adventures to other monster lore.
• Van Helsing’s ring bears a knight templar cross, hinting at a deeper backstory.
• Carl’s gadgets (including automatic stakes and holy water grenades) are inspired by James Bond Q-lab inventions.
• The Monster reads Paradise Lost, a nod to Mary Shelley’s original novel.

Trivia

• Hugh Jackman’s coat weighed over 20 pounds.
• The Dracula brides performed most of their stunts using cirque-style harnesses.
• The film was intended to launch a Universal Monster Universe, but it underperformed.
• Richard Roxburgh also played Moriarty in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen the year before.

Why Watch?

If you’re into high-octane gothic action with lavish production design and a cast of classic monsters, Van Helsing is a guilty pleasure that delivers. It’s cheesy, over-the-top, and gloriously stylized. Think of it as a monster mash with a blockbuster engine. While it’s not subtle, it’s undeniably fun.

Director’s Other Movies

• The Mummy (1999)
• The Mummy Returns (2001)
• Deep Rising (1998)
• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
• Odd Thomas (2013)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Mummy (1999)
• Underworld (2003)
• Dracula Untold (2014)
• Blade II (2002)
• Sleepy Hollow (1999)
• I, Frankenstein (2014)