‘Dracula: The Night Around Us’ Sinks Its Teeth Into Tubi FrightFest

Bram Stoker’s immortal vampire returns with a distinctly contemporary twist in Dracula: The Night Around Us, a new independent reimagining that swaps Gothic castles for the concrete landscape of Los Angeles. Following an award-winning festival debut, writer and director Chris Schwab’s feature is now set to make its UK Premiere at Tubi FrightFest later this month.

The film will screen as part of the Discovery Screen One strand on 30 August, arriving after collecting the Goule D’Or Award for Best Feature at this year’s Portland Horror Film Festival. Schwab, whose previous work includes Heretic and Neither Day Nor Night, both writes and directs the project, bringing his own interpretation to one of horror’s most enduring stories.

Inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic novel, Dracula: The Night Around Us centres on Dr. John Seward, a disillusioned physician working at an asylum for the criminally insane. His life begins to change after forming a bond with his neighbour Mina and her young daughter Lucy. Beneath the streets of Los Angeles, however, Dracula is quietly building an army of undead brides, with Lucy becoming the latest target of the ancient vampire’s growing influence.

The cast is led by Eric Toms, alongside Marlene Mc’Cohen, Spencer Weitzel, Raelan Mackiewicz and Brent Jones. Supporting roles are played by Andrea Martina, Isabela Penagos, Ginny You, Thomas Hwan Kim, Gabriel Grier, Michael King, Joel Slabo, Georgie Halali, Danny O’Brien and Harmony Smith.

Rather than recreating Stoker’s Victorian setting, Schwab reimagines familiar locations and characters within a modern urban environment. In his director’s statement, he explains that the inspiration came from a lifelong fascination with the novel and its many screen adaptations, arguing that there has never been one definitive cinematic version of Dracula. His approach combines and reshapes several of the original characters, while relocating the Count’s lair from a Transylvanian castle to the tunnels and storm drains beneath Los Angeles.

Schwab also cites influences ranging from Universal’s 1931 Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, to the BBC’s 1977 adaptation Count Dracula, explaining that these earlier interpretations encouraged him to rethink the structure of the story and present familiar events from a different perspective.

Speaking about the film’s selection for FrightFest, Schwab said he was delighted to bring the production to London, describing Dracula as “a timeless story” and expressing excitement at sharing his team’s interpretation with UK audiences.

Produced by Chris Schwab, Metin Yigit and Marlene Mc’Cohen, Dracula: The Night Around Us receives its UK Premiere at Tubi FrightFest on 30 August. For tickets, visit: frightfest.co.uk/

Dracula: The Night Around Us trailer

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