The Last Voyage of the Demeter looked like it had all the ingredients for a great horror outing at sea: Dracula, Nosferatu-inspired creep factor, and a crew of soon-to-be snacks. But somewhere along the way, this ship got lost in its own fog. Here’s why this voyage didn’t exactly leave me breathless (well, unless you count yawning).
First, let’s talk Dracula. With a face only Nosferatu’s mother could love, the design for our night-crawling menace definitely honors the classics. However, Dracula spends half the time writhing around in the shadows, which, rather than upping the tension, made me wonder if he was just suffering from motion sickness. The attempt at a mysterious vampire was there, but constantly keeping us updated on his movements as he crawled and lurked about drained the suspense. When he finally grinned, though? It was nightmare fuel. No monster smile has haunted me quite like this one—though mostly for the wrong reasons.
Liam Cunningham, bless his stoic soul, gives it his all as the ship’s captain, and honestly, he deserved better. His fate—dying with his ship—should have packed a wallop. Instead, it felt like a letdown, a big meh to end his character arc.
Cunningham brought some grit and gravitas, but the emotional beats just didn’t hit. Then we have Corey Hawkins, who gamely tackles a very ambitious English accent. Props to him for trying something new, but this accent needed more time in the oven. He and Cunningham just didn’t find that onscreen rhythm, leaving us with a ship crew whose chemistry was…well, let’s say about as cold as the North Sea.
One thing they got right? The gore. If graphic kills are what you’re after, you’ll get your fill. And just when you think some characters—especially the younger ones—might get a pass, the movie shocks you with no plot armor for anyone. Dracula here does not discriminate. It’s a bold choice that deserves some applause, though it feels weird to cheer for a lack of mercy toward kids.
Then there’s the final act. Remember that heart-pounding, deeply satisfying conclusion that great horror movies deliver? Yeah, this one’s still looking for it. The climactic showdown fizzles out, setting up a sequel in the clunkiest, least satisfying way possible. A black man vs. a vampire sounds like a horror showdown with some real potential, especially if it’s October. Unfortunately, this film somehow turns that killer concept into a snooze fest.
In the end, The Last Voyage of the Demeter felt like a ship with a full cargo hold but no wind in its sails. Here’s hoping any potential sequel finds a way to steer into more thrilling waters—because this voyage just didn’t leave me thirsty for more.