Famed monster slayer Gabriel Van Helsing is dispatched to Transylvania to assist the last of the Valerious bloodline in defeating Count Dracula. Anna Valerious reveals that Dracula has formed an unholy alliance with Dr. Frankenstein’s monster and is hell-bent on exacting a centuries-old curse on her family.
<%%item_is_not_adult%%

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Van Helsing: Hugh Jackman
• Anna Valerious: Kate Beckinsale
• Count Vladislaus Dracula: Richard Roxburgh
• Carl: David Wenham
• Frankenstein’s Monster: Shuler Hensley
• Aleera: Elena Anaya
• Velkan: Will Kemp
• Igor: Kevin J. O’Connor
• Cardinal Jinette: Alun Armstrong
• Verona: Silvia Colloca
• Marishka: Josie Maran
• Top Hat: Tom Fisher
• Dr. Victor Frankenstein: Samuel West
• Mr. Hyde (voice): Robbie Coltrane
• Dr. Jekyll: Stephen Fisher
• Barmaid: Dana Morávková
• Opera Singer: Zuzana Durdinová
• Gendarme: Jaroslav Vízner
• Villager: Marek Vašut
• Vampire Child: Samantha Sommers
• Dracula’s Ball Performer: Dorel Mois
• Dracula’s Ball Performer: Marianna Mois
• Dracula’s Ball Performer: Laurence Racine
• Dracula’s Ball Performer: Patrice Wojciechowski
• Dwerger (uncredited): Kacie Borrowman
• Dwerger (uncredited): Martin Klebba
• Villager (uncredited): Ryan James

Film Crew:

• Conductor: Alan Silvestri
• Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
• Sound Effects Editor: Harry Cohen
• Executive Producer: Sam Mercer
• Costume Design: Gabriella Pescucci
• Characters: Bram Stoker
• Set Decoration: Cindy Carr
• Casting: Ellen Lewis
• Casting: Priscilla John
• Associate Producer: David Minkowski
• Associate Producer: Matthew Stillman
• Editor: Jim May
• Special Effects Assistant: Ryan Arndt
• Production Design: Allan Cameron
• Writer: Stephen Sommers
• Producer: Bob Ducsay
• Art Direction: Tony Reading
• Art Direction: Giles Masters
• Director of Photography: Allen Daviau
• Art Direction: Steve Arnold
• ADR Editor: Anna MacKenzie
• Sound Effects Editor: Ezra Dweck
• Sound Effects Editor: Dino Dimuro
• ADR Editor: Victoria Rose Sampson
• Sound Effects Editor: Christopher Assells
• Supervising Sound Editor: Per Hallberg
• Stunt Coordinator: R. A. Rondell
• Sound Effects Editor: Bryan Bowen
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Nina Fallon
• Concept Artist: Simon Murton
• Special Effects Coordinator: Thomas L. Fisher
• Makeup Effects: Keith VanderLaan
• Assistant Decorator: Jon Danniells
• Assistant Editor: Ray Bushey III
• Art Direction: Keith P. Cunningham
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Leslie Shatz
• Key Special Effects: Steve LaPorte
• Characters: Mary Shelley
• Costume Design: Carlo Poggioli
• Casting: Joanna Colbert
• Makeup Effects Designer: Greg Cannom
• ADR Mixer: Peter Gleaves
• ADR Recordist: David Lucarelli
• Assistant Art Director: Dawn Swiderski
• Editor: Kelly Matsumoto
• Unit Production Manager: JoAnn Perritano
• Orchestrator: Mark McKenzie
• Associate Producer: Artist W. Robinson
• Assistant Art Director: Dawn Snyder
• Set Designer: Luke Freeborn
• Intern: Jordan Wilby
• Key Hair Stylist: Colleen Callaghan
• Production Sound Mixer: Chris Munro
• Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Michael Keller
• Creature Design: Derek Thompson
• Dialogue Editor: Kimaree Long
• Makeup Department Head: Nena Smarz
• Set Designer: Eric Sundahl
• Set Designer: Easton Michael Smith
• Musician: Armen Ksajikian
• Sequence Supervisor: Ian Christie
• Stunts: Tim Rigby
• Set Designer: Harry E. Otto
• Costume Supervisor: Nick Scarano
• Set Designer: Jann K. Engel
• Assistant Art Director: Alex Cameron
• Modeling: Tory Belleci
• Dialogue Editor: Frederick H. Stahly
• Music Editor: John Finklea
• Foley Artist: John T. Cucci
• Boom Operator: Anthony Ortiz
• Still Photographer: Frank Masi
• Property Master: Steven Melton
• Set Costumer: Laura Baker
• Supervising Music Editor: Kenneth Karman
• Second Unit Director: Greg Michael
• Camera Operator: Paul C. Babin
• Property Master: David Balfour
• Script Supervisor: Sylvie Chesneau
• Camera Operator: Tom Connole
• Gaffer: Larry Wallace
• Unit Publicist: Guy Adan
• Dialect Coach: Jess Platt
• ADR Editor: Michelle Pazer
• Sequence Supervisor: Nigel Sumner
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Gordon T. Wittmann
• Supervising Sound Editor: Karen Baker Landers
• Sound Effects Editor: Peter Staubli
• Steadicam Operator: Craig Fikse
• ADR Editor: Zack Davis
• Digital Intermediate Editor: Nathan R. Fitzgerald
• Sound Effects Editor: Bruce Tanis
• Sound Effects Editor: Dan Hegeman
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: David Parker
• ADR Editor: Thomas Whiting
• Set Costumer: Nancy Smytka
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Dennis S. Sands
• Visual Effects Art Director: Christian Alzmann
• Assistant Makeup Artist: Todd Tucker
• Visual Effects Editor: Nicolas Anastassiou
• Sound Effects Editor: Scott Sanders
• Visual Effects Compositor: Kelly Granite
• CG Supervisor: Curt I. Miyashiro
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Connie Kennedy
• Rigging Gaffer: Dana Arnold
• Leadman: Shane Reed
• Set Costumer: Silvia Raiano
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Lori Arnold
• ADR Engineer: Derek Casari
• Art Department Coordinator: Wylie Griffin
• Construction Coordinator: Butch West
• CG Animator: Rick O’Connor
• Graphic Designer: Ellen Lampl
• Sequence Supervisor: Jeffrey Benedict
• Sequence Supervisor: Carl N. Frederick
• Post Production Supervisor: Sean T. Stratton
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Jill E. Hughes
• CG Supervisor: Craig Hammack
• Hairstylist: Voni Hinkle
• Visual Effects Editor: Bryan Park
• Director of Operations: Harvey Lowry
• Assistant Property Master: Lance Larson
• Animation Supervisor: Daniel Jeannette
• First Assistant Sound Editor: Tony Negrete
• Key Costumer: Gregory B. Peña
• Head of Production: Kristen Leigh Branan
• Choreographer: Debra Brown
• Foley Mixer: James Ashwill
• Digital Color Timer: Steven J. Scott
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Sarah Peacock
• Digital Compositor: Sean Apple
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Laura Denicke
• Post Production Coordinator: Hunter S. Ellis
• Storyboard Artist: Jerry Bingham
• ADR Recordist: Alexander Beddow
• Second Assistant Camera: Michal Krbeček
• First Assistant Accountant: Richard Castro
• Visual Effects Editor: David Tanaka
• Set Costumer: Serena Fiumi
• Hairstylist: Susan Jennifer Lipson
• Extras Casting: Judy Cook
• Compositing Supervisor: Marshall Richard Krasser
• Fight Choreographer: Jimmy Edwards
• Standby Painter: Robert E. Denne
• Art Department Assistant: Hideki Arichi
• Camera Production Assistant: Kevin Britton
• Production Controller: Nicole Furia
• Editorial Production Assistant: Vaclav Sramek
• First Assistant Editor: Tzarina V. Edillon
• Best Boy Grip: Kyle Carden
• Production Coordinator: Jennifer Conroy
• Sound Editor: Lou Kleinman
• Visual Effects Producer: Jennifer C. Bell
• Visual Effects Producer: Gretchen Libby
• Assistant Location Manager: Petr Skvor
• Creature Technical Director: Kenneth Bailey
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Scott Squires
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Ben Snow
• Cableman: Rocky Quiroz
• Set Costumer: Catherine Peña
• Set Costumer: Jorge J. Gonzalez
• Set Costumer: Renata Ryšavá
• Makeup Artist: Vasilios Tanis
• Production Supervisor: Mary Kim
• Location Manager: James Traynor
• Editorial Production Assistant: Nick Conti
• CG Supervisor: Doug Smythe
• Sequence Supervisor: Raul Essig
• Sequence Supervisor: Jeremy Goldman
• Sequence Supervisor: Robert Hoffmeister
• Sequence Supervisor: Hayden Landis
• Sequence Supervisor: Tia Marshall
• Sequence Supervisor: Patrick Myers
• Sequence Supervisor: Thomas Zils
• Visual Effects Coordinator: Glenn Karpf
• Stunts: Karin Silvestri
• Third Assistant Director: Lukáš Líbal
• Stunts: Tad Griffith
• Dolly Grip: Gary A. Beaird
• Assistant Camera: Matthew A. Del Ruth
• Production Assistant: Katherine Farrar
• Costumer: Jiřina Eisenhamerová
• Compositing Lead: Todd Vaziri
• Stunt Double: Richard Bradshaw
• Second Second Assistant Director: Maria Battle Campbell
• Libra Head Technician: John Bonnin
• Special Effects Technician: Steve Austin
• Sequence Supervisor: Sean MacKenzie
• Lead Animator: Leslie Fulton
• Rotoscoping Artist: Erin King
• Production Driver: Terry R. Owens
• Digital Colorist: Michael Healey
• Digital Intermediate Producer: Terra Bliss
• Additional Production Assistant: Kevin Roy
• Creative Director: Chris John Jones
• General Manager: Donald Fly
• Visual Effects Assistant Editor: Carey Burens
• Colorist: Brano Danis
• Production Consultant: Gary J. Gross
• Visual Effects Production Assistant: Christine Castellano
• Casting Assistant: Faith Allbeson
• Accountant: Janette Evans
• Assistant Accountant: Michal Engrth
• Assistant Production Coordinator: Boban Dvorak
• CG Artist: Florent Andorra
• Key Set Production Assistant: Justin Hamilton Salem
• Payroll Accountant: David Romano
• Production Secretary: Kelly E. Norris
• Receptionist: Roxanne Sutherland-Valentine
• Second Assistant Accountant: Carole Humphreys
• Production Coordinator: John T. Sweeney

Movie Reviews:

• Wuchak: ***Big Dumb Blockbuster Monster Fun***

  Although writer/director Stephen Sommers had an unexpected hit with 1999’s “The Mummy,” he went overKILL with the 2001 sequel “The Mummy Returns,” a prime example of modern blockbuster dreck that’s full of explosions and “exciting” things going on, but somehow is strangely boring. That’s the problem with 2004’s “Van Helsing,” although not as bad.

  THE PLOT: In 1887 Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) teams up with Anna (Kate Beckinsale) in Transylvania to fight Dracula, his three lovely but vicious brides, the Frankenstein monster, werewolves, vampire babies, etc.

  It won’t take long for the viewer to perceive that “Van Helsing” shouldn’t be taken too seriously. It’s a partial parody/homage of the classic Universal monster movies and part serious, just barely. Imagine “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992) with the over-the-top thrills of Indiana Jones and the flair of classic monster parodies like “The Vampire Happening” (1971) or “Young Frankenstein” (1974) and you’d have a good approximation.

  The film looks good, but there’s too much CGI and some of the monsters look really cartoony, like Mr. Hyde and the werewolves. Others look quite good, like the flying vampire brides and Frankenstein’s monster. As was the case with “The Mummy Returns” the film is strangely tedious despite all the manic happenings. Thankfully, there are worthy hints of depth, e.g. the Frankenstein monster and Anna. I wish there was more.

  Speaking of Anna, Kate Beckinsale is definitely one of the highlights here as she looks stunning throughout in an amazing form-fitting costume and thigh-high boots seemingly appropriate for the late 1800s (speaking as someone who’s not even a Beckinsale fan). Josie Maran and Elena Anaya are also striking as two of Dracula’s wives, Marishka and Aleera. Needless to say, excellent job on the female front. On the other side of the spectrum, Jackman is a great, masculine leading man, perfect for the role. Richard Roxburgh (Dracula), David Wenham (Carl), Kevin J. O’Connor (Igor) and Shuler Hensley (Frankenstein’s monster) are all entertaining or effective.

  At the end of the day, though, “Van Helsing” barely rises above the limitations of what it is: a big, dumb modern blockbuster with all its over-the-top trappings. Considering the $160 million thrown into it, it shoulda/coulda been better. The story needed time to breathe and less constant mania. The movie’s also over-long at 2 hours and 11 minutes. Still, it’s better than “The Mummy Returns” and there’s enough here to make it worthwhile, if you’re in the mood for this type of fare.

  THE FILM WAS SHOT in the Czech Republic, Rome and Paris with studio work done in Southern Cal and Orlando, Florida.

  GRADE: B-/C+

• John Chard: Absinthe Actioner!

  Van Helsing is written and directed by Stephen Sommers. It stars Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham, Shuler Hensley, Elena Anaya, Will Kemp, Kevin J. O’Connor and Alun Armstrong. Music is by Alan Silvestri and cinematography by Allen Daviau.

  Famed monster hunter Van Helsing (Jackman) is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula’s (Roxburgh) fiendish plan involving the Frankenstein Monster and the Wolf Man.

  Well it was universally savaged by the pro critics and is considered a flop. Yet whilst understanding those things, it does for a reason hold above average ratings on the big internet movie sites. It did find a market (and continues to do so), it’s like one big long MTV video, a sort of chaotic monster fun frolic in rock opera style.

  It’s effects laden, which is no great thing since they are shoddy, and the dialogue is often as cringe worthy as some of the accents are. Yet it’s still a thrilling ride, a strap yourself in and run with it job, to be in the company of sexy lead actors in Gothic garb and devilish period surrounds.

  Loud and boisterous for sure, and tacky at times, but exhilarating all the same for those after some pure escapist carnage. 5/10

• mooney240: **Van Helsing doesn’t deserve its early grave and should be resurrected for more fun adventures.**

  Why do people love to hate such an enjoyable movie? Van Helsing falls much more in the adventure genre than horror but still has a little of the edge of a scary movie. Stephen Sommers’ influence can be felt throughout with a lot of the same charm that made The Mummy (1999) so great. Van Helsing showcases many of the Universal classic monsters while building a shared universe that should have been explored more than once. With big names like Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale, blockbuster effects, goofy fun moments, and all the adventure one could hope for. Van Helsing deserves way more love and a lot less disdain. Sure it isn’t a perfect movie, but it was a much better attempt at a shared Monsterverse than Tom Cruise’s The Mummy (2017) and was entitled to more.