Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Corey Hawkins as Clemens in The Last Voyage of the Demeter, directed by André Øvredal. Photo Credit: Rainer Bajo/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. © 2023 Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the film being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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There was a time, where the vampire was a genuinely feared creature and rightfully so. After all, the vampire was in fact… an insult to humanity. For it embraced the darkest aspects of the human psyche by committing itself to deception and manipulation and of course… it crossed every line imaginable. All by using the species it once belonged to for nourishment and that is indeed disturbing and terrifying and brought forth countless iconic stories about this creature, the kind that oft ended with a grand fight to end its disgusting scourge. But then, when the early 21st century rolled around… our views toward the vampire changed. Courtesy of the fact that a new generation of creatives were eager to ponder upon if any vestige of humanity could be left within a creature of the night.
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Which brought forth a bevy of different types of vampire stories. Some of which featured romantic adventures with the vampire, alongside tales that worked to remove the evil mythos of the creature, and instead present them to audiences as misguided and unfortunate creatures. The kind that was caught between worlds, making them more dramatic than scary and that of course has left hardcore horror fans, and casual ones as well wondering… if it is still possible to make such a being scary. Especially in an era where they are fawned over deeply and well, as it turns out… they most certainly can be scary and everything we once feared. And for proof, look no further than the brand-new vampire themed feature that is in theaters this weekend, The Last Voyage of the Demeter.

A feat that this story accomplishes by expanding deeply upon a singular chapter from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Wherein we meet a man named Clemens who is eager to return to London. For he has been away from home for far too long and in this ancient era, he is aware of the fact that the quickest way home is by sea, and that pushes him to do whatever must be done to board the Demeter. A vessel bound for home, and well, by saving the life of young Toby, who is of relation to the ship’s captain, Clemens receives passage back to London aboard the ship. Wherein he quickly makes himself useful and quickly comes to face quite the unique crisis. One that will force him to fight for survival. For the cargo in the hold of this ship is deadly, for it harbors a being known as Count Dracula, and he has awakened and is ready to feed.

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Which is the perfect way to remind the world of the raw terror that the vampire can produce and the sheer evil that it harbors. For all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the creature is removed in this story, and that brings forth some serious terror. Since Dracula in essence, gives into hi darkest instincts and unleashes the predator within. Which allows for him to hunt with impunity aboard this boat and enjoy the thrill and the joy he finds in striking terror into the hearts of his victims and that in turn brings forth some utterly brutal moments in this story. Where we see the primal instincts of this creature unleashed in a manner we’ve haven’t seen in years. Which is uncomfortable and refreshing since that does indeed remind us of what this monster is really all about and what it is capable of, and the wonder of this story doesn’t end by giving bite back to Dracula and vampires in general.
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Because this is more than just a re-christening of the vampire, this is an old school horror feature through and through. After all, it is set on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and the crew know nothing of the mythos of Dracula. Which brings forth a real sense of isolation and the fear of the unknown hangs heavy over this tale. Which allows for this feature to make use of those elements to make the audience squirm in their seats, and it is mission accomplished when it comes to that. Since the jump scares work here and a powerful sense of dread washes over the viewer once Dracula begins the hunt. Giving rise to a supremely bleak horror story, one that feels supremely hopeless at times. Yet what is truly incredible is that there are still more wonders to behold regarding this motion picture, largely because… it also pays respect to the genre as a whole.

For there are tips of the cap to Alien here via the isolation we experience and even Stephen King and Hans Erdmann gets their due since this iteration of Dracula echoes the nightmarish nature of both Barlow from Salem’s Lot and Count Orlok from Nosferatu and of course, the acting is simply sublime. For everyone in this picture sells the confusion and the terror with a sense of realism that adds to the discomfort of this story and really all of these elements blend together to create, a perfect horror feature. For the genre at its purest is all about raw emotion and unfettered fear, and that is precisely what this movie provides us with. Alongside a powerful reminder that the creatures of the night are not to be cuddled or admired, but genuinely feared. For they are the worst parts of us personified and it is wonderful to see a horror film remind of us that in such a visceral manner.

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