With the release of Robert Eggers' Nosferatu last month, I've been thinking a lot about Dracula films. There have been quite a few retellings of Bram Stoker's classic story and while the name is different, Nosferatu definitely counts in my book. I loved the 2024 Nosferatu but I think my favorite Dracula film is still Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 masterpiece Bram Stoker's Dracula. While there are elements of Nosferatu that made me think of this film, the vampire is completely different as he's just downright evil, uncharismatic, and utterly irredeemable with a demonic origin. Coppola's film, while still giving us an evil, corrupted Count Dracula, also does give the Count some humanity and a tragic backstory. I don't want every take on Dracula to have that, but it works really well in this film. I wanted to talk about the movie and while I desperately hope that someday NECA releases figures from the film, the most recent company I can think of who did release some versions of Dracula and Van Helsing is Funko. I really liked the Vinyl SODA figures overall and this was a simple but nifty take on Count Dracula/ Prince Vlad in his super cool red armor. Ready to chitchat about this figure, Gary Oldman, and Bram Stoker's Dracula for a bit? Then join me after the break...
The Facts:Height: 4 inches
Articulation: None
Accessories: 2 piece metal soda can and a "POG shaped collector card."
Year of Release: 2023
Original Retail Price: $12 dollars
Edition Size: 5,000 (1,000 are the chase variant)
The Positives:* This Vinyl SODA take on Dracula isn't one of the main looks of the Count from the film but is based on the armor Vlad Dracula wears during his campaign against the Ottoman Empire during the prologue of the film. It's such an incredible design, though. There's no articulation here, just a simple vinyl figure with a lot of charm. I love this look! The chase variant has Dracula with the helmet but this version has the blood stain and a more aggravated looking Vlad.
* I love the cans these come in. They really are one of the best packaging designs Funko has ever used as the soda can design is so incredibly cool and makes for a rather unique display piece on a shelf by itself. What would Dracula soda be? Definitely something red, maybe a very tart cherry or Strawberry soda? The can displays all of the expected labels while the back shows off the figure and includes all of the legal info, etc. The top of the can separates so you could use the can to store trinkets as well, and it's even sculpted to look like the top of a soda can. It's made from a much more durable metal than your average soda can, too, so it's quite a nice collectible. The image of Dracula on it doesn't quite look like Gary Oldman, but I still like the very stylized take on the character.
* The POG-like cardboard disc sits in the bottom of the can and shows off whether or not you scored the chase variant even before you open the passed plastic baggie the figure comes in.
* I love the design of Vlad's armor in the film and Funko did a nice job capturing the organic look of it in the exaggerated style of the Vinyl SODA line. Want to know how Vlad would have looked as a 1970s breakfast mascot? Here's how! Team him up with Count Chocula or have them face off with each other for breakfast aisle dominance!
* The breakfast mascot look really jumps out at me in the face. He's still got the hair and facial hair of Gary Oldman's Vlad Dracula (though Oldman's Vlad had his hair pulled very far back, showing most of his forehead) and a splash of blood on his face. He looks pretty angry, too, mourning his sweet Elisabeta and renouncing his faith. It's after that that he stabs his word into the stone cross, drinks the blood, and puts his hand on his chest, yelling "This is the big one, Elisabeta! I'm coming to join you!" Or maybe I'm mixing my pop culture together, again.
* The sword his cool and so are the gauntlets. Very cool! I actually have the old 8 inch Vlad from Suncoast video as well, but I still want someone like NECA to tackle this film. At least multiple different Draculas, and perhaps Lucy and the brides of Dracula.
I love Bram Stoker's Dracula and while it's pretty uncommon to find anything from the film these days, this guy was a nice surprise who captured one of the coolest looks that Count Dracula has ever had in any media. I do have a small shelf of some collectibles from the film (not many) along with a few other random, non-Universal or Hammer Dracula items, and this will go nicely there. I think the cans are almost as cool as the figures, too. This is one of my favorites from what I believe is a now defunct product range from Funko. It's a Great and a 1/2 collectible and a bit of a pop culture deep cut compared to most other items released in the line.
Looking for more of Count Dracula? For more reviews check out the NECA Universal Monsters Dracula (Transylvania) and Dracula from the Crypt Club 4-Pack, the Hammer Count Dracula (Horror of Dracula) the Funko ReAction Dracula, Super7's ReAction Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Count Dracula from Operation: Monster Force, the McFarlane's Monsters Dracula Playset, Jada Toys' Bela Lugosi as Dracula, the Playmobil Take Along Haunted House 9312, the Big Bucket of Monsters Dracula, the Marvel Legends Series Dracula, Mezco's Tower of Fear, the Wendy's Frosty Bite, and Dracula from the original Playmates Monster Force line.
I've got a few Funko Soda vinyl figures. Remember the Captain Crunch mini figure premiums? That's what these remind me of.
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