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As a boy, future prince of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes (Luke Evans), was sent to appease the Turkish sultan and serve in the Turkish army. Years later he would return to his homeland and claim the throne. As an adult Vlad would fight against the Sultan, Mehmed (Dominic Cooper), and the Turk’s wishes to advance into Europe. Known for his barbaric and unparalleled wrath, slowly impaling thousands upon thousands of enemies upon stakes, Vlad took on the moniker Vlad the Impaler. Challenged by the Sultan feeling particularly greedy it would take a much higher (or lower) power to even the score and protect his beloved land of Wallachia along with his wife and son (Sarah Gadon, Art Parkinson). This is the story of How Vlad the Impaler became the vampire legend Vlad Dracul. Very loosely following actual historical events, this fictional tale of one of history’s bloodiest leaders and cinema’s greatest monsters gains a marginal bit of traction just in time for Halloween. Not so much about scares and spooks, Dracula Untold plays out more in the action/fantasy realm of a lesser Lord of The Rings, but with more confused dialects than you can shake a stick at, cause yeah, it is fiction. However, if you can let go of the general ridiculousness and just go with it, this 92 minute alternate history does about what you’d expect, delivering big CGI bat battles, but feels about 180 minutes, which is good and bad. Not overly offensive nor terribly impressive this offering from Director Gary Shore, gets marks for effort, but not so much for freshness. Maybe a matinee, but really more of a rental, Dracula Untold is rated PG-13.

Nick and Amy Dunne (Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike) are a married couple strained by the trials of life– family issues, money issues, trust issues, the list goes on. So, when Amy goes missing on the couple’s fifth anniversary the public eye turns in the direction of Nick. Suspected of murdering his wife Nick turns to his sister Margo (Carrie Coon) and heavyweight lawyer Tanner Bolt (Tyler Perry). But something’s rotten in Denmark and Detective Boney (Kim Dickens) senses something amiss. What really happened to Amy and what lurid details of her past will be brought to light? The court of public opinion is in session, and facts have little weight, playing with fate will surely have its consequences for all. Directed by David Fincher and based on Gillian Flynn’s novel this psychological suspense thriller manages to key up just the right degree of creepy with just the right amount of question, all the while staying true to the original novel. Turning a satirical gaze on the sanctity of marriage and the current state of affairs in news media, Flynn and Fincher line up deadly shots with military precision of a sniper miles away, then, as the trigger is pulled, we the audience are witness to the cacophony that unfolds before our eyes before we ever hear the sound– unnerving. From an acting standpoint the ensemble feels all on point, with the exception of the cliche opening scene that tries way too hard to develop backstory in a bar over drinks before noon, never seen that done before…Notable cinematography and art direction make for a rich viewing experience, although the film does feel about 10 minutes too long, eh, we’ll let that slide; meanwhile, music from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross punctuates the dark and brooding nature of the overall film without overreacting. Worth your time this weekend. Gone Girl is rated R.