Stephen King Says This Cult Actor Was "Terrible as Dracula" – He Couldn't Be More Wrong

Stephen King, a recognized master of horror, is known not only for his chilling novels but also for his sometimes unexpected and harsh film criticism.

Although Bela Lugosi became a horror icon thanks to his portrayal of Dracula, Stephen King argued that his performance was not so impressive.

Bela Lugosi's Dracula Is a Cult Incarnation of the Character, but King Disagrees

The canonical image of the ancient vampire, associated with this character for years, was presented in Tod Browning's movie Dracula, released in 1931.

Universal Pictures invited the American actor of Hungarian origin Bela Lugosi to play the role. Lugosi was familiar with the image of the vampire, who was not yet considered a cult figure at the time. In 1927, he portrayed Dracula on Broadway in the play of the same name.

Realizing that this role would open the doors of Hollywood for him, Lugosi approached it meticulously, avoiding parties and working around the clock on his image.

Close-ups captured the magical look that Lugosi gave the character. At the same time, the actor wore minimal makeup, enabling him to embody an image that is both aristocratic and monstrous and has become entrenched in the history of cinema.

However, according to Stephen King, Bela Lugosi's Dracula does not deserve cult status. More precisely, he thought the actor's portrayal of the iconic character was laughable:

“I thought [Bela] Lugosi was terrible as Dracula. He was alright until he opened his mouth, and then I just dissolved into gales of laughter.”

To any die-hard horror fan, that sounds like blasphemy.

Nearly a Century Later, Tod Browning's 'Dracula' Remains a Revered Horror Masterpiece

Tod Browning's Dracula, which came after Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau's Nosferatu, was very different from its predecessor. The creepy German expressionism was replaced by a Hollywood horror attraction.

This version of Dracula marked the beginning of Universal's monster franchise. Following its successful premiere, the studio released movies about a mummy, an invisible man, and a wolf man.

Browning, the director of the legendary horror Freaks, created a stylish Hollywood classic. Even almost a century later, Bela Lugosi's iconic outfit is still worn for Halloween, and sitcoms and animated series often parody this movie about the Count of Transylvania.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Dracula'?

• Dracula has 94% from critics and 82% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.3/10.

Where to Watch 'Dracula'?

Dracula is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.