DRACULA 2: ASCENSION

US, 2003, 85 minutes. Colour.
Jason Scott Lee, Craig Sheffer, Diane Neal, Jason London,
Roy Scheider.
Directed by Patrick Lussier.


The two Dracula sequels (Ascension and Legacy) were actually filmed together and then split by the director. In the first film, a continuation from Dracula 2000 (though with a different cast and only briefly referencing the fact that Dracula was Judas Iscariot), the action takes place in Louisiana. With the second film, there is a transition to Berlin and then to travelling through Romania.

The film introduces a quotation from Cardinal Sequeri (Roy Scheider) about the nature of vampires and their presence in the world. We are also introduced to a vampire hunter, Father Uffizi (played by Jason Scott Lee). The film opens with his pursuit of the Twins of Evil and his conquering them, though he is also bitten and has to undergo rigorous physical reactions, exposure to the sun, penitential whippings in order to maintain his humanity. In the meantime we are introduced to some university students and their crippled lecturer, played by Craig Sheffer. As the film proceeds, with the group wanting to get vampire blood in order to analyse it, the professor intends to have it for himself so that he will recover his limbs and have immortality. He is at first betrayed by one of his students who takes the blood, but he is killed in the chase by Father Uffizi. The student who works in the morgue, Jason London, is devoted to another student, Elizabeth (Diane Neal) who is infatuated with the professor. She too becomes infected.

With the pursuit of the Dracula character, and his imprisonment (played by
Stephen Billington) there is a flashback once again to the crucifixion of Jesus, and the role of Judas who then becomes Dracula. The film builds up to a climax with the confrontation with the professor and his death.

The second film opens in Berlin with Father Uffizi, having been dismissed from the priesthood by the cardinal because of his unwillingness to obey orders, he meets up with a British journalist, played by Alexandra Westcourt. As they travel through Romania, war-torn, they are in pursuit of Dracula. This time he is portrayed by Rutger Hauer. He also has Elizabeth in his entourage. Luke is also present, helping Father Uffizi.

After a set of adventures, clashes, threats, the death of Dracula, Elizabeth and her sacrificing herself for Luke – the film ends with a restoration of some kind of order.

The films were directed by Patrick Lussier, who was the editor for Wes Craven thrillers, including some of the Scream series.

1. The impact of the original film, Dracula in modern times, New Orleans? The revelation of Dracula as Judas?

2. The sequels, the development of the plot, less classical treatment of vampires? Updating to the 21st century?

3. The title, Dracula, his experiences, in command – and then captured and destroyed?

4. New Orleans, the modern city, the university, apartments, the plant where Dracula was held, the church? The morgue? The musical score? The introduction, Father Uffizi, the twins, the chase, his innocence, changing? Uffizi and his stances, the danger, his scratch, decapitating the vampires? The sun, his surviving? His penitential behaviour to retain humanity?

5. Father Uffizi and the church? The quote from the cardinal? The vampires having no shadow? The visit to the cardinal, discussions, his help? Uffizi and his penance? Chasing Dracula, finding him? The role of the cardinal?

6. 6. The lecture, Lowell, his situation, the wheelchair, Elizabeth and her devotion, his relationship with her? Elizabeth at the morgue? Luke, his love for Elizabeth, his work with the body, the rivalry? At the apartment?

7. The taking of the corpse, the burning? The diagnosis? The phone call, the agent searching for the body? The substitution?

8. Eric, his control, his destination? The group, the blood, the analysis? The holy water taken from the church? The investigation? Eric and the transformation, motivation, in the girl’s apartment, the cat, vampyrising her, Uffizi and his pursuit, Eric’s death?

9. The irony about Lowell, the agent looking for the blood, the drinking of the blood, Lowell recovering?

10. Dracula, alive, the lights, the blood, his being reinforced with strength, Elizabeth and the scratch?

11. Uffizi, his arrival, the confrontation, the mesh for Dracula, the fight, Luke and Elizabeth, the options?

12. The visuals of the crucifixion – and Dracula as Judas?

The build-up to the deaths, those who survived – and the transition to the sequel?