Radu Jude’S ‘Dracula’ Bites Into Cinema With Ai, Absurdity, And A Nod To Hollywood

Dracula Reimagined: A Cinematic Feast at Locarno

Hold onto your garlic, folks - Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude is bringing Dracula back to life in a way you’ve never seen before. Known for his boundary-pushing works like Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn and Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World, Jude premiered his latest creation at the 78th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on Aug. 10. And trust us, this isn’t just another vampire tale - it’s a full-on cinematic dissection of the iconic bloodsucker, shot right in the heart of Transylvania.

Premiering in the festival’s competition program, Dracula is a wild ride through absurd, pulpy, and sometimes downright naughty stories. Jude’s vision doesn’t just revisit the myth - it tears it apart and stitches it back together with a mix of vampire hunts, zombie chaos, and even Dracula crashing a strike. It’s a love letter to cinema itself, and we’re totally here for the madness.

With a cast including Adonis Tanța, Oana Maria Zaharia, and Gabriel Spahiu, and international sales handled by Luxbox (North American rights snagged by Jason Hellerstein’s 1-2 Special), this film is already making waves. So, what’s the secret sauce behind Jude’s bloody brilliant take? Let’s dive in.

AI, iPhones, and a Dash of Chaos: How Jude Crafted Dracula

Ever wondered what happens when a filmmaker flirts with the limitless (and sometimes laughable) possibilities of AI? Jude’s Dracula gives us the answer, featuring a young director in the film tinkering with artificial intelligence to spin new takes on the vampire legend. From sci-fi twists on Vlad the Impaler to AI-generated kitsch, the movie is a playground of innovation - and a bit of a middle finger to polished Hollywood aesthetics.

Shot on an iPhone with a shoestring budget, Jude’s approach is as rebellious as it gets. He even swapped extras for cardboard cutouts and leaned into the worst AI imagery possible to keep costs down. The result? A film that’s raw, unapologetic, and, according to Locarno’s artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, a stoic refusal to make “beautiful” movies - which he means as the ultimate compliment.

“I wanted this film to suck up everything - just like Dracula himself. AI became the perfect tool to mirror that hunger,” Jude shared in a recent chat with THR.

A Pop Culture Bloodbath: From Chaplin to OnlyFans

Jude’s Dracula isn’t just about fangs and coffins - it’s a cultural blender whirring with references to Hollywood giants like Charlie Chaplin, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola, alongside classic horror icons like Bela Lugosi and Frankenstein. But don’t think it’s stuck in the past; modern names like Britney Spears, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump pop up, as do platforms like OnlyFans and TikTok. There’s even a controversial line about Trump that’s sure to spark debate.

Politics and pop culture collide in this film, often with a burlesque twist. Jude admits to drawing from the French New Wave, especially Jean-Luc Godard, letting his movie soak up the world’s current chaos like a sponge. Filming between July and September last year, he even tossed in a reference to the Trump assassination attempt on the fly.

Then there’s the nod to OnlyFans, inspired by actress Oana Maria Zaharia’s personal experiences. Jude wove that into her character, blending real life with fiction for a richer, spicier story. It’s provocative, sure, but also a playful jab at societal prudishness - especially in Romania.

Deconstructing Myths and Celebrating ‘Bad’ Cinema

At its core, Jude’s Dracula is a celebration of storytelling - the good, the bad, and the downright trashy. “The film itself is Dracula,” Jude told THR, explaining how it devours tropes from genre flicks and subverts them with a mix of absurdity and avant-garde spirit. It’s an homage to underrated American auteurs like Ed Wood and Andy Warhol, as well as a nod to the Fluxus filmmakers.

From vulgar folktales to literary quotes (yes, there’s even a Wittgenstein reference), the movie balances high culture with lowbrow laughs. Jude’s fascination with “bad movies” - inspired by critic J. Hoberman’s essay - shines through, making this a film that’s as much about cinema’s history as it is about a vampire’s legacy.

Oh, and did we mention Jude shot this alongside another project, Kontinental ’25, using the same actors and crew? Filming Dracula in 28 days and the other in just 10, he maximized creativity on a tight budget, proving that limitations can birth pure genius.

Sexuality, Vulgarity, and a Vampire’s Bite

Let’s talk about the steamier side of Dracula. Jude doesn’t shy away from the myth’s deep ties to sexuality, weaving it into the narrative with a burlesque flair that’s both provocative and avant-garde. It’s a challenge to prudish norms, especially in Romanian society, and Jude relishes every second of it.

Drawing from classic Romanian literature by Ion Creangă, he adapts vulgar stories with a wink, daring anyone to call him out. “I’m just staging classical literature for the world to see,” he quips. It’s this mix of rawness and reverence that makes the film so uniquely seductive.

So, if you’re ready for a vampire flick that’s equal parts absurd, political, and downright cheeky, Jude’s Dracula is your next obsession. Check out a clip online, and let us know if you’re Team Vampire or Team AI - we’re dying to hear!