If you're a Hollywood studio and you have to pay big bucks to include a cover song from one of the hottest acts in the world to make your trailer seem cool nine times out of 10 it's not a good sign. Enter the first preview for Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures “Dracula Untold.”
Directed by commercial director Gary Shore, “Untold” features Luke Evans (“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”) as Vlad Tepes, a prince from ancient times who must make a deal with “a” devil (“Game of Thrones'” Charles Dance covered in makeup) to save his family and kingdom from an evil Sultan (Dominic Cooper looking for a paycheck). Or course, that means becoming a vampire and all the bloodsucking issues that comes with it. But, as the trailer wants you to remember, he's a hero this time around! He's sacrificed everything to save his family! He's just been misunderstood all these years! (Just ignore the fangs, bloodlust and his ability to morph into a thousand bats).
To make the movie look more contemporary and give it a hint of credibility with the kiddies, the studio marketing department threw in a cover of “Everybody Wants to Rule The World” by none other than Lorde. Which, frankly, probably wasn't cheap. Guess everyone just wants to be on her team, huh?
Experience the “untold” story in the trailer embedded at the top of this post.
“Dracula Untold” opens nationwide and in IMAX on Oct. 17.