Dracula: The Dark Prince 2013

Dracula Luke Roberts is a Romanian prince, Knight of the Secret Order of the Dragon, and a direct descendant of Abel, tasked with driving the Turks from his homeland. During a campaign, he leaves his wife Erzebet Kelly Wenham to rule in his absence. When he returns, he discovers his wife and knights murdered by advisers who opposed his methods; in a fit of rage, he kills the conspirators but spares one loyal adviser. With the help of a faithful squire who is fatally wounded, Dracula is driven to curse God and spend eternity in loneliness.

Centuries pass, and a group of keepers is attacked by Wrath Vasilescu Valentin, a monstrous undead figure, as they search for the Lightbringer—the only weapon that can kill Dracula. Sisters Alina Kelly Wenham and Esme Holly Earl are entrusted to bring the Lightbringer to Leonardo Van Helsing Jon Voight, while their guards fend off the attack. A band of thieves led by Lucian Ben Robson intercepts the sisters and steals the Lightbringer.

Leonardo arrives just as Wrath and his undead strike; Lucian activates the Lightbringer, revealing that he is a descendant of Cain and thus able to wield the weapon. He injures Wrath, but many thieves are slain, and Alina is carried away by Wrath and brought to Dracula. Dracula recognizes Alina as his murdered bride and instructs his advisor Renfield Stephen Hogan to protect her, while Leonardo explains Lucian’s lineage to a doubtful group. The Lightbringer’s power is shown to be awakened by Lucian’s blood, capable of killing the undead, and Dracula’s blood hints at a darker possibility—reviving the dead.

At the castle, Alina attempts to leave but is blocked by Demetria Poppy Corby-Tuech, who presents the dining room as a pleasant invitation and reveals the courtiers as vampires who are eager to bite. Dracula rescues Alina just in time. Elsewhere, at Betriz, Esme, Leonardo, and Lucian join a gathering of demon hunters and meet Andros Richard Ashton, a towering axe-wielding hunter seeking to avenge his sister taken long ago. Andros chooses to join the quest to reach Dracula’s castle. Wrath and his undead attack again but Wrath is mortally wounded by the Lightbringer and returns to the castle, only to be revived by Dracula.

Dracula offers Alina his wife’s necklace, a token that grants her Erzebet’s memories; through it, she sees a tender past between them and hears his longing for his lost love. He later shares with her his hope that the Lightbringer could prevent God from ever taking a loved one away. With the aid of the Lightbringer, the group infiltrates the castle; they split up to search for Alina as Wrath closes in. Leonardo is defeated by Wrath and bitten by vampires; Demetria, revealed to be Andros’ sister, tries to bite him, but Esme kills her. Lucian finds Alina and re-joins the group, but the castle’s vampires awaken and attack. A daring daylight breach, achieved when Leonardo’s crossbow breaks the ceiling, lets in the sun and forces the vampires to retreat, enabling the survivors to escape. Wrath pursues, but Andros drives his axe into Wrath, anchoring him and allowing the group to fast-rope down to safety; Wrath is dragged into the daylight and dies.

Outside, the demon hunters rally and storm Dracula’s castle. When one of Dracula’s knights moves against Alina, Dracula defends her and turns on his own knights. Renfield bites Lucian and uses his blood to wound Dracula as he holds Alina, revealing that he engineered the betrayal and is the killer of Erzebet. Esme ends Renfield’s threat. Lucian urges Andros to stand down, and Dracula, gravely wounded, is guided back to his coffin by Alina. She begs him to heal, and he answers, “Let me spend these last moments with you; it is better than a century alone.”

Lucian vanishes into the wilderness, while descendants of Leonardo Van Helsing continue their hunt for vampires, and Alina waits for the day when she might be reunited with Dracula.