It contained many elements that were considered too shocking or in bad taste for the Victorian population. This included frank descriptions of blood, violence, and sexuality. Many readers were especially disturbed by the portrayal of Dracula's three brides and Lucy Westenra after she is transformed into a vampire.

2014's Dracula Untold attempted to give a superhero origin spin to the vampire mythos, transforming Dracula into a tragic hero rather than a menacing figure of the night. While the intent was to provide a fresh take, the movie deviated too far, turning a classic horror tale into an action-packed fantasy.