Mike Smith
1897. At the docks in Carpathia the sailing ship Demeter prepares for its journey to England. A few men short, the Captain (Liam Cunningham) goes into the local tavern to recruit some help. All goes well as they fill the hold. But what’s in that big box full of dirt?
Based on “The Captain’s Log” chapter in Bram Stoker’s classic novel, “Dracula,” “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” is a fine entry in a series of Dracula inspired films dating back to 1929’s unauthorized classic “Nosferatu.”
One of the men taken aboard, Mr. Clemens (Corey Hawkins), is an Oxford trained doctor whose skin color has prevented him from getting a job. Needing to return to England, he takes the gig, seeing it as a free ride home. On board is the usual assortment of colorful characters, including the loyal first mate, the precocious grandson of the captain, the lovable dog. And someone else. Or is it something?
The film is well paced, with occasional bits of humor interlaced with truly horrific moments. The tension on board, especially at night, and during a storm, is so thick you can cut it with a knife. As livestock, and then shipmates, are discovered dead, with their throats ripped out, the superstitious crew begins to paint fingers at anyone and anything.
The performances are strong, and the film goes out of its way to avoid many of the standard horror film tropes, which makes for quite a few “wow, I didn’t expect that” moments.
The production design is top notch, as are the visual and makeup effects.
A perfect combination of gore and terror, “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” is a trip you definitely want to take if you are a horror film fan.
