The Last Voyage of the Demeter, also referred to as Dracula – Voyage of the Demeter in certain international markets, is a supernatural horror film from 2023, directed by André Øvredal and penned by Bragi F. Schut Jr. and Zak Olkewicz. This film adapts The Captain’s Log, a chapter from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula. The Last Voyage of the Demeter garnered mixed reviews from critics and unfortunately turned out to be a Box Office disappointment, earning $22 million against a production budget of $45 million.
The storyline centers on the ill-fated crew of the merchant ship Demeter as they strive to survive a perilous journey from Transylvania to London, all while being hunted by the infamous vampire, Dracula, portrayed by Javier Botet.
The journey to adapt “The Captain’s Log” began when Schut crafted the initial spec script after forming a friendship with a colleague involved in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). However, the project remained stagnant in development for over twenty years.
In October 2019, Amblin Partners acquired the rights, leading to the announcement of Øvredal as the director. The primary cast was confirmed in 2021, and principal photography commenced on June 30, 2021, in Berlin, moved to Malta, and concluded on October 1.
Some scenes were filmed in the historic fortress city of Mdina. Initially, Thomas Newman was set to compose the score, but Bear McCreary took over due to Newman’s scheduling conflicts. The Last Voyage of the Demeter premiered in theaters across the United States on August 11, 2023, distributed by Universal Pictures.
