Rewind, Be Kind: Van Helsing
July 27, 2024
Hugh Jackman stars as the titular Van Helsing who must face off against Dracula and a monster mash of classic Universal creatures. Action/Adventure king Stephen Sommers returns to the universe he helped reboot with the box office double whammy of The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001) but critics and audiences weren’t quite as welcoming. A changing landscape, a rise in superheroes, and the fickle nature of success in Hollywood might be to blame for its weaker-than-expected results. But, we’re here to say that Van Helsing rocks and demands a revisit on the big screen. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to Roger Ebert who called it “...silly and spectacular, and fun.”
Director Stephen Sommers in attendance for an in-person Q&A.
Series Pass: $84 | $64 Members (All in price, includes $4 service fee)
Pass provides access to all in-person Rewind, Be Kind screenings, July 26-28 at SIFF Cinema Egyptian.
SIFF year-round passes are not valid for this screening. Vouchers are valid.
Tickets
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Saturday, July 27, 2024
Hugh Jackman stars as the titular hero who must face off against Dracula and a monster mash of classic Universal creatures. Action/Adventure king Stephen Sommers returns to the universe he helped reboot with the box office double whammy of The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001), but critics and audiences weren’t quite as welcoming. Fast-paced, special effects heavy, a charismatic lead, and a legendary cinematic history to play with–why didn’t Van Helsing see the same success as The Mummy? A changing landscape, a rise in superheroes, and the fickle nature of success in Hollywood might’ve contributed. But, we’re here to say that Van Helsing rocks and demands a revisit on the big screen. Universal was so convinced of its success that a sequel, a television series, and theme park tie-ins were all greenlit before it ever opened. Of course, all were scrapped following the healthy but not quite franchise-worthy box office results.
Critics mostly panned the film, but there were a few voices of support who saw the film for what it truly was. In a positive review, Roger Ebert wrote, “Van Helsing is silly and spectacular, and fun.”
Thank you, Roger.
—Andrew from Super Yaki
- Director: Stephen Sommers
- Principal Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Hugh Jackman
- Country: USA, Czechia
- Year: 2004
- Running Time: 131 min.
- Producer: Bob Ducsay, Stephen Sommers
- Screenplay: Stephen Sommers
- Cinematographers: Allen Daviau
- Editors: Bob Ducsay, Kelly Matsumoto, Jim May
- Music: Alan Silvestri
- Filmography: The Mummy, Deep Rising, The Mummy Returns
- Language: English