Dracula Untold ending explained: A familiar face awaits Dracula in London

Dracula Untold, directed by Gary Shore, is about a vampire gifted with immense powers. However, it departs from Bram Stoker's classic origin story to show Dracula from a different perspective.

In Shore's film, Dracula is a 15th-century ruler, based on an actual Voivode, Vlad the Impaler. Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless's script does not present him according to his said image as a ruthless aggressor. Instead, it analyzes the moral grays of his character as he sacrifices his own life for the greater good. Its plot synopsis reads:

"As his kingdom is being threatened by the Turks, young prince Vlad Tepes must become a monster feared by his own people in order to obtain the power needed to protect his own family, and the families of his kingdom."

Released in 2014, Dracula Untold is a supernatural horror film that blends historical fiction with action thriller elements. It stars Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Art Parkinson, Charles Dance, and more.

Dracula Untold was reportedly meant to be a part of a much bigger "dark universe" from Universal Pictures. But after the release of Tom Cruise's The Mummy, the plans of a similarly extended franchise were put to a halt. Regardless, the film is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Reader discretion is advised.

What is the plot of Dracula Untold?

Dracula Untold follows Vlad Dracula (Luke Evans), the Prince of Wallachia and Transylvania, who earns a reputation as the Impaler, Son of the Dragon, for being their most feared warrior. However, he eventually decides to rule his kingdom with peace. It all changes when an Ottoman emissary demands his son, Ingeras (Art Parkinson), as part of the tribute of the boys for their Sultan Mehmed II (Dominic Cooper).

Vlad is determined to protect Ingeras, which leads him to Broken Tooth Mountain for help from the Master Vampire (Charles Dance). The Vampire offers blood that will temporarily give Vlad immense powers, enough to win against the Ottomans. However, Vlad must resist the urge to drink blood for the next three days or he will be turned into a vampire. Vlad accepts the blood, which grants him superhuman abilities.

With his new powers, Vlad single-handedly defeats the opposing forces. He sends those in the castle to a monastery, hoping that would keep them and Ingeras safe. However, the Ottoman army infiltrates the monastery with a decoy, kidnaps Ingeras, and severely injures Vlad's wife, Mirena (Sarah Gadon). As her dying wish, she urges Vlad to drink her blood to complete his vampiric transformation to save their son.

Are Mina and Mirena the same person?

A still from Dracula Untold (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures)

After becoming a full-blooded vampire, Vlad turns the survivors into vampires and heads to defeat Mehmed, who holds Ingeras captive. Mehmed tries to use the vampire's weakness to silver against Vlad by using silver coins and a silver sword. By doing so, he plans to impale Vlad. However, Vlad manages to evade Mehmed's attack and save Ingeras.

In the final moments of Dracula Untold, Vlad saves Ingeras from Mehmed, but at the cost of the loss of humanity from his soldiers, who want to drink Ingeras' blood. Vlad sees no other option but to sacrifice everyone's life by exposing them to the son. However, he is saved at the last minute by a man who had previously observed him.

Many centuries later, Dracula reappears in London to meet Mina, a woman who is a spitting image of Mirena. It hints at Mirena's possible reincarnation, which brings him and Vlad back together. (Mina Harker is also a character from Bram Stoker's 1897 novel.)

However, despite all the time that has passed, the Master Vampire still keeps a watch on them, hoping to "let the games begin." It hints that he seeks revenge against Dracula, presumably the reincarnation of the person who cursed him to be trapped in a cave.