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Van Helsing
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Metascore
35 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 38 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.1 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 160 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, Shuler Hensley, Will Kemp
  • Summary: Gabriel Van Helsing (Jackman) is a man cursed with a past he cannot recall and driven by a mission he cannot deny. Charged by a secret organization to seek out and defeat evil the world over, his efforts to rid the world of its nightmarish creatures have been rewarded with the title that now follows him: murderer. (Universal Pictures)… Expand
  • Director: Stephen Sommers
  • Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy
  • Rating: PG-13
  • Runtime: 131 min
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 38
  3. Negative: 16 out of 38
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    80
    This creature feature is exhilarating fun, a richly designed and often quite funny re-exploration of the movie past.
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    60
    The sense of evil overkill is entirely representative of the picture itself, which repeatedly looks ready to blow all its fuses due to sensory overload.
  3. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    38
    Instead of paying homage to these creepy creatures of bygone Hollywood, Sommers seems to be unwittingly lampooning them. The first few minutes of Van Helsing, shot in black and white, look like outtakes from Mel Brooks' gagfest "Young Frankenstein."

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 113
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 113
  3. Negative: 49 out of 113
  1. Jame4uall
    10
    Dear All, This my perspective - The movie was fantastic. Dont expect more and some strange things. But observe the technicality of the movie, how good it is? Its amazing. I have been watching whenever iam free. Coming to plot, its entirely new concept. lets no think of probability whether it happens or not happens in real life. Casting: Jackman was the perfect fit for this role and moreover he is my fav now. Actress Kate, even wonderful. Very challenging. Carl- Comic+ genius. :)… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. Halfwelshman
    5
    Van Helsing just about works as a film if you don't take it too seriously. It's a fun fantasy romp with numerous references to 30s and 40s Universal horror films. It does have some awful dialogue (it's written and directed by Stephen Sommers, and as with The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, he proves himself much more talented in directing ballsy action sequences than bringing profound vocal utterances to the big screen). It also has some awful performances from its cast (the chief culprit being a laughable, bad Eastern European-accented Kate Beckinsale, but a fairly wooden and inconsistent Hugh Jackman in the title role doesn't fair much better) and the plot is an ugly mess - rather than a glowing tribute to classic horror filmmaking it's a ridiculous throw-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink affair. Despite these glaring issues, Van Helsing could never be called boring. Yes, it might be a bit too long, but the film boasts some fantastic effects (I personally feel that the werewolves featured in the film are the finest in movie history) and the action scenes are handled well - though each set-piece is quite long, the momentum is never lost. You also have a liberal dose of humour and a standout performance in Richard Roxburgh's Count Dracula. Yes, he's hammy, but in a knowing sort of way, and he's a much better actor than Bela Lugosi ever was, and, perhaps most importantly, he appears to be having so much fun with the role. Van Helsing is completely hilarious if it's taken completely seriously, but if you're willing to suspend your disbelief, ignore its more wobbly aspects, it's quite possible to derive a certain amount of perverse pleasure from such a genuinely entertaining film.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Treblotski
    3
    "Van Helsing" consists only action and great visuals. But a good movie is a lot more than just that.
    • 5 of 6 users said yes

See all 113 User Reviews

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