Van Helsing

Van Helsing has built a real following in Australia on BINGE and Foxtel Now, and in the US on Peacock Premium and Philo among viewers who want their action grounded in something real. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 6,731 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Hugh Jackman brings a physicality to the role that elevates every sequence. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on BINGE.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Van Helsing earns its spot. The set pieces are impressive, but it is the story underneath them that gives Van Helsing its staying power. Famed monster slayer Gabriel Van Helsing is dispatched to Transylvania to assist the last of the Valerious bloodline in defeating Count Dracula. Anna Valerious reveals that Dracula has formed an unholy alliance with Dr. Frankenstein's monster and is hell-bent on exacting a centuries-old curse on her family. The physicality Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale bring elevates every sequence. It hit screens in 2004. The action sequences are expensive-looking without drawing attention to their own budget — they serve the story rather than interrupting it. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want their entertainment to move fast and not waste a scene, Van Helsing respects your time. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Hugh Jackman is the obvious draw, but the supporting cast gives the action the context it needs to land. The action holds up because the character work underneath it never lets up.