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the Change of Van Helsing: From Academic to Action Hero
Dr.Emily Zarka, host of PBS’s Monstrum, recently explored the evolution of Abraham Van Helsing, a character initially presented in Bram Stoker‘s Dracula as a rational, intellectual scholar, but later reimagined in films as a crossbow-wielding, vampire-slaying action hero.
In Stoker’s 1897 novel, Van Helsing is portrayed as a physician and scientist, a man of reason who employs logic, knowledge, and medical expertise to confront the supernatural. He is characterized by his stoicism, methodical approach, and deep connection to Victorian academic traditions. However, as Dr.Zarka points out,Hollywood altered this portrayal substantially.
“How did Van Helsing go from academic in Dracula to action hero icon? This episode explores his evolution from Victorian scholar to monster-hunting legend, unpacking his role in the novel, pop culture legacy, and why he remains the ultimate supernatural slayer,”
As films began adapting Dracula and other horror stories, the character was reimagined to align with evolving audience preferences.By the mid-20th century, viewers desired spectacle and physical conflict, rather than solely intellectual debates about folklore and disease. The monster hunter archetype itself underwent a transformation in popular culture, influenced by pulp magazines, adventure serials, and the rise of blockbuster filmmaking.
Zarka also examines the historical context of monster hunters and how their societal role changed. “By the 20th century, customary monster hunters largely faded into obscurity, replaced by explorers, scholars, scientists, hobbyists, and journalists chasing down stories of cryptids and unidentified aerial phenomena which newspapers printed stories of regularly.”
By the time Van Helsing appeared in large-scale films such as 2004’s Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman, he had become less a reserved intellectual and more a supernatural action star, capable of acrobatic feats, battling werewolves, and confronting armies of vampires.
This is a significant departure from the professor depicted in Stoker’s novel, but it demonstrates the character’s adaptability and enduring appeal. Whether portrayed as a calm, pipe-smoking academic or a fearless, technologically-equipped hero, Van helsing remains a prominent figure in fiction, bridging the gap between the wisdom of folklore and the thrilling action of cinema.
