I'm personally obsessed with Romania. 'Dracula' in Romania is just for tourist. The irony is Romanians do not celebrate Halloween. Dracula is such Westernized hype. And old stories made up.
I do think that Bram Stokers Dracula is one of the best in terms of visuals and story line plus actors that played in it. The kind I movie I wish would be the place where Hollywood stops. I have yet to find a Dracula movie that tops it.
I don't watch many horror movies anymore. Something I never thought Id grow out of. But I used to a lot.
As far as knowledge of the real Vlad, a lot of it is made up. There are the Slavic and German recounts that don't match up. Not only the obvious Dracula Vampire stuff but the manner in which he killed the Ottomans and the Transylvanian Saxons.
In Romania he was and is a hero. He was leader 3 times, known for "getting it done" so to speak. He was authoritarian. He was cruel. (it was the dark ages back then) cruelty was the norm in fighting.
But he was a strong leader protecting his land from invaders. Romanians view him as doing what was necessary to protect his country from Muslims and Islam who would have completely destroyed Romania if it not were for Vlad.
From what I can tell or read he really wanted peace and part of his reign was peaceful. Until invaders threatened the country's entire way of life.
Your going to love that book.