To this day, it still surprises me that we never got a sequel to Stephen Sommers 2004 gothic action-horror 'Van Helsing'. Its one that I have a wee bit of nostalgia for, having watched at such an impressionable age, and with Halloween approaching; it seemed appropriate to revisit.

Like others of similar age, it was my first 'real' introduction to iconic monsters like Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein’s monster — characters we all grow up knowing, even without seeing the originals. While it sticks to a PG-13 tone, the film still delivers fast-paced, visually striking action that holds up surprisingly well today.

Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale make a great duo, with solid chemistry woven between the film’s many, MANY action set pieces. The atmosphere, production design, and energy all shine, even if the film occasionally feels overcrowded with characters and subplots.

Still, a perfect and fun watch for spooky season. Full thoughts in this revisit.