A kinder, gentler vampire* is the not-so-strong selling point of “Dracula Untold,” the origin story of Bram Stoker’s famous horror creation.

    Set in 15th century Transylvania, the story begins with Prince Vlad (Luke Evans) of Wallachia kindly ruling over his kingdom. He enjoys a happy family life with his beautiful wife, Mirena (Sarah Gadon), and lovely son, Ingeras (Art Parkinson).

    Unfortunately*, Vlad finds himself called into action when the evil Ottoman sultan* Mehmed (Dominic Cooper) demands that 1,000 of Wallachia’s young boys, including Vlad’s son, be called into his army.

    To defeat* the Turks, Vlad goes to Broken Tooth Mountain, where he meets a strange vampire (Charles Dance) who immediately indoctrinates* him. Vlad, with superpowers now, also has an escape clause*: If he can manage to* save his people while not drinking human blood for three days, he will return to human form.

    It’s not easy, since during a break in the action, when Vlad is just about to make out* with his wife, he’s stricken by the sight of blood running through his beloved’s veins*. He quickly excuses* himself, explaining in gentlemanly fashion, “I need some air. ... Sorry.”

    During much of the film’s running time, Vlad is employing such new allies* as thousands of bats to help fight his enemies. Along the way, he finds himself troubled by the usual problems faced by vampires, like a terrible reaction to sunlight and an aversion* to silver. The latter weakness is used by Mehmed in a sword fight in which he uses thousands of silver coins.

    It’s hard to believe that this heroic and sympathetic* figure will wind up tormenting* the nightmares of children for centuries to come. A coda* set in the present day, with Vlad meeting his seemingly reincarnated* wife in meet-cute* fashion, is beyond silly, although it does provide the opportunity for a sequel by intoning, “Let the games begin.” (SD-Agencies)