It was fine. Not really scary, but maybe it was terrifying when it came out. There are some interesting sections, interspersed with tedious passages involving declarations of how everyone is just the wonderfulest friends anyone can have.
I had watched the Lugosi flick years ago, and don’t really remember it, to compare. It seems that they merged a couple of characters for the movie. I have heard that the Mexican version (filmed in the same studio at the same time as Lugosi’s version, only at night) is superior to the American version. I haven’t seen the more recent movie versions. I understand that the newer versions are heavy on the sexual themes and visuals, but these elements seem absent from the novel, though there are sections containing mild sensuality.
Dracula himself is an abhorrent character, not a romantic figure, and his victims are appropriately tormented and terrified by him.
My favorite part of the book was the beginning, which is the journal of Jonathan Harker, which contains the account of Harker’s visit to Castle Dracula.
My least favorite part was the aforementioned declarations of friendship and admiration. It seems that anytime there is a potential for a serious break in the company, it is immediately resolved by one character and pledging his life to the cause, and everybody else backs down and recommits to the fellowship. There is a lot of crying. It made me laugh aloud.