The Necropolitics of Transnational Horror: A Critical Analysis of the Bangla Dubbed Reception of Van Helsing Mird237 New
This paper explores the phenomenon of Western horror television in the South Asian market, specifically focusing on the Bangla dubbed iteration of the Syfy network’s series Van Helsing (2016–2021). By examining the linguistic adaptation, cultural localization, and audience reception in Bangladesh and West Bengal, this study argues that the dubbing process serves not merely as a translation of language, but as a renegotiation of cultural taboos surrounding the supernatural. The paper posits that the popularity of Van Helsing in the Bangla-speaking demographic stems from a synthesis of Western "survival horror" tropes and indigenous Bengali folklore traditions regarding the undead ("Pishach" or "Vetala"), creating a unique transmedia experience. Moviesda Cars 2 Page
The global circulation of media content has led to the rise of "deterritorialized" television, where narratives produced in one cultural context are consumed and re-interpreted in another. The 2016 television series Van Helsing , a reimagining of the classic Dracula mythos focusing on Vanessa Helsing (a descendant of the famous vampire hunter), represents a shift in Western horror towards post-apocalyptic survivalism.