'The Cringe It Stings My Soul': Bailey and Purnell's Dracula Audiobook Makes Listeners Uncomfortably Obsessed

Jonathan Bailey and Ella Purnell are making listeners feel things they perhaps did not expect from a classic vampire story.

The actors star as Dracula and Mina in Audible's new full-cast adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which launched on 1 October. But rather than simply frightening audiences, a behind-the-scenes clip of Bailey and Purnell recording one particularly intimate scene has left listeners caught somewhere between fascination, attraction and extreme second-hand embarrassment.

Jonathan Bailey and Ella Purnell Turn Dracula Into 'Hotcringe'

The viral clip shows Bailey and Purnell recording a feeding scene in which Mina drinks from Dracula. Their breathless delivery and physical reactions make the encounter sound considerably more intimate than a traditional audiobook reading.

The response online has been spectacularly divided. Some listeners have described the scene as undeniably attractive, while others have admitted they cannot watch or listen without experiencing overwhelming second-hand embarrassment.

One Reddit commenter summed up the strange combination simply as 'hot, but also viscerally cringey'. Another described the experience as 'The cringe it stings my soul'.

The clip has consequently created an unusual phenomenon: people seem simultaneously fascinated by Bailey's voice and desperate to look away.

Is This Dracula or Audio Erotica?

Part of the reaction comes from how intensely the actors appear to be performing the scene.

This is not a straightforward solo narration of Stoker's novel. Audible describes the project as an immersive, full-cast audio production with an original score and full sound design. The adaptation focuses heavily on the psychological battle between Mina and Dracula, with the relationship between the two characters becoming a central part of the story.

That approach gives the performers considerably more room to act rather than simply read.

Bailey's Dracula is designed to sound seductive as well as frightening, while Purnell's Mina is portrayed as an active participant in the conflict rather than simply a helpless victim. Purnell has described Mina as someone determined to hunt Dracula and outsmart him.

Fans Cannot Decide Whether They Are Attracted or Cringing

The internet's reaction has largely revolved around that uncomfortable middle ground.

Some commenters joked that the recording sounded so intimate that their neighbours might assume they were listening to something entirely different. Others said they had to stop watching the clip because the performances were simply too embarrassing to witness.

One Reddit discussion described the experience as being unable to decide whether the clip was 'hot' or 'cringe', while another user said they had never experienced this level of discomfort from an audiobook before.

There were also plenty of enthusiastic reactions, with listeners praising Bailey's voice and saying the dramatic approach made them want to listen to the entire production.

Audible's Dracula Is Much More Than a Celebrity Audiobook

Behind the viral clips is an ambitious adaptation featuring a large ensemble cast.

Alongside Bailey and Purnell, the production stars Aimee Lou Wood as Lucy, Louis Partridge as Jonathan, David Jonsson as Dr Seward, Johnny Flynn as Renfield, Lesley Manville as Mrs Westenra and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Professor Van Helsing. Director Mary Lambert oversees the production, with an original score by Ilan Eshkeri.

The roughly six-hour production reworks the 1897 gothic novel into a psychological thriller, placing Mina at the centre of the story and emphasising the battle of wills between her and Dracula.

Audible has also warned that the adaptation contains scenes that some listeners may find uncomfortable. Given the reaction to the first viral recording clip, that warning may already be proving useful.

Jonathan Bailey's Dracula Has Become a Viral Attraction

Bailey's casting was always likely to attract attention, particularly after his performances in Bridgerton and Wicked. But the reaction to his Dracula suggests Audible may have accidentally created something beyond a conventional horror adaptation.

The combination of gothic horror, full-cast acting and deliberately intimate sound design has left listeners struggling to decide whether they are frightened, fascinated or simply embarrassed to be listening.

And judging by the online reaction, that may be exactly why people cannot stop talking about it.