the film is set "deep in the heart of transylvania" and the story appears to take place sometime during the mid-19th century. professor abronsius, formerly of the university of königsberg and his apprentice alfred are on the hunt for vampires. abronsius is old and withering and barely able to survive the cold ride through the wintry forests, while alfred is bumbling and introverted. the two hunters come to a small village seemingly at the end of a long search for signs of vampires. the two stay at a local inn full of angst-ridden townspeople who perform strange rituals to fend off an unseen evil.