As with most characters in the film Van Helsing is an exaggeration of Bram Stoker's original character. Dr. Van Helsing goes out of his way to unnerve people, taking pleasure in the knowledge he is the only one cut out for his degree of work. Van Helsing is also very stubborn and insists on getting the last word in any sort of argument, a trait he claims most vampires instinctively have as well. When Count Dracula refuses to letting even a petty argument die Van Helsing becomes suspicious of the Count.