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Awix (3310 KP) rated Countess Dracula (1971) in Movies

Feb 14, 2018 (Updated Feb 14, 2018)

Historically-inspired Hammer horror; not actually part of its main Dracula series, but the title helped the box office, I guess. Ageing Hungarian noblewoman discovers she can restore her youth by bathing in virgin blood, takes a shine to a young soldier, decides to impersonate her own daughter in order to woo him (as you would). Meanwhile life for the domestic staff around the castle becomes unexpectedly more hazardous.

Restrained and thoughtful horror movie; a bit less garish and gory than you might think. Interesting subtext about the relationship between the young and the old, and fear of ageing. Driven along by a terrific performance from Ingrid Pitt (Pitt thought there should have been more blood in the movie). Runs out of things to do slightly before the end, but still a classy movie.

Kudos

Awix (3310 KP) rated Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (1968) in Movies

Feb 19, 2018

Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (1968)

1968 | Classics, Drama, Horror

7.0

(4 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Grave Errors

Hammer's third Dracula movie is arguably inaccurately titled, but then 'Dracula Has Thawed Out of a Moat' wouldn't look good on the poster. Busybody monsignor finds lingering legends of Dracula affecting church attendance, decides to exorcise Castle Dracula, ends up resurrecting Dracula himself, wins Counter-productive Stupid Idea Award for 1906.

What follows is a fairly routine gothic melodrama without much to distinguish it; Christopher Lee goes through the motions manfully. Chief wrinkle in the story is the fact that the juvenile male lead (who has an unfortunate resemblance to a young Hugh Grant) is an atheist, which is a problem when it comes to vampire hunting (he can't wave a crucifix with sufficient conviction, apparently). Not-bad climax doesn't really compensate for lack of good ideas in the rest of the film.

Kudos

Awix (3310 KP) rated Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) in Movies

Feb 12, 2018

What you'd call the economy tour

Archetypal Hammer horror movie from the studio's imperial mid-60s period; unwise English tourists in Transylvania ignore warnings from bad-ass local abbot (Andrew Keir) and spend the night at Castle Dracula. They think they're there as guests; actually they're a kind of walk-in buffet organised by Dracula's butler to help get his boss back on his feet.

A bit of a slow start, but atmospheric and effective, with some good sequences in the second half. Keir stands in for Peter Cushing with his usual authority and charisma. Christopher Lee isn't in it that much, but is good when he appears - there are differing explanations of just why he doesn't have any dialogue. Everybody's idea of what a Hammer horror movie should be like.