Horror of Dracula
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Movie Reviews of Horror of Dracula
Movie Review: THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS
Summary: 5 Stars
Horror of Dracula
SAW THE MOVIE, ONCE AGAIN, FROM MY DAD'S COLLECTION. CHRISTOPHER LEE IS CINEMA'S GREATEST COUNT DRACULA. SCENE AFTER SCENE STAYS IN THE MEMORY: HARKER(JOHN VAN EYSSEN)ENTERING THE TOMB OF THE SLEEPING VAMPIRE WOMAN, AND DRIVING A STAKE INTO THE BEAUTIFUL CREATURE'S HEART; AS THE STAKE ENTERS, A WELL OF BLOOD GUSHES INTO THE CAMERA AND, TERRIFYINGLY, SHE IS TURNED INTO A HIDEOUS OLD CRONE, AS DEATH FINALLY OVERTAKES HER. HARKER LOOKS UP IN TRIUMPH, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE SUN HAS NOW GONE DOWN, LEAVING HIM TRAPPED WITH DRACULA. IN AN ENDING OF SHEER CINEMATIC MAGIC, CUSHING USING A CRUCIFIX CREATED OUT OF TWO CROSSED CANDLESTICKS, FORCES LEE INTO THE POOL OF SUNLIGHT. THE COUNT DISINTEGRATES HORRIBLY, UNTIL ALL THAT IS LEFT ARE SOME STRANDS OF HAIR, SOME DUST, AND THE CRIMSON SIGNET RING OF DRACULA REFLECTING THE SUNLIGHT.
Movie Review: The best in the entire Hammer series!
Summary: 5 Stars
Definitely the best of all the Christopher Lee Dracula films. The sequels do not live up to this film, mainly because they do not contain all of the original characters such as Lucy, Jonathan Harker, and of course, Van Helsing. This film sticks with the original Bram Stoker novel with these characters. The only person missing is Renfield, plus nothing is ever mentioned about Dracula being able to turn into a bat, a werewolf, or mist. Yes, this was 1958 before visual effects were what they are now. But, in the Bela Lugosi film, at least mention is made of these things.Lee is smooth as the Count, and Peter Cushing is a delight at Professor Van Helsing. These two were great together in other films, and it is too bad Cushing did not continue into the sequels (with the exception of the present day setting films). He would have made those films better and much more entertaining to watch.
A must have for any horror film fan.
Movie Review: BLOODY GOOD SHOW
Summary: 5 Stars
Hammer Films was fortunate enough to have some really talented actors, script writers, directors and composers to work on their series of horrifying movies that started in 1957 with the "Curse of Frankenstein" to their second, "Horror of Dracula." While taking many liberties with the original novel, this version stays closer than most and offers Christopher Lee in his first spin as Dracula. Although on screen very little, his presence is smoldering, fantastically evil and domineering. Peter Cushing, as always, plays the fanatical Van Helsing with heroic finesse and a bit of charm as well; Michael Gough in one of his early roles is a perfect foil as the upper crust Homewood; and Melissa Stribling as Mina is subtly seductive. The lighting and camera work are wonderful and James Bernard's score is one of horrodom's best.A truly important film in the horror genre, it still maintains the ability to frighten and entertain!
Movie Review: New Blood
Summary: 5 Stars
This spectacular movie offered new blood to the dying genre in the late 50's. It's vivid, literary and sexy.Bram Stoker Puritans will probably be offended by the freedom of this adaptation, but it actually illuminates some of the themes, that was only hinted at in the novel, especially the disproportion between Victorian morals and basic biology, rationality and sexuality, conservatism and spirit.
Peter Cushing is a wonderful Van Helsing, arriving with the jingling laboratory of Enlightenment in his luggage, but at the same time dependent on the old cross and holy water. Christopher Lee is archetypical as the vampire, the erotic Nemesis of the repressed and repressing bourgeoisie, and his sexual charm is at least plausible, in stark contrast to Bela Lugosi's reptilian performance. It's one of Hammer's finest, only surpassed by the third instalment in the series, "Dracula - The Prince of Darkness" (1965).
Movie Review: Yes, the staking shots are IN!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are many lengthy, detailed, and generally fine (positive) reviews here for the movie, one of my top-ten all-time favorite horror films, and justifiably lukewarm or negative reviews of the DVD itself (nice print, virtually no extras, shoddy packaging), so I won't reiterate them at length, but endorse the general consensus. Movie: Fantastic! DVD: Eh! The main piece of crucial info I wanted to add, that I didn't see anyone else mention here, is that the brief shots of spurting blood seen during the staking of Lucy ARE intact here. They had somehow been excised from Warners' previous VHS issue of Horror of Dracula, rendering that edition null and void for hardcore fans. Whether intentionally or through dumb luck (in Warners' case just as likely) the missing footage has been reinstated, so Hammer fans can relive the moment in digital clarity! Enjoy!