Runtime:
92 minutes
Directed
by: Freddie Francis
Starring;
Christopher Lee, Rupert Davies, Veronica Carlson, Barbara Ewing,
Barry Andrews
From:
Hammer
My
apologies for this being up late. I was preoccupied with other
things. I figured I should continue with the horror theme for
tonight, before I move onto other things and then Bond next weekend.
I
watched this via a 4-pack of Hammer Draculas from Warner Brothers.
They are four random ones in the long series due to how scattered the
rights are to Hammer films in the States. Many different companies
have put out their films here over the years, so the rights are all
screwed up.
Last
year I watched Horror of Dracula. A few years later there was Brides
of Dracula, which did not actually have Dracula but Peter Cushing
returned as Dr. Van Helsing. Two years before this movie came out
there was Dracula: Prince of Darkness, where Lee returned (someone
bled on his ashes so he was revived) and it was about some students
who got stuck at his castle. I heard that was a mixed bag. Now, onto
this film...
The
plot: I do know that the climax of Prince of Darkness revolved around
Dracula literally being put on ice. There apparently was also a scene
where a girl was killed and put inside a church bell. The beginning
here was that girl being found. A year later, no one wants to enter
the church due to that, the castle's shadow being cast on the church,
and everyone still being scurred of the Count. The priest of the
church and the monsignor go up to the castle... or rather, the priest
only goes up halfway before wimping out. Something happens and the
priest falls and busts himself open; that blood seeps through the ice
and revives Dracula.
No,
really. That's actually what happens.
While
that's going on, the monsignor does a sort of exorcism on the castle
(again, really) and puts a giant cross on the front door. The Count
is PISSED about it so he seeks revenge... it involves such people as
Paul and his lady friend Maria; there's also a saucy redhead (is
there any other kind?) named Zena who loves to show off her
“dumplings” and her cleavage.
I
heard elsewhere the movie be described as “sloppy but fun” and
that seems like a good take. Note that despite some flaws I did enjoy
this as a wacky yarn of a tale. Sure, there are some continuity
things that are distracting if you are on the look out for them (for
example, Dracula's reflection is seen more than once; that shouldn't
be the case); that said, it was not offensive and while it isn't
Horror of Dracula, it still is fun to watch. It is also filmed well.
The director's main forte was cinematography and among his work there
was Glory, The Elephant Man, and the Cape Fear remake.
Dracula
is a real bastard again, and this time acts sadistic. He's great at
getting revenge at those who wrong him. Maria is a very pretty
blonde, Zena is a memorable trampy character, there is a member of
the clergy who is conflicted (to say the least) and Paul is hilarious
in that he might as well be Paul Asperger. I am not saying that as an
insult. Rather, he's just rather blunt to the point of thinking it's
OK to tell a monsignor that he is an atheist. A wacky yarn, and quite
enjoyable.
Also,
this movie is rated G but LOL to that. There's blood spurting out of
wounds, a lot of cleavage, the sadism, and the overall sexual
nature... rather comical.
I'll
be back Monday night.
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