Dracula is barely in this, apparently the result of Hammer worrying that Lee would ask for too much money. +/- a half star for Lee's complete silence when he does appear (he's scarier here than in the superior HORROR OF DRACULA) and for the finale on the cracking ice.

OCTOBER IS MONSTER MOVIE MONTH

"Dracula, Prince of Darkness" is the second installment in the Hammer/Lee Dracula films. It leaves off right where "Horror of Dracula" ended. Its months after the dark one had been killed by Van Helsing, and the village is in shambles, afraid of a vampire epidemic. Enter Father Sandor, a priest who doesn't believe in these vampires, but warns a high class group of rich London folks who are looking for a new scenery.

But they soon arrive at Castle Dracula and bad things begin to happen. Christopher Lee never says a word and the cast of "people" are not that great. Francis Mathews sounds like Cary Grant with his up tight British character. I just didn't buy it.

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

http://www.draculaprinceofdarkness2.html

Direkte Fortsetzung zum ersten Dracula mit tollem dramaturgischen Aufbau, schönem Setting und einer gespenstischen Stimmung. Schafft es auch heute noch um das Interesse des Zuschauers zu werben. An der Optik gemessen scheint dies wohl einer der aufwändigsten Hammerfilme gewesen zu sein.

The sequel to the original Hammer Dracula film of the 1960’s with Saruman playing the Count again. I kind of felt bad for Drac in this, he goes through the trouble of getting resurrected with a gruesome ritual, has a real bloodshot eye issue, and then only lasts one day before being iced by the gun toting abbot of a local monastery and a guy who seemed to be channeling Carey Grant. It was funny seeing this 1960s movie and connecting the theme that was carried into the slasher movies of the 1970s and beyond – that of the incredibly stupid victims almost seeking demise. If a driverless team of horses hijack you to a spooky castle that all the locals refuse to acknowledge existing – it’s probably not a good idea to spend the night. Dracula was waiting instead of Jason or Freddie but it was the same type of set up.

Fun and fairly bloody sequel to Horror of Dracula.

Not particularly good or bad, a merely adequate time waster but not much more.

Dracula is barely in this, apparently the result of Hammer worrying that Lee would ask for too much money. +/- a half star for Lee's complete silence when he does appear (he's scarier here than in the superior HORROR OF DRACULA) and for the finale on the cracking ice.

OCTOBER IS MONSTER MOVIE MONTH

"Dracula, Prince of Darkness" is the second installment in the Hammer/Lee Dracula films. It leaves off right where "Horror of Dracula" ended. Its months after the dark one had been killed by Van Helsing, and the village is in shambles, afraid of a vampire epidemic. Enter Father Sandor, a priest who doesn't believe in these vampires, but warns a high class group of rich London folks who are looking for a new scenery.

But they soon arrive at Castle Dracula and bad things begin to happen. Christopher Lee never says a word and the cast of "people" are not that great. Francis Mathews sounds like Cary Grant with his up tight British character. I just didn't buy it.

Direkte Fortsetzung zum ersten Dracula mit tollem dramaturgischen Aufbau, schönem Setting und einer gespenstischen Stimmung. Schafft es auch heute noch um das Interesse des Zuschauers zu werben. An der Optik gemessen scheint dies wohl einer der aufwändigsten Hammerfilme gewesen zu sein.

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

A note on the viewing: A high definition presentation, presented in Full 1080P HD in a 2.36:1 aspect ratio. Viewed on blu-ray disc on a 40" widescreen HD television.