Dracula Has Risen From the Grave


release year: 1968
genre: Hammer vampire horror
viewing setting: home DVD, 12/9/04

synopsis: After accidentally being brought back to life, Dracula takes revenge on some priests.

impressions: This one was smaller in scope, but quite entertaining, with a good "late 1800s" look and feel. Basically, Dracula gets exorcised from his own castle, just before he is revived, and so he's pissed. He figures out who did the exorcism (an old head priest) and he tracks the Monsignor back to his hometown and goes after the guy's daughter. This movie contains the aloof (to modern standards) way of thinking that was normal a hundred years ago. It also has a competent heroine (she runs across rooftops and along ledges to see her boyfriend!) and the boyfriend was a pretty good vampire-fighter too.

things to watch for: The sequence where young Paul takes on Dracula.

something this movie has that no other movie has: Dracula being resurrected by a bumbling coward who slips, falls, cuts his head, and somehow lets the blood drip down into the place where Dracula last died...HUH?!?

sequel to: Dracula: Prince of Darkness

predecessor to: Taste the Blood of Dracula

acting: Christopher Lee did a good job as Dracula, who took it pretty personally that someone did an exorcism on his castle. Rupert Davies was the stuffy, holy-roller head priest. Veronica Carlson was his step-daughter (sort of) who was fairly competent: she dashed across rooftop ledges to see her boyfriend. Barry Andrews was the boyfriend, who was forced to become a vampire fighter.

final word: Good vampire movie with plenty of characterization.

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