Dracula: Prince of Darkness

release year: 1966
genre: Hammer vampire horror
viewing setting: home DVD, 12/31/03

synopsis: Four travelers pass by the wrong castle - Dracula's castle - and end up being used by the slain vampire's butler to resurrect and feed the vampire.

impressions: Pretty entertaining. Those Hammer guys definitely knew how to put together a good, dramatic vampire movie. It had intelligent scripting, good acting, moody music and scenes, good sets and props, and was faithful to vampire lore. It was funny how Helen, the weakest and most useless of the travelers, ended up being the first one to realize that they were in danger.

sequel to: The Horror of Dracula

predecessor to: Dracula Has Risen From the Grave

acting: Good. Christopher Lee was once again a regal, imposing Count Dracula. The main guy and his wife made good protagonists, though the wife was little more than a prize for Dracula. The bearded guy who played the abbot did a good job as a firm, take-no-crap undead stalker.

final word: Worth seeing, for any fan of vampires, Dracula, or Hammer horror films.

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