Taste the Blood of Dracula: Movie Review

7/10

In 1970, Christopher Lee was back at it for a fifth Dracula movie from Hammer. "Taste the Blood of Dracula" is a very good movie, and while it has its weaknesses, there is also a lot of great things that make it a worthy horror film for all fans.  

The movie begins quite strangely on a stagecoach. There is three men riding, and two of them gang up on the other and throw him out. This stranded man named Weller then travels alone in the woods, where he hears screams. Running to find what was happening, he finds Dracula with a stake through his heart. I found this beginning pretty cool, because it helped the audience remember where the last film took off, and it was quite intense. 

The movie then skips time a bit, and we meet a girl named Alice, along with her family. Right off the bat, we see conflict between her and her father, because of the man she likes. We also get introduced to three men(one being Alice's father) that are looking for a good time. Their idea is to go to a cathouse, and mess around a bit.  After some time with the ladies, they go out to eat where they speak about dark things like "selling your soul to the devil."  They then meet Weller, and he shows them the ring, cloak, and container of blood that he had from Dracula. After finding these items, the men meet up with a man by the name of Courtley in an abandoned church. Courtley is a man of black magic, and they are quite skeptical about him.  They show him the objects, and he tries to make them drink the blood.  They refuse, and tell him to ingest it. Courtley then reluctantly does this, and it turns him into a vampire.  As he tries to attack the men, they beat him to death. What they didn't know was that Courtley was a servant of Dracula's, and after his death, his body turns into Dracula. Right after this change, Dracula expresses his anger, and sets out for revenge on everyone one of the men. 

The cast in this film was very good, because of their convincing portrayals of the characters, and their depth in talent. Christopher Lee was great as always, and even though he wasn't at his best in this, he still kicked butt. In this movie, he showed even more that words don't matter at all for his performance.  Lee may have spoke twenty words in the whole movie, yet he draws the audience in right away. There is just something special about his intimidating personality, and his way of giving off animal magnetism to women immediately. Geoffrey Keen really excelled in the role of William Hargood, because he really shows Hargood's downfall as realistically as possible.  Whether it was his abusive behavior, or the indulgences in alcohol, he makes it as perfectly executed as possible, and I really respect that. Linda Hayden was pretty awesome as Alice Hargood, because she was extremely sexy in looks and personality, and she had a great way of changing her emotions quickly. There were some scenes where she was happy, some scared, and some where she is seduced intensely. Isla Blair was pretty cool as Lucy Paxton, because she was much like Hayden with her emotions, yet there was also a little bit of darkness that one could see right out the bat. The last standout in my opinion was Ralph Bates as "Lord Courtley." He have such a dark and insane performance, that you could really believe he was part of the black magic cult. 

I thought that the cinematography in the movie was particularly good, because it had a grainy tone to it that helped portray the dark nature needed. It also gave a very authentic feeling that impressed me. One of the great examples of this is a scene where Secker walks into his house. There was such a high definition look to this scene that it looked like an old documentary. 

There was some very cool scenes in this movie, and they were both gruesome and just plain awesome. There was wooden stakes used, biting, etc. Part of the whole idea I liked was how two of the main characters became vampires too, and they were extremely evil because of their slavery to Dracula. It definitely gave an overall creepy tone, because they were very innocent people at first, and now they were harming others sadistically.  

The ending of the movie was pretty weird, but also amazing at the same time.  It was something that hadn't really been done before in the series, so it was much fresher than the typical stake through Dracula schtick. It was also pretty trippy at the same time, which I really liked and appreciated. I was definitely like in a state of being like "what the heck?" so it was a success in my eyes. 

The only weakness I could see in this movie was that their was a lack in the intensity compared to the others. While there was exceptions in a couple scenes, I just didn't get the same feeling of being drawn into the suspense, because there wasn't at much threat.  While this didn't ruin the movie in a big way, it definitely kept it from being one of the better in the series. 

Overall, this movie is one of the weaker in the Hammer Dracula series, but it is still a pretty enjoyable movie. There is some great acting, and some awesome scenes of violence. I definitely recommend watching the movie, because it will be enjoyable like all of the others, but don't expect it to be anywhere near the content of "Horror of Dracula" and "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave."

Dracula Has Risen From the Grave: Movie Review

8.5/10

The year was 1968, and Christopher Lee was back for his fourth Hammer Dracula movie.  "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave" really stuck out in the series for its gruesome violence, it's great display of terror, and some beautiful camerawork too. I can definitely call it one of the better in the series, and one of the coolest horror movies of all time. 

The introduction credits were really awesome in my opinion, because they were super psychedelic, with the dripping colors running all over the place.  While this could be considered dated now, I really find it cool, because I love the vintage films of this time. On these credits, there is also some amazing music in the background that may be one of the most epic scores ever.  When the movie actually starts, right off the bat comes shocking horrors. A man is walking through the church, when he finds a dead woman hanging and covered in blood. The question is who did this, and why?  The presumption is Dracula, because of the lines said by a priest. Soon after, the movie moves forward a year forward to 1906, and a man named Monsignor Ernest Mueller claims that Dracula has been destroyed.  Mueller decides to check on East European Village, and is surprised to see what has happened. The first person he ran into was an altar boy that had now become a mute. The second person is a priest that has really lost any belief in his own religion. The two of them talk about concern that Dracula is back. They then take a journey to a mountain, and the priest decides to turn back about half way through. As he goes back, he falls and hits his head. In this moment, the blood from his body falls into the mouth of dead Dracula, and he is revived.... This foolishness begins a chain of attacks at the hand of this vampire, and the control that he puts on them.

The first forty minutes were very slow. There was a couple little shocks here and there, but a lot of it was used for character development and such. I really didn't mind this, because all of these scenes were done very well, and they set up the later parts to be even more shocking. This becomes very apparent during the forty five minute mark, because there is a very intense and amazingly done scene that takes place in the woods. This actually happens to be one of my favorite parts of the series, because it was so claustrophobic, and it was filmed very well to the point where one feels like they're experiencing it. I also love the setting of the woods in this moment, because even though there are places to run, there is no one there to help. 

Even though the idea wasn't first used in this movie, I really liked how apparent that the film made it that the victims of Dracula became his slave in a sense. You can really tell this in the ways that their sanity is compromised, and by the smiles on their faces when he comes by. They become mindless minions that have no problem at all in do exactly what he wants.  I think that this is much darker than just killing people, because it shows how the people that were loved at one point became evil in a sense. The other part of it that is really crazy, is that even though signs of the people going mad happen, a lot of the public don't care to say anything or even notice.

To make the movie even better, the cast was absolutely amazing. Starting off with my favorite horror actor ever, Christopher Lee completely kills it as Dracula in this installment.  He was darker than ever in this movie, because he didn't have to say anything, but just give a look with those sinister eyes, and stand there in the presence of scared people.  He was also extremely well at portraying the seductive side of Dracula for this movie in particular, because you can show how much the characters take pleasure in his advances that lead to their bite.  Even though we know he is bad, and the people probably do too, he just has a way of drawing them in with his suave nature, and there is really no going back for them.  Rupert Davies gave a very good performance as Ernest, because he was extremely likable with his aura and personality, and he was very convincing at showcasing his fear and such. Veronica Carlson was really neat as Maria Muller. She was an extremely beautiful girl, and you can initially sense a very pure nature to her.  This changes though, because when Dracula comes into her life, she becomes a very intense and romantic girl because of his seductions. Ewan Hooper gave a very realistic and suspenseful performance as the possessed priest, because one can totally sense how much change happened to him in his life, and even though he turns somewhat, you can tell that he has a want to be good, as he battles for his own life. 

When I first saw that this movie was rated G, I was worried that it was a weak movie with low caliber attacks. I was very surprised when I saw the actual product though. There is no way that this film would be G now, and it may actually be closer to PG-13 or R. There was some pretty gruesome scenes, especially one that features blood spraying everywhere.  This is a prime example of how censors really missed the mark at times, and I find it quite humorous to be honest. 

 I was actually super impressed, because the film had a much darker tone than a lot of the ones before, whether it was because of the violence itself or the atmosphere. I think part of this was the camerawork too, because the red tinted screen made very trippy and crazy feeling when it happened a couple times. 

The last half of the movie was pretty epic, and it blew my mind. There was constant pressure about Dracula, and there was a lot of fighting too. The ending was also pretty intense, and gruesome for sure, and it left the audience at a shock, which is always the best way to finish a horror film.  All of these scenes really shaped the movie to be one of the most exciting of the genre. 

Overall, this movie really made my day.  It was a high quality, and extremely intense horror movie, and even though it started off slow, it ended up blowing me away.  There was a great cast, great technical aspects, and it is worth the time of every horror fan.  Definitely give this film a chance, because I guarantee that it will blow your mind away. 

Horror of Dracula: Movie Review

9.5/10 

Ever since the 1920's, vampires have been a big part of cinema. Whether it was Nosferatu, or the Dracula played by Bela Lugosi, they were all great, and the monsters had become a cultural phenomenon. In 1958, the character of Count Dracula was portrayed in a way like never before, and better than anyone could've ever expected. "Horror of Dracula" was the first Dracula movie by Hammer, and it starred the legend himself, Christopher Lee. Not only is this the best vampire movie ever, it also happens to be one of my favorites over all. It is a dark, macabre, and masterful movie that has captured the world since its release. 

The movie begins with a narration, and it tells of a man named John Harker. As the narration goes on, Harker enters the castle of Dracula. John journeys alone at the castle, until he runs into a woman that says she is a captive of Dracula's. Soon after Count Dracula introduces himself to John, and shows him to his room. Even though Count seems normal at first, but things get a little weird when he locks John in his room. Harker just shrugs it off, and everything seems fine.  These beginning scenes are very interesting, and their is such a beauty to all of the sets and filming. It really makes one feel like they're really in the 1800's, because their is a very bright tone in the lighting that gives the complex feeling of the times. I also found the credit sequence to be awesome, because of the great look of the words, and some very intense background music. 

In just moments to come, the movie takes a very different tone.  John meets the young lady again, and tries to help her.  She then leans into him like she's going to kiss him, and bites him.  Now extremely shocked, John gets the idea that there is vampires.  This turns into a showdown between the three in the castle, and it is one of the greatest scenes in a classic movie that I've ever seen. I could really sense the tensity and pure anxiety that the characters were feeling, and it just had such a cool look to it. In the course of the movie, we then meet Dr Abraham Van Helsing, and a rivalry of good vs evil takes place like never before. 

The first thing that I really appreciate about this movie is the stereotypes it broke from being dry. First off, it was a film about the 1800's which, sometimes lag, and second, it's a film about the period from the 1950's. Regardless of these two factors, the movie is still very refreshing, and I never got bored at all. In fact, I actually found it to be even more engaging than later films on the subject.

The next thing that is very perfect about the film is the cast. For starters, Christopher Lee was absolutely born to play Count Dracula. He really had a way of being super dark, but also suave at the same time, and I have never seen anyone be able to pull this off before. I would go as far as saying that I like him even more than Lugosi.  I really thought that Peter Cushing fit the role of Van Helsing very well, because he had the qualities of a hero, yet he could be stern and dark at the same time. These qualities were absolutely necessary for the character, because he was never written to be a bright and happy person. Another member of the cast that was special was Carol Marsh as Lucy. The reason that I really liked her is that she definitely portrays fear in her first scenes, but she turns evil and seductive in just moments later. Michael Gough was cool as Arthur, because he really gave off the vibe of a cocky scholar that thinks he's better than everyone.  I thought this was funny, because then when he is in trouble with the vampires, he depends on everyone else. Melissa Stribling's character of Mina was the most stereotypical of everyone, because she wasn't shown as strong at all, yet a woman that needed the aid of a man at almost all times. This really shows the time period of the movie, because Stribling showed no remorse for it at all. 

The portrayal of vampires and their attacks was absolutely awesome in this movie, because they were very raw, and dark, and had a lot of shock value for their time period. You could really sense the bloodthirsty lust coming from every one of them, and it's totally convincing that the actors aren't full humans anymore. Even the vampire fangs looked pretty good, because they weren't overboard, but subtle as a way of boosting the realism.  I also liked that the movie stayed very true to the vampire legends, with the garlic, crosses, and wooden stakes, because it really gave a lot of the familiar nostalgia that made the movies awesome. Even though the idea wasn't done for the first time in this movie, I actually found it quite interesting that Dracula could seduce his future victims, regardless of the fact that he is a vampire. This movie really emphasized the erotic side of the story without even being explicit, because you could feel the sexiness from a mile away. 

The ending of this movie really blew my mind, because it is a full throttle showdown between two of the main characters. In this scene, there was an immense brutality that went along with it, even though it was bloodless for the most part.  These last five minutes really made up a lot of the movie for me, because they had all of the shock that I wanted in the movie, which raised my opinion of it very high. 

If there was one weakness to the whole film, it would be that it was too short. The 81 minute run time went very quick in my opinion, and I could have sat through even more.  While keeping it short and sweet didn't hurt the movie, I wish it could be changed somehow. 

Overall, this movie was really really amazing. It had such a fun vibe to watch, because it was truly as perfect as you can get in making a vampire movie.  It was shocking, clever, and one of the best horror movies I have ever seen. It is most definitely the best Dracula movie to start, and also probably one of the best of the 1950's. Definitely check it out, because you won't be disappointed. 

The Last Man On Earth Review

9/10

Vincent Price has been proclaimed as one of the heroes in the horror genre. He was known for his dark yet witty personality, and he made some of the most famous movies of all time.  This 1964 film was actually known by many as his best work, and it has been remade twice("The Omega Man" and "I Am Legend"). 

The movie begins with showing the world as a ghost town. Buildings are destroyed, and there are no people in sight. Then we meet the last man on earth; Dr Robert Morgan.  Morgan wakes out of his bed, gets his weapons, and begins to hunt vampires.  I absolutely love this beginning, because it sets the viewer up for a lot of tensity. It also introduces the narration by Price.  This was a genius idea in my opinion, because if Robert actually talked to the viewer in the movie, he'd look really stupid, because it would make him be talking to himself.  The narration gives the vibe that the words are really his thoughts, and this was extremely effective. 

The first thing that I found really great about this film was the flashback sequences with Robert's wife and daughter. The reason I like this a lot is that we see how important they were to his life. Even though the world had been going down hill, he still had the people he loved, and could still function because of this. When they became ill and passed, he had nothing left in the world, and life didn't even matter anymore. I think this was a great move for the character development of Morgan's character, because it helps explain his hard and near insane personality. 

Personally, I don't think there could've been anyone better than Vincent Price for the role of Robert Morgan.  The character really needed a tough man that could shift emotions very well, whether he was dark, happy, sad, or powerful. Every one of these qualities were possessed by this amazing actor.  I feel that one of the scenes that shows this best was when he watched the home movies of his family. At first he watched with a straight face, but then he began to laugh crazily, and finally he broke down and cried like a baby.  While other actors could perform this scene, there really wasn't anyone that could pull it off so genuinely. 

One of the things that surprised me with this film was how true "I Am Legend" stayed to it. While they were very different films in nature, there were certain plot points that were in both movies.  One of the biggest giveaways in this is the relationship that Morgan has with his dog. This canine is just about the only thing that Robert has left in the world, and he loves it dearly.  Then the heartbreak comes for him when he has to kill the puppy because it is too infected with the bacteria that causes creature to become vampires.  What truly blew my mind was when Robert repeatedly said "Everything's gonna be alright."  The significance in this is apparent if the viewer has also seen "I Am Legend," because the theme song of the movie is "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley, which utters those same exact words. I found this to be truly amazing, because it showed the intricate brilliance of the more recent movie. 

The loneliness of Robert is soon ceased when a young girl named Ruth comes along.  Ruth has been infected by this bacteria, but she has a vaccine that takes away the symptoms. The actress in the role Franca Bettoia was absolutely stellar in the movie, because she had such a great way of showcasing the emotions needed for the role.  She could've been considered melodramatic for her performance, but in this character, this was absolutely necessary because of all of the strife she had gone through. 

Something that puzzled me about this film was the fact that the infected humans were classified as "vampires." While this wasn't terrible, it doesn't make much logical sense. First off, there are never any fangs shown at all.  The second thing is that none of these creatures are seen to have a blood lust, but a love for human flesh. The last thing that bugged me about this was that they walk very slow, and there appearance was somewhat decayed. All of these factors really lead me to believe that "zombie" is a much more appropriate title for these sad life forms.  So while this doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the film, I found it quite confusing, and I wish the filmmakers had been more careful with this.  

Honestly the ending of this film may be one of the best(if not the best) in any genre. It has the action, the emotion, and the most powerful monologue I have ever heard.  I was so mindblown by this last ten minutes, and it gave me a feeling of awe that has never shown up unless I was watching the end of the original "Planet of the Apes."  To be frank, any flaws that had dragged down the rest of the film were made up by this, because it set the whole tone of why this movie was made. 

While this may not be the gruesome horror flick a lot of people look for, this movie has a lot more to it than most.  There is a power behind it that makes the viewer become engrossed, and it is one of the most subtly brilliant movies ever made.  I highly recommend it to any fans of horror, scifi, or classic cinema in general, because it is a piece of art that cannot be missed.   

Count Dracula and His Vampire Brides Review

8/10

Hammer Productions was iconic for their Dracula movies starring legend Christopher Lee. This 1973 classic(which was also known as The Satanic Rites of Dracula) was the last movie of the series, and it is definitely one of the most iconic.  It is a very hip and brutal film of its time, and it was quite original. 

The movie starts off showing a cult giving a baptism of chicken blood to a woman. This is a very creepy scene, because you can tell the hell that the girl is going through, and it is very realistic.  We also see a man get shot, and he lives. At the beginning, there is no way of knowing why this happened, but something mysterious is definitely going on. This scene is quite bloody, and it was pretty neat. 

The first thing I noticed about this movie was that it really fell into the formula of a 70's action flick. There was the funky music in the intro, and some of the film reminded me of James Bond.  The problem with this is that it shows a lack of direction in genre. There are the shootouts and chase scenes of action, and the gruesome scenes of horror. While it doesn't ruin the movie for me, it definitely takes away from the scare factor. 

Being the movie is about Dracula, there isn't a whole bunch of surprise of when he is going to kill someone. Whenever the viewer sees him try to kiss a girl, you know she's going to be bloodless.  Regardless of this, the scenes are very well done, and they still have a small amount of freakiness to them.  Christopher Lee is also amazing in the role, because he is extremely dark and larger than life.

The true surprise comes from the fact that many other women turn into vampires, and you never know when they're going to kill. I found the first scene of attacks to be extremely intense and horrifying, and it was one of the best in the genre. 

Another positive of the film was the cast.  Peter Cushing was very cool as Van Helsing, because he was a very dark and tough character, which works perfectly for Cushing.  William Franklyn was cool as Peter, because he was a likable guy, and he showed his weakness for the woman he loved. Freddie a Jones was amazing as always in the role of Julian, because he gave his typical crazy performance, and excelled at it. Michael Coles gave a very stern and tough performance as Inspector Murray, and even though he isn't as big of a name as the others, he was still very talented.  Barbara Yu Ling was piercing as Chin Yang, and she was totally believable as a cult leader. 

The fact that the movie is a satanic flick really gives it an eerie feel. These scenes were done very well, because there was a red lighting in the filming that made it very evil. The music in the background is also very demonic, and the lack of soul in the people makes a realistic effect.  This definitely has one of the best depictions of a cult that I have ever seen. 

The last 10-15 minutes of the movie are absolutely epic. Right when Lee started to get crazy, and his eyes turned red, I knew something crazy was going to happen.  Then all hell broke loose, fire started to burn, things got destroyed, and there was a terror that filled the whole room.  Then in the next moments, there was the final showdown between Van Helsing and Count Dracula. I really find this ending to be one of the most shocking ever, and it made up for any little blemish that filled the rest of the movie. 

Overall, while this movie wasn't perfect, it was still one heck of a movie. It was brutal, shocking, and a lot of fun.  It is also the perfect example of why Christopher Lee is the all time actor in the role of Count Dracula.  I highly recommend it to any fans of the genre, because it is definitely one of the coolest of the 70's.