Horror of Dracula (AKA Dracula)
Directed by Terrence Fisher
Written by Jimmy Sangster based on the story by Bram Stoker
1958/UK
Hammer Films
First viewing/Netflix rental
#353 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
[box] Doctor Van Helsing: Since the death of Jonathan Harker Count Dracula the propagator of this unspeakable evil has disappeared. He must be found and destroyed![/box]
A bit gorier than the 1931 version and also a classic.
The setting is a very Victorian English version of Germany. Jonathan Harker goes to Transylvania on a mission to slay Count Dracula (Christopher Lee). Oddly, he knows how to kill a vampire but is missing some essential information about crosses and garlic. He manages to drive a stake into the heart of one of the vampire’s female victims but Dracula himself is too much for him. Doctor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) travels to the castle to search for his missing friend but he is too late. Dracula has fled.
Bent on revenge for the loss of his acolyte, Dracula goes to prey on Harker’s fiancee, Lucy. Next he sets his sights on Mina, the wife of Lucy’s brother. Van Helsing is on the case, though, and it is a fight to the death.
This is a very solid and enjoyable film with great performances by Cushing and Lee. There is far more blood than in the original but it’s not too scary. There are some groovy special effects when vampires are finally put out of their misery. Recommended for lovers of the genre.
Trailer
