Generally regarded as the best of the Hammer horrors, and that’s a fair enough call. It’s definitely a high point in the careers of all involved – Jimmy Sangster’s script doesn’t have an ounce of fat on it, and plunges us straight into the action. It’s not a faithful adaptation of the novel, more a great “cover version” – Harker arrives at the castle expressly to kill Dracula and his servants, at the orders of Van Hesling. This decision of Sangster’s gets everything going at a hurtling pace, and Terence Fisher rises to the occasion with skilful direction – I still get a jolt from Dracula’s initial appearance, the unexpected attack from the vampire girl, the last shot of Harker, etc. Sex is even more explicit in this one – the girls are gagging for Dracula, look how disappointed they are when he doesn’t rock up, and at the expressions on their faces when he bits them.
Christopher Lee is brilliant as Dracula – imposing, scary, sexy. Peter Cushing is an excellent Van Helsing – physical, smart as a whip, dangerous (there have been lots of memorable Draculas, but very few memorable Van Helsings). The women in this one weren’t much for all their orgasmic acting and Michael Gough’s character is irritating (he’s well motivated and all that, it’s just his soft spoken piousness got on my nerves). The film also loses a bit of momentum after Lucy’s death, but soon recovers for the brilliant climax. Stunning art direction (considering the budget), and excellent photography.
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