The worst of Hammer’s Dracula series – and frustratingly it contains some of the best moments: the opening shots of the castle; the beginning sequence where townsfolk burn down said castle – only to come home and find their families have been wiped out; Chris Lee climbing the walls; a genuinely creepy sense of mystery in some shots; an added dash of sensuality (Chris Matthews actually gets to root a female vampire - such things are normally only promised to the victim); Jenny Hanley’s cleavage. But these are few and far between.
Things get off to a bad start with one of the least convincing bats around – accompanied by an irritating music sting – which is repeated ad-nauseum throughout the film; much of the action is repetitive – people are continually leaving the castle and going back to it, Dracula’s coach is forever arriving and taking off; the suspicious townsfolk (led by Hammer yeoman Michael Ripper) are laughable; Dracula’s death at the hands of a bolt of lightning is ridiculous (it’s as if John Elder – never the best writer – finally gave up).
Lee is tired; Dennis Waterman pops up as the male lead, although he’s overshadowed by chirpy Chris Matthews as his womanising brother; Hanley is pretty but bland.
No comments:
Post a Comment