Review of Blood for Dracula (1974) by Joseph C — 06 Feb 2015

After making Flesh for Frankenstein (1973), director Paul Morrissey and producer Andy Warhol, shot this very gory take on Dracula back to back with the Frankenstein film in Italy, using much of the same cast and crew, and much of the film was improvised on the spot.

It has a schlocky, Euro-pudding spirit that separates it from the cheesy Hammer Dracula's that were being made around the time. In the 1920's, Count Dracula (Udo Kier) is dying and he must drink the blood of virgins in order to survive.

He has his servant Anton (Arno Juerging) transport him from Transylvania to Italy after Anton suggests there might be more virgins in a Catholic country like Italy. Dracula takes up residence in a grand estate belonging to Marchese di Fiore (Vittorio De Sica), who is trying to marry off his daughters in order to get some money.

His daughters are Esmeralda (Milena Vukotic), Saphiria (Dominique Darel), Rubinia (Stefania Casini) and Perla (Silvia Dionisio), 2 of them have it off with handyman Mario (Joe Dallesandro), but that doesn't stop Dracula's wicked ways.

It's a very daft film, but for it's low budget values and dodgy acting, it does have a likable and compelling charm about it. There is a lot of blood and gore on display, and it's interesting that Kier's portrayal Dracula is a very ill man, which gives it depth.

Plus it does have a shocking conclusion which is quite effective.