Review of Dracula (1958) by Jacynthe L — 01 Jun 2006

Snuggle up kids I've got something to say. Kumquats! Ah, that felt better. Now on to business. First off I've added a new list (10 favourite Kurosawas) so read it at your leisure. It should appear at the side of your screen in bold [b][color=darkred]Nipplo-Vision[/color][/b] (patent pending) for your viewing pleasure. Are you happy with the ryhme? Neither am I.

So I watched the Hammer Films version of [b]The Hound of the Baskervilles[/b] last night. It was pretty good. No really big faults I can think of but I can't say it will change my life. It was suitably dark and moody. I've finally started watching the Hammer films as I've always heard about them but could never find them. For a studio that had very little money they sure were skilled at filmmaking. Plots move along at a nice pace, the acting is more than adequate and the directing is suitably dark and foreboding.

I also saw their [b]Horror of Dracula [/b]with Christopher Lee as the Count and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. The plot is very different to the Stoker novel and other film adaptations but it's not a hinderance. As in Baskervilles the acting was fine and the direction was good. There was a bit of gore to the film but I was actually expecting more. Hammer's name in the 50's and 60's became synonymous with gory horror films so I was a little disappointed. Although this was only their second feature after their breakthrough The Curse of Frankentein. What's fun about seeing their films in close succession is spotting the same reused sets. Everything takes place in the same great hall just at different angles and with new decorations depending on whether it's Dracula's castle or Baskerville Hall. Hee hee.

B movies rule!