Review of Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) by L J — 26 Oct 2007

A rather belated, but also rather effective sequel to Hammer's (Horror Of) Dracula. Chris Lee finally ended up returning to the role he'd been reluctant to repeat - a mere 7 years after said role had made his name (mindful of the gap between the two films, Hammer elected to re-use the climax of the former as the prologue, here).

The film boasts one of Babs Shelley's finest performances as the prim and proper wet-blanket who becomes a wild, unbridled animal after being seduced by the demonic Count. The gory scene where Dracula is resurrected is pretty impressively executed (for its time), and the following seduction-of-Babs scene is completely wordless, but somehow powerful (the sight of Lee in the old cape and red contact-lenses, with James Bernard's pulsing, ominous music underscoring everything gives me chills, man!).

The supporting cast is first-rate: Andrew Keir's rifle-toting monk is a superb creation; Philip Latham is brilliantly despicable as Drac's butler/manservant, Klove; the great Thorley Walters plays the fly-eating Ludwig (the character is Renfield in all but name); Francis Matthews is a fairly capable hero.

Lee is, of course, fantastic - even though he has absolutely NO DIALOGUE (his performance is limited to the odd snarl & hiss); apparently, this is because Lee refused to say lines which he believed to be unworthy of Stoker(!).

When they trap him on the ice (during the climax), why doesn't he just take the form of a bat and fly off out of it?? Didn't think of that, did he? Silly Count.