Review of Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) by Kim S — 16 Mar 2012

8 years after the first Hammer Dracula, and 6 since the forgotten sequel The Brides of Dracula, Christopher Lee donned the cape once more to play the elusive, mysterious count, who has a taste for blood.

It's dark and moody and bloody, but it's well made with good bright colour, sometimes red. :P It is 10 years since Dracula (Lee) was defeated, and in the region of Transylvania, there are 4 English tourists travelling the area, brothers Charles (Francis Matthews) and Alan Kent (Charles Tingwell) and their respective wives Helen (Barbara Shelley) and Diana (Suzan Farmer).

But local priest Father Sandor (Andrew Keir) warns the party not to go anywhere near Karlsbad, but they do so. When their carriage gets a broken wheel, a mysterious carriage with no driver comes up and it takes them up to the castle in Karlsbad, which seems to be ready for them, and their luggage magically appears in their rooms, and they are waited on by Dracula's servant Klove (Philip Latham), but it's not long before Dracula is brought back to life as soon as his guests arrive, and the bloodshed starts again.

It's about 45 minutes into the film before Lee appears, and when he does, he doesn't utter a single word throughout the film, but he doesn't have to, the imposing fear he brings is enough.

It does have good scares and is beautifully made as well.