Review of Dracula's Daughter (1936) by Brian F — 15 Oct 2007

Moody, atmospheric, almost hypnotic film (much like its main character) from Universal is an overlooked gem. Gloria Holden owns this film and creates a strange, sad, perplexing "monster." What's most interesting about the film is that we, as the audience, are never quite sure if she's really a vampire or just a deranged serial killer who likes to bite and kill cute women.

Otto Kruger, as the male lead, is good although his character is absolutely horrible and I kept wishing he would get killed in some awful way. I don't know if this is how the film wants us to see him but that's how I felt.

Marguerite Churchill is beautiful and bright as the romantic lead and her attraction to Kruger is strange since, for the entire length of the film, he is unapologeticlly horrible to her. Anyway, watch out for some great lesbian subtext if you're as into that sort of thing as I am.

All in all, a very good Universal Monster film that is more psychological than most. Check it out.