31 DAYS OF HORROR 2022 -Day 12: DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1966)

 

The one and only Christopher Lee returns to don fangs and cape.

As promised, I am finally tackling the remainder of Hammer's Dracula films, so we begin with this, the third in the run and the second to feature Christopher Lee's indelible version of the Count.

Ignoring the existence of the superb THE BRIDES OF DRACULA, DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS picks up some ten years after the events of THE HORROR OF DRACULA, with Dracula well and truly extinguished from the face of the earth. Nonetheless, the locals who live near Dracula's castle retain their memories of what came before, and the fear and superstition remains. Into this scenario arrive four vapid British tourists (who are so nondescript, it's not really worth describing them as individuals) who stop at the town pub before making their way into the mountains. There they meet Father Sandor (Andrew Keir), a rifle-toting monk who urges them to stay at his monastery as opposed to venturing through an accursed area. The idiot tourists of course ignore his warning, and in no time they find themselves guests at what was once Dracula's domicile. The weird thing is that Dracula's creepy servant, Klove (Philip Latham) welcomes them as though they were expected, and they arrive to find everything in readiness for them as guests. Needless to say, Klove lures one of the men to his doom in one of the castle's secret rooms, where he hangs the guy by his heels over Dracula's open coffin and slashes his throat, allowing the blood to flow freely and revive the lord of evil (the aforementioned Christopher Lee).

 

Castle Dracula, where kosher meals are part of the service.

The Count kills one of the two remaining female tourists and turns the other into his very willing slave, so it's up to the remaining tourist and Father Sandor to come to the rescue and kick Dracula's ass.

"Actually, I am filled with candy!"

As entries in Hammer's legendary Dracula series go, this one is merely okay, and it is the first to underscore the fact that no matter how mediocre the script may be, Christopher Lee made for arguably the most imposing and menacing Dracula ever. There's no Peter Cushing to serve as a worthy foil in this one (alas), so all of the heavy lifting falls to Lee and he handles the task well. The rest of the characters are one-note, with Father Sandor being the only one of any sort of interest, and the vanquishing of Dracula at the finale is a bit of a letdown.

"Look both ways before you...CROSS!!!" (I'll show myself out...)

 

There are worse in Hammer's Dracula run — as you will see — but this one is kinda rote and can be sat through with the knowledge that what immediately follows in the series is quite a lot better, but we'll get to that soon enough...

 

Poster for the theatrical release.