Warner Brothers has given Hammer fans the first film in the modern Hammer Dracula series and while it's short on bonus features, it's nice to finally have this classic on DVD. The film is presented in it's original aspect ratio and enhanced for widescreen TVs. The lone bonus feature is the theatrical trailer.
In 1972, Hammer Studios felt that perhaps their Dracula film series need to move into a new direction and perhaps introduce some younger fans to the Hammer fold, so Dracula was thrust into the 20th century and 1970s swinging London.
In spite of Christopher Lee's displeasure with the direction the Hammer Dracula series had taken, he was once again persuaded to don the fangs for the title role. Peter Cushing once again took on the role of Van Helsing, but this time Lee and Cushing were supported by a cast of up and coming talent more suited to the audience Hammer Studios was gearing this film towards....teens and 20-something year olds. The supporting cast would include; Stephanie Beacham as Van Helsing's granddaughter Jessica, Christopher Neame as Johnny Alucard, Caroline Munro as Laura and Michael Coles as the Inspector.
The opening sequence to this film is fantastic...it has Dracula and Van Helsing battling atop a runaway stagecoach. The coach crashes and we see both Dracula and Van Helsing have received mortal wounds, but before they succumb to their wounds they engage in one final and short battle. We see the death of Dracula and the funeral of Van Helsing before being swept from 1872 to 1972. Once we're in 1972, the film shows it's age a bit. I think there are times were the film tries too hard to show the atmosphere of London 1972 and it actually comes across a bit comical, but it certainly gives the viewer a chance to see what the early 70s were all about.
Johnny Alucard lures the young group of partiers to an abandoned church which also happens to be the burial site of Van Helsing of 1872. There Johnny performs the black magic ritual that will resurrect Dracula and guarantee disciple Johnny immortality. Laura (Caroline Munro) is the first victim of the resurrected Dracula and what a wonderful scene that is. Soon her body is found by some young children and Lorrimer Van Helsing (Cushing) is approached for his help in solving the murder.
As with most of the Hammer Dracula films, this one has plenty of action and some very creepy moments and while there are many naysayers out there about the two modern Dracula excursions by Hammer Studios, this is well worth checking out, be it by a rental source or purchasing the disc.
You can pick up this DVD at Amazon.com
