Horror Of Dracula is Hammer's second shot at remaking (and improving) the Universal Monster movies of the thirties. It's the best of Hammer's early films and arguably the best Dracula movie ever made. It features Christopher Lee in the role that would always define his career and Peter Cushing's portrayal of Van Helsing, certainly the only Van Helsing true genre fans will ever recognize, despite leather-clad ass kickers and flesh eating socialites.

Horror Of Dracula takes Stoker's basic story and changes it to fit the film, so you probably know already most of the plot, but it does change out several key events to keep things interesting and, at the time, shocking. The Count still resides in his haunted castle, but it's no longer in the desolate wasteland the original story claimed. The idea of vampires (and their "cult", the ones they turn) is generally accepted among men of science, and their unnatural abilities are much more limited than originally thought. Finally, Dracula's "death" varies wildly from the novel, though you'll no doubt recognize it from countless imitators.

When it was first released there were also cries that its violence was too extreme and like nothing seen in any other Dracula adaptation. This, of course, was merely a sign of the times as the actual bloodshed in the film is quite tame by today's standards.

Horror Of Dracula is one of my favourite films, and a film any fan of "classic" horror should check out. It features career defining roles by two of horror's biggest stars, beautiful gothic scenery and an original take on a classic story.

The chill of the tomb won't leave your blood for hours after you come face-to-face with Dracula!

Followed by the Christopher Lee-less semi-sequel, Brides Of Dracula. (Red)

Directed By: Terence Fisher.
Written By: Jimmy Sangster.

Starring: Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, Christopher Lee, Melissa Stribling.

aka: Dracula; Dracula 1958.