This is arguably the most entertaining Dracula film in the entire Hammer back catalogue - and made by the studio in an attempt to achieve the success that its rival AIP had had with their modern 'Count Yorga' vampire series. Let's be honest about this, much of the entertainment value surrounding this film is based around what's wrong with it - the supposedly hip dialogue is hilarious and endlessly amusing, especially after repeated viewings...watch the film and you'll see. The half hearted plot about a group of teenagers (who are all about 10 years too old - including Foyle's War's Michael Kitchen and Dynasty's Stefanie Beacham) being manipulated by a follower of Dracula into resurrecting him into a swinging 70s London is really of secondary importance to the other joys on display. Despite the laughable dialogue, and misjudged 'teen' performances, the technical credits are top notch - Dick Bush's camerawork is highly atmosperic in both the 'gothic' and 'swinging' scenes, Mike… more »

This is arguably the most entertaining Dracula film in the entire Hammer back catalogue - and made by the studio in an attempt to achieve the success that its rival AIP had had with their modern 'Count Yorga' vampire series. Let's be honest about this, much of the entertainment value surrounding this film is based around what's wrong with it - the supposedly hip dialogue is hilarious and endlessly amusing, especially after repeated viewings...watch the film and you'll see. The half hearted plot about a group of teenagers (who are all about 10 years too old - including Foyle's War's Michael Kitchen and Dynasty's Stefanie Beacham) being manipulated by a follower of Dracula into resurrecting him into a swinging 70s London is really of secondary importance to the other joys on display. Despite the laughable dialogue, and misjudged 'teen' performances, the technical credits are top notch - Dick Bush's camerawork is highly atmosperic in both the 'gothic' and 'swinging' scenes, Mike Vickers' score is very groovy indeed but best of all are the 'adult' performances - Lee and Cushing working together for the first time (in the roles that they are perhaps most famous for anyway) since Hammer's 1958 vampire landmark are simply superb. Cushing's 100 percent committed performance as Van Helsing shows why he's the finest actor the horror genre has ever produced...and probably ever will...and Lee on top snarling form as the Prince of darkness gives real depth to what's really an underwritten role - it's a shame that Mr Lee disliked some of the Hammer productions he appeared in, especially the later ones, as time is suggesting that like wine, some of these films do improve with age...all we need now are for Warner's to release an uncut version of the equally bizarre, but equally terrific sequel - 'The satanic Rites of Dracula', which plays like an episode of The Avengers with added bite!