Admittedly, 'Mark of the Vampire' may not be the best vampire-film out there. I haven't seen Browning's original Dracula yet (for which I am kicking myself as we speak) so I can't compare it with this one. At any rate, Terence Fisher's 'Dracula' is a lot better (although sometimes lacking the bizarre atmosphere of this film). The main problem with 'Mark of the Vampire' is that it's not really a vampire-film, even though it aspires to be. A disappointingly small section of the film is devoted to Lugosi, and in the few scenes in which he's clearly visible, he doesn't succeed in making the scary impression he is so famous for. As an old-fashioned mystery film with a surprise ending, or merely as a monster film with some truly beautiful special effects, 'Mark of the Vampire' certainly passes the grade. But if it's plain and simple bloodsucking and long sharp fangs you're after, go see 'Nosferatu' one more time.
Review of Mark of the Vampire
