Their coach driver abandons two upper-class English couples that are holidaying, but they are later picked up by a driver-less coach and taken to Dracula's castle. Were they encountered his servant Klove, who makes them at home. Later that night one of the guests become curious, and follows Klove down to the basement. Where he kills him and uses his blood to revive his master. One couple manages to escape, but Dracula wants his prey and he goes about trying to get her back, but a local priest aids the young couple.
Terence Fisher returns as director for the second sequel, after heading up the early Hammer Dracula outings, "Horror of Dracula (1958) and "Brides of Dracula (1960)". It's another classy display with inventive flushes and sufficient performances, but it's probably the most leisured and plodding of the series that I've seen. After Christopher Lee didn't appear in Brides, he returned to the role and gave (literally) a snarling performance that relied on his frosty presence and psychical dominance of primal instinct. He had no dialogue at all. A robust Andrew Keir is particularly good in his minor part. However it's a creepy turn by Philip Latham as Dracula's servant, that's the best of the lot. Barbara Shelley and Susan Farmer make for exceptional Hammer beauties, and Francis Matthews makes for a likable, solid heroine. Charles Tingwell also appears. The lingering atmosphere is effectively painted from the beautiful to ominous locations. Suspense is adequately staged, as there are few very memorable set pieces (like Dracula's resurrection and finally his downfall) and ghastly jolts. A playfully chilling tenor fills James Bernard's score and scope-like photography by Michael Reed is always on the spot. The story has a run-of-the-mill feel to it, but its slow building structure and atmospheric edge cooks up a mysterious and eerie vibe that works for its superstitious underlining.
An admirably entertaining Hammer Dracula picture.
Terence Fisher returns as director for the second sequel, after heading up the early Hammer Dracula outings, "Horror of Dracula (1958) and "Brides of Dracula (1960)". It's another classy display with inventive flushes and sufficient performances, but it's probably the most leisured and plodding of the series that I've seen. After Christopher Lee didn't appear in Brides, he returned to the role and gave (literally) a snarling performance that relied on his frosty presence and psychical dominance of primal instinct. He had no dialogue at all. A robust Andrew Keir is particularly good in his minor part. However it's a creepy turn by Philip Latham as Dracula's servant, that's the best of the lot. Barbara Shelley and Susan Farmer make for exceptional Hammer beauties, and Francis Matthews makes for a likable, solid heroine. Charles Tingwell also appears. The lingering atmosphere is effectively painted from the beautiful to ominous locations. Suspense is adequately staged, as there are few very memorable set pieces (like Dracula's resurrection and finally his downfall) and ghastly jolts. A playfully chilling tenor fills James Bernard's score and scope-like photography by Michael Reed is always on the spot. The story has a run-of-the-mill feel to it, but its slow building structure and atmospheric edge cooks up a mysterious and eerie vibe that works for its superstitious underlining.
An admirably entertaining Hammer Dracula picture.