This is yet another telling of the traditional Dracula tale from Bram Stoker. While on the DVD extra interview with director Jess Franco it's obvious he made such a faithful adaptation of the story, I was still left feeling very cold by the film. That's because I had a strong notion of "been there...done that" as I watched the movie. Considering that roughly the same story was told with the Bela Lugosi Dracula and "countless" (get it?) others, I was completely bored by this movie. Had I never seen these other Dracula films, then I probably would have enjoyed it much more. But considering Lugosi, Christopher Lee (innumerable times), Frank Langella, Gary Oldman, Max Shrek and even Louis Jordan have all played the same role, the film just never peaked my interest. Overall, the production is competent but rather low energy and offering nothing particularly interesting or new. The ambiance is only okay and the best aspect of the movie is probably the better than usual treatment for the Renfield character--this time exceptionally well played by Klaus Kinski. Kinski had no trouble playing a crazy person (perhaps because it wasn't much of a stretch) and it's interesting to note that at the end of the decade, Kinski would star as the monster in the remake of NOSFERATU. Otherwise, the film was a competently made drag.
By the way, if you do watch this film, pay close attention to the ending. The way they supposedly kill Dracula is truly unique and shouldn't have hurt him at all based on what they said in all the previous vampire movies--and this results in a very, very anti-climactic conclusion.
By the way, if you do watch this film, pay close attention to the ending. The way they supposedly kill Dracula is truly unique and shouldn't have hurt him at all based on what they said in all the previous vampire movies--and this results in a very, very anti-climactic conclusion.