Stylish Hammer production involving a honeymooning couple lost in the Bavarian woods and their encounter with a (literally) hypnotic doctor who lives in a castle, which is a front for a cult of vampires. The couple are invited to attend a masquerade party there and (big mistake) they accept.
Originally intended by the studio as a Dracula film, the count's name is never mentioned in this film. The young couple (Edward De Souza, Jennifer Daniel) have much of the screen time and are both pretty bland as performers. De Souza's character is a bit of a dope (at least to experienced horror fans who can well see ahead in the story as to what is about to happen to them) while Daniel adequately serves her role's requirements by being young and attractive. Let's face it, folks, the cult of vampires don't want her attendance at the party because of her conversational ability.
The two most noteworthy cast contributions to the film are provided by Noel Willman, as the aristocratic Dr. Ravna, the cultured castle owner and head of the cult (watch out for those teeth when he gets up close and personal) and Clifford Evans as an alcoholic professor, the Van Helsing rep here, so to speak, who previously lost his daughter to the cult but knows the black arts and how to summon demonic forces in order to destroy the cult.
James Bernard supplies a big, booming musical score bringing impact to the visuals and handsome sets, in much the same manner as he had a few years before with Horror of Dracula. The climax, originally intended for that of Brides of Dracula, has special effects that seem barely adequate by today's standards but still remain fun to view even if you can't take them too seriously.
While Kiss of the Vampire is not quite in the same league as a blood chilling horror entertainment as the studio's Horror of Dracula or Brides of Dracula, fans of the genre should still be satisfied with the end results. It certainly plays much better than some of those later films in the Dracula series with Christopher Lee.
Originally intended by the studio as a Dracula film, the count's name is never mentioned in this film. The young couple (Edward De Souza, Jennifer Daniel) have much of the screen time and are both pretty bland as performers. De Souza's character is a bit of a dope (at least to experienced horror fans who can well see ahead in the story as to what is about to happen to them) while Daniel adequately serves her role's requirements by being young and attractive. Let's face it, folks, the cult of vampires don't want her attendance at the party because of her conversational ability.
The two most noteworthy cast contributions to the film are provided by Noel Willman, as the aristocratic Dr. Ravna, the cultured castle owner and head of the cult (watch out for those teeth when he gets up close and personal) and Clifford Evans as an alcoholic professor, the Van Helsing rep here, so to speak, who previously lost his daughter to the cult but knows the black arts and how to summon demonic forces in order to destroy the cult.
James Bernard supplies a big, booming musical score bringing impact to the visuals and handsome sets, in much the same manner as he had a few years before with Horror of Dracula. The climax, originally intended for that of Brides of Dracula, has special effects that seem barely adequate by today's standards but still remain fun to view even if you can't take them too seriously.
While Kiss of the Vampire is not quite in the same league as a blood chilling horror entertainment as the studio's Horror of Dracula or Brides of Dracula, fans of the genre should still be satisfied with the end results. It certainly plays much better than some of those later films in the Dracula series with Christopher Lee.