☆ ☆ ☆ ½
Horror
of Dracula (1958) – T. Fisher
Hammer studios really knew how to stage
a good gothic horror and nowhere better than here in their first Dracula
effort. Taking huge liberties with Bram
Stoker’s novel, the team refocuses Jonathan Harker as a potential vampire
killer himself, in league with Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing), who
unfortunately is no match for the Count (Christopher Lee, getting himself
typecast with few lines but amazing presence with bloodshot seductive eyes and
a bedside manner that seems more than appreciated by the ladies). Laying the groundwork for their many
adaptations to come, Hammer chooses their setpieces wisely: an amazing castle, spooky cemetery, the woods
at night, all fitting perfectly into the horse and carriage days of the 1880’s. A notch above Browning’s (Lugosi) version but
no match for Murnau (Schreck) or Herzog (Kinski).
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