MovieChat Forums > Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966) Discussion > Worst of the series

Worst of the series

posted 16 years ago by macabre_madness
21 replies | jump to latest

As most know, as the films went on, Dracula became less of a character and more of a cameo. However though, I was bothered by the slapstick comedy in the final acts of Horror Of Dracula, the bland characters (and story) of Taste The Blood Of Dracula, The guido look of Lee in Scars O Dracula, and all the Satanism and witchcraft themes of Dracula A.D & The Satanic Rites Of Dracula, but this one...

this had all I ever wanted. A couple of unsuspecting folks spending the night in Dracula's castle. Problem is, it's a snooze from beginning to end. It's like watching paint dry. Not one of the actors is interesting or remotely entertaining. Nothing happens throughout the entire movie. I apologize to anyone who disagrees, but for this film being the big pricey OOP DVD... the film itself isn't worth five bucks.

I do think overall, the best of the series is Scars Of Dracula (borderline slasher movie with unexpected degree of violence) and then Dracula Has Risen From The Grave (for it's very unique visual style).

[–] shrame 7 years ago

Prince of Darkness is my favourite Hammer Dracula film of all time. The characters (Father Sandor Charles, the women, Helen constantly worried, Klove..), the story line (stranded travelors who were warned), the resurrection scene, the creepy, chilling atmospheric setting of the castle, the monastery with vampire slaying priests, Dracula's psychic spirit guiding Klove and the horses... For me it all just comes together flawlessly...

Scars of Dracula is my second favourite because of it's violence and it's sex drive, then Horror of Dracula because it's such an interesting variation to Stoker's tale, then Dracula has Risen from the Grave because of the excellent cinematography and over all interesting storyline, then Taste the Blood, which actually I don't like too much because of the plot holes and let down of an ending.

Then there's the rest. Brides of Dracula will always be a supreme let down because it features neither Dracula's brides OR Dracula himself... What the heck... then when they brought Dracula into the modern age because "Count Yorga Vampire" with Robert Quarry had done SOOOO well, they made a TREMENDOUS mistake. Dracula 1972 and The Satanic Rites of Dracula are not that great at all... very mediocre. Satanic Rites starts out being intriguing but the pace and story line disintegrate from there and The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires... interesting and ahead of it's time, martial arts and vampires, but too much of a departure from Hammer's hay day and basically Hammer's last gasp...

Those last 2 with Lee in the modern age were actually sad to watch because Hammer films were such wonderful period films, it was a real a shame to watch them try so hard to adapt and then fail miserably. Despite their failures they tried again and again and again but the magic of their glory days were gone for good, like a fighter after getting knocked out too many times, striving, trying so hard to fight back, but his body just doesn't react, he's too slow and he get's beat up again and again... sooo sad to watch...