The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973) YTS

Reviewed by Wuchak 6 / 10

Hammer’s final Dracula film with Christopher Lee Two

***Hammer’s final Dracula film with Christopher Lee*** Two years after the events of “Dracula A.D. 1972” (1972) Scotland Yard & Lorrimer Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) discover that Dracula (Christopher Lee) is alive and well in the London area, disguised as an antisocial property developer with a mad scheme to unleash a lethal virus upon the Earth. “The Satanic Rites of Dracula,” aka “Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride” (1973), was the last of seven Hammer Dracula films starring Lee as the diabolic Count released from 1958-1973. The previous six are: “Horror of Dracula” (1958), “Dracula, Prince of Darkness” (1966), “Dracula has Risen from the Grave” (1968), “Taste the Blood of Dracula” (1970), “Scars of Dracula” (1970) and “Dracula A.D. 1972” (1972). While this is arguably the least in the series, it has a lot to offer once you get past Dracula’s henchmen riding motorcycles and wearing brown vests with wool fringe (no doubt this was ‘hip’ attire back in 1972 when the film was shot). It helps to grasp that Stoker’s original novel took place in what was then modern times, 1897, with Dracula being over 400 years old by that point. “Satanic Rites” simply envisions how the vampire lord would function in the early 70s. In Stoker’s book he’s a powerful and arrogant creature that holds a position of authority, a Count, and prefers to dwell in an intimidating castle in Transylvania or a gothic estate in London, not to mention acquires subjects to serve his purposes, like gypsies and Renfield. Here Drac’s DD Denham persona is the modern English equivalent to a Count in Transylvania hundreds of years prior. In both cases he’s an untouchable authority figure with minions carrying out his will. Simply put, this is how a 500 year-old evil being would operate in the 1970s using elements of the modern world to accomplish his ends, including the British Empire. Speaking of which, in Stoker’s novel Dracula recognized the British Empire as a means to spread his cult of vampirism around the world and eventually take it over. He wasn’t content to just threaten a few local nobodies as observed in the five previous sequels. In “Satanic Rites” he’s back to his vision of global domination, tricking 4 members of the Establishment into being agents of his "own created Apocalypse," but now we see the incredibly sinister culmination of his power-mad scheme. To appreciate what this flick has to offer you have to get past the motorcycle-riding henchmen and their dubious vests. Once you do, it has quite a bit to offer: The notable group of protagonists, including those played by Michael Coles and Joanna Lumley; the way they put their heads together to figure out what the Count is doing and how to stop him; and Drac’s “harem” he keeps in the basement (played by Maggie Fitzgerald, Finnuala O'Shannon, Pauline Peart and a newly converted vamp played by Valerie Van Ost). The film runs 1 hour, 27 minutes and was shot in Hertfordshire & nearby London, England. GRADE: B-

Reviewed by CinemaSerf 5 / 10

The great grandson of the original "Van Helsing

The great grandson of the original "Van Helsing" (Peter Cushing) is drafted in by Scotland Yard to investigate a series of deaths that smack of vampirism. The investigation centres around a manor house where the great and the good of London society meet, ostensibly for ordinary gatherings, but we know it is much more sinister (well, in theory, anyway). What's more - this house is built upon an old cemetery, and guess who was buried in it just a few years earlier? This is a sort of 1970s "Freemasons meet Dracula" affair, with a lacklustre dialogue and some pretty lame performances all round. It builds predictably to a conflagration that seems a long time coming, and neither Cushing nor the fleeting appearances from Christopher Lee really ignite the film. The score has that early synthesised sound to it, and the photography - though probably quite effective in 1973, now looks dated and juddery. These Hammer films were well past their sell-by dates by now, the gift had long since stopped giving and perhaps because it is in colour, it is not remotely scary. Passable, but only because I like the genre.

Reviewed by Red-Barracuda 7 / 10

A much better film than it's reputation suggests

I definitely feel a bit out of synch with the general consensus here because this entry in the Hammer Dracula series is one of my favourites. I would say I even enjoy it more than the original, which is doubtless tantamount to sacrilege in some people's eyes. I don't know, this movie just successfully entertains as far as I'm concerned.The setting is in contemporary times, early 70's London. The story has the evil count gathering together various industrialists, politicians and scientists as part of a nefarious plan to wipe out civilization. He bases his operations from a remote house where satanic rites are practiced, involving these aforementioned individuals plus a number of female vampires who are chained up in the basement. Professor Van Helsing is on hand as usual to attempt to thwart his nemesis's plans.There's just so much going on in Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride that it simply never gets boring. While it may lack the lush Gothic setting of most of the other entries in the series, I actually think it gains a reasonable amount from the 70's vibe. The idea of Dracula living under a false name in a tower block in the middle of London is a strangely good one, and some of the other locations are well utilized too, like the basement full of vampires for example – the scene where Van Helsing's grand-daughter comes into contact with these creatures is well orchestrated. There's a pleasing over-all smattering of action, nudity and gore throughout the picture to keep genre fans happy, while the film is on occasion quite stylish as in the scenes of the satanic ceremony. And of course it is never a bad thing to have Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing together in a film.I would suggest that this is a movie that doesn't really deserve its poor reputation. I certainly find it a very enjoyable bit of fun. I do somewhat think that Hammer's 70's productions in general have been given a worse rap than they deserve. For anyone who enjoys British horror films from the period, I think this one is worth seeing.

The Satanic Rites of Dracula

1973

Action / Drama / Horror

The Satanic Rites of Dracula

1973

Action / Drama / Horror

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Movie Reviews

Hammer’s final Dracula film with Christopher Lee Two

The great grandson of the original "Van Helsing

A much better film than it's reputation suggests

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