The Horror of Dracula (1958) Review

 

The Horror of Dracula (1958)

I know, it’s no longer October. But I’m still in the horror kick, so here’s another classic.
The Horror of Dracula, or just Dracula, follows Dr. Van Helsing who, after the death of his friend, must stop the wicked Count Dracula from killing again.

There’s a lot of debate over which Dracula film is the definitive version, and personally, this is it. It takes the silly tropes like stakes to the heart, fangs, afraid of sunlight and crosses, and blood, and makes them cool. No goofy accents, no ethereal mysticism, just heart-pounding horror. Part of the allure is also the mystery, with Dracula always striking from the shadows or off screen. It leaves everything up in the air, with you never really sure what the outcome of his actions entails. It’s all one big cat and mouse game between Van Helsing and Dracula, with the Count always being a step ahead.

The driving forces of this movie though are without a doubt Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Lee, with his bloodshot eyes, fangs, and tall, brooding, shadowy figure, make him a true villain, as he doesn’t just attack at random, he hits you where it hurts, methodically. Cushing also brings such an intense, youthful grit to a man who is determined through revenge to end Dracula’s reign of terror, making their final showdown, however brief, one of the best bits in a movie filled with excellent scenes. We also get great supporting performances from Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, and Carol Marsh, with each bringing multi-dimensional elements to their characters, always changing depending on the circumstances or in some cases, their “deaths”.

Hammer Films, the British version of Universal Studios at the time, made Dracula cool. Feared by men, loved by women, sexual in nature, but a sadistic and animalistic, almost primal performance by Lee, takes a good film to great. It’s use of lavish sets and fast paced action, as well as the addition of saturated colors, makes Dracula a horror hit for the modern age.

8.8/10