The Satanic Rites Of Dracula (UK 1973)

Rating: **
Alternate Title: Count Dracula And His Vampire Bride (U.S. Title)
Review Date: 5/15/02
Cast: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Michael Coles, Freddie Jones

A rather lame attempt by Hammer Studios to bring Count Dracula and Professor Van Helsing into the present. Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) has been resurrected in modern day England and "recruits" four wealthy and powerful individuals to engineer his Armageddon. Inspector Murray of Scotland Yard (Michael Coles) and a descendant of the great Professor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) stumble across his plan to infect the world with a new strain of Bubonic Plague and rush to his mansion to stop his evil plan. The dear Count has also taken a fancy towards Van Helsing's granddaughter and chooses to torment Van Helsing by making her his bride. The inevitable showdown and a well-placed wooden stake follow suit.

Apart from a really nicely done vampire disintegration, the only thing the film has to offer is a couple of brief erotic scenes of breasts and blood. Sadly, those are also shown in the trailer, raising expectations to see more naughtiness that never comes. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are always fun to watch, even though this is hardly new territory for them. A pretty unremarkable and instantly forgettable film.