A few thoughts: The Brides Of Dracula and Dracula: Prince Of Darkness are superior Dracula sequels in pretty much every way, yet still this is somehow a pretty awesome movie. Christopher Lee speaks again, for the first time since the early scenes in Horror Of Dracula from '58, but they still keep his dialogue minimal. I don't fully understand how they make it work, but Dracula is back to "life" again, and he set his sights on a woman -- relative of a devout christian, and girlfriend to an atheist. The way they handle these two clashing religious ideals works surprisingly well, never forcing either to change their outlooks, just allowing them to develop and play off each other believably. The lens/filters they use give many of the scenes a warped look, particularly those centered around Dracula. Lee still brings a lot of daunting physicality to his role, seducing and menacing characters throughout. It never feels like they forced him to appear more frightening than he actually is. The story is simple, the acting is solid, and I love the aesthetic. Solid Hammer horror.
People who liked the first 3 Dracula movies should enjoy it. It's not as good, but it's still really cool.
My grade: B-
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