Marvelously atmospheric film, with terrific music, strong performances, and a clever script. The opening sequences, with a visiting Monsignor learning that no one will go to the church anymore, since Dracula hung up one of his victims in the bell tower, are tense and involving. The Monsignor's idea ,to free the villagers of their fears by exorcising Dracula's castle, leads to a very dramatic sequence of the two clergymen struggling for hours up an increasingly difficult mountain climb, with the alcoholic priest becoming more and more frightened. The first sight of the castle, sitting ominously on a mountain top, is quite impressive. The scene of the Monsignor arriving at the deserted castle, lit with unwholesome greens and yellows, and some creepy low angle shots, augmented by some awesomely threatening music, is one of the best in the whole picture. With booming thunder almost drowning out his Latin incantations, the stalwart Monsignor reads the service of exorcism, and places a large golden cross on the doors. Meanwhile, the fearful priest flees in terror from the fury of the lightning and thunder, and inadvertently causes the very thing that he most dreads to happen: the return of Count Dracula. This is such a powerful beginning, that the rest of the film almost has to be a slight letdown, but there are many well done sequences, ranging from Dracula's evil deeds, to humorous and bawdy scenes of students in a tavern, and sensuous, tender love scenes. The story always holds the viewer's interest and gives Christopher Lee some great scenes. The only real complaint is that Dracula doesn't appear in longer and more vivid scenes. But the movie is so entertaining overall that this is a fairly minor quibble. Highly recommended for vampire movie fans and Hammer enthusiasts. A movie well worth seeing, even if not quite as good as it could have been.
Review of Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
