I am a big fan of the particular style that defines Hammer Horror/Thrillers and Horror of Dracula is an excellent starting point, but on my own personal list it is only #20, which means I’ll be more excited for entries that come up later on this aggregated list. It could be that I’m more of a Peter Cushing fan than Christopher Lee. (Lee is great, but Cushing is my Horror GOAT, even better than Karloff.) It might also be that I find Lee’s mostly silent performance to be a strange choice. He only has 16 lines and they’re all within the first 10 minutes. That leaves him pushing a visual sex appeal because he can’t use that deep, smooth voice.
Told in 80 minutes, this version rushes through the Dracula story and has the most abrupt ending. The blood is red and sexuality without nudity is brought to the front. Acting in general is classier than you expect from the genre, the sets are lavish and the lighting colorful with deep, dark hues. This is typical of Hammer, something you get used to and even look forward to the more you watch.
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