Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Micransix Crappy film

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

LeonLouisRicci This one has all the Ingredients of the Hammer Horror Films. Striking Sets, Gorgeous over modulated Color, A Good Cast, Bombastic Music, Beautiful Women with a Concern on Cleavage, and another Entry in the "Famous Monster" Category.Determining the Best in the Series is an Arbitrary Affair and Opinions Vary wildly but this could be Considered one of the Better Ones. Despite being made in the Late Sixties when the Respected Studio would start to Lose a Bit of that Creative and Artistic Flare, this one Shows No Signs of the Slide that would Follow.The Movie has a definitive Psychedelic Influence starting with the Title Sequence and is forever Present in the Color Scheme and Lush Lighting that Frames the Scenes with the Count. It is Striking and Bathes the Film in a Wash of Wonderful Surreal Imagery.There are a number of Unforgettable Scenes, like the Clergy's Trip to the Castle that is Tense. This Results in one of the Eerie Lines delivered by Dracula..."Who has done this thing? Who has done this thing?". This Sets the Movie in Motion that Includes another Short and Compelling Uttering from Christopher Lee..."Bring her to ME." So Few Lines but so Much Impact. Lee Looks Commanding, Striking various Poses, He is Like some Demi-God about to Wreak Evil Doings and is Proud to Announce His Arrival. The Movie also Concerns itself with Religion (more than usual) and Atheism, in the Script for Contrast and was not so Common.Many consider this one of the Best in the Hammer's Dracula Series and a Case could be made. It's Bloody, Ultra-Stylish, and Commanding Fun.

jacobjohntaylor1 This a very scary movie. It is a sequel to Dracula the prince of darkness. It is one of the scariest movies you will ever see. It has a great story line. It also has great acting. It also has great special effects. It is very intense. Dracula is resurrected and is out for revenge. This is one of the best horror movies ever. Taste the blood of Dracula is better. But only by a little bite. This is a great movie. Scares of Dracula is better. But only by a little bite. Dracula A.D 1972 is better. But only by a little bite. The satanic rites of Dracula is also better but only by a little bite. This movie is a must see. If this movie does not scary you then no movie will.

MisterWhiplash As the third in the series of the Christopher Lee Draculas from Hammer horror, I wasn't sure what to expect, and after Prince of Darkness (66) it was possible this one could've slipped farther into territory that was cheesy and unbelievable and all that. What's surprising is that director Freddie Francis and his collaborators and writer Hinds get more than you could bargain for. This especially after one sees how Dracula comes back, from an accident where a Monsognor and a fellow priest are up at Dracula's castle to fortify it with Christian barriers and the priest has a tumble and cuts himself... with the blood trickling down to Dracula, who has been frozen in ice (remember last time he fell to an icy would-be grave), and it reaches his mouth. ZANG, he's back again.What surprised me also was how the characters in this one has a bit more, well, character to them. I liked Barry Andrews and his character very much in this film, and there's actually some, if not development, at least time to see him and other characters in this village nearby the Count's a castle. One memorable moment is when Paul is over for dinner at Maria's place, and her father being a religious man asks Paul what his denomination is. He responds he's an atheist, which causes an uproar for a few minutes. That was certainly unexpected, and the scene where Paul gets super drunk and Zena (Barbara Ewing) tries to get 'cozy' with him, is funny and adds some depth to the proceedings. Not a lot, sure, but more than you might expect from a story that is summed up on the TV summary as: "Count bites women, falls on something sharp."What that 'sharp' thing is I dare not say, but suffice it to say Lee's Dracula gets a lot of time here - or more than I remember from Horror of Dracula - and even has some lines this time (not a lot, but enough, mostly commands). Francis' direction and the Hammer-studio sets are magnificent, you get absorbed into the horror every time Lee comes on because nothing is rushed for a moment - even when Dracula has to get away when another mortal enters (because, you know, he can't just keep doing what he's about to with his female victims), there's a grace to it. It's also interesting to see a little experimentation, as in one sequence where the sides of the frame have a kind of blood-red gauze that makes things even more eerie. You can feel the dread mounting even more with that there, and it stays on for a good couple of minutes before leaving the film.Dracula Has Risen from the Grave has a lot of personality to its characters, great camera-work, and another masterpiece turn from Lee in the role that made him a household name (for most households, preferably the ones with good taste). Most of all the sensual power of Dracula over his women is felt and seen palpably, with the character Maria especially who is seduced, tries to fight it, and is brought back again into the aura that is the Count of Transylvania (if that's where this is this time). Though not all perfect, and certain shots made me wonder where the budget went, there's a lot of fun and thrills to be had with this one, and it has more to offer than one might expect from the third film in a Dracula series; ironically Lee didn't care for the script much, though he did show up to work.

Bonehead-XL After the success of "Dracula: Prince of Darkness," Drac was back. Hammer's long-running series had begun in earnest. Whether the quality of the last two entries was kept up throughout the sequels is a manner of opinion. Yet maybe it's clear that the strongest quality control wasn't in place here. "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" begins with two continuity errors. An additional victim of Dracula's is discovered in a bell tower, an effective scene that couldn't possibly happen during the last film. The story is set 12 months after the 1895-set previous film. Yet dates within the film read 1905. Just goes to show that Hammer's Dracula series was full of as many continuity eras as Universal's Dracula series.Once again, Dracula is dead and, once again, a holy man appears to tell the villagers to let go of their superstitions. In order to prove to the locals how dead Dracula is, Monsignor Mueller, along with his unnamed Priest sidekick, head over to Dracula's castle with the intention of blessing it. While Mueller is exorcising the Count's abode, the other priest stumbles down a cliff and bumps his head, allowing blood to drip through the ice into the sleeping vampire's mouth. Finding himself unable to enter his newly blessed castle, Dracula seeks revenge on the Monsignor. Because this is a Hammer film, he does so by seducing the man's attractive, nightgown wearing niece.Terence Fisher was originally supposed to direct "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" but had to drop out suddenly at the last minute. This left long-time cinematographer Freddie Francis to step behind the camera. Francis had made numerously films before, including a few of Hammer's, look very handsome. His contribution makes "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" one of the best looking of the series. Francis employs some psychedelic colors throughout the film. Before arising, Dracula's presence is suggested by yellow lighting at the edge of the frame. When biting one of his victim's, the screen around them glows bright red. As the sun sets on the film's final night, an amazing purple color dominates. The Bava-influenced color is distinctive but Francis still packs in some old Gothic atmosphere. A sequence in the middle of the film takes place on rooftops of the city, a novel approach. The fog-soaked black-and-white buildings might be some of the most memorable moments from the film.As opposed to last time, Christopher Lee actually has dialogue. Though it's still kept to a minimum, he hisses and growls his way through several lines. Though Lee was reportedly disinterested in being in the film, just by standing there, he's still a threatening form. Rupert Davies steps into the role of the knowledgeable vampire hunter. He's more interesting then last time's Father Sandor. He has the same fallible quality that Cushing's Van Helsing had. Dracula roundly kills his butt during their one encounter. Ewan Hooper's unnamed priest fills the Renfield role. What's interesting is that he still feels guilt while under Dracula's control. Veronica Carlson is the film's resident eye-candy, looks incredible, and has decent chemistry with Barry Andrews as her boyfriend. Perhaps more interesting, though, is Barbara Ewing as Zena, the local bad girl that Dracula first turns into a vampire. Amusingly, she's jealous of Dracula pursuing another victim, wondering why she isn't enough."Prince of Darkness" kept its action small-sake and mostly inside Dracula's castle. "Risen from the Grave" returns the thrilling action element that "Horror of Dracula" had to the series. My favorite minor bit is when Drac leaps through a glass window, while there are plenty of carriage chases. The film is noticeably creative with its gore as well. At one point, Dracula is impaled with a fence post. Because a prayer wasn't said over his body – a new rule – he rises back up, pulling the stake from his heart. The Count has an especially spectacular demise this time, falling backwards onto a golden cross, impaled through the heart, and writhing in agony before he finally dies. "Grave" doesn't skimp on the scares either. Dracula cornering his female prey continues to be frightening and intense. Lee pushing Veronica Carlson unto the bed is blatantly a sexual violation. The film nails this home by having the virginal Carlson push her baby doll out of bed. As lovely as Carlson is, I think Ewing is sexier as the scantily clad bar maid.Lee spends much of the film chilling in his coffin in the bar basement, waiting for his victims to come to him. When the Count is off-screen, the film instead focuses on Monsignor Mueller and the relationship with his niece and her boyfriend. Young Paul is an atheist. When he reveals this to the Monsignor, he's scandalized and bans Maria from seeing the boy. However, after Dracula starts feeding on the girl, and fights the older man off, he reveals Maria needs someone who loves her near by. Amusingly, she even sneaks out of her bed at night to be with him. The romantic subplots in these movies were frequently disposable but I actually rather like this one.The combination of a neatly constructed screenplay, an interesting cast, a speedy pacing, colorful direction, and some decent scares, makes "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" one of the best of the Dracula sequels. It's also got one of the best titles and probably my favorite movie poster of all time. "Obviously," as the tagline goes.