Coventry Review of Taste the Blood of Dracula

Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)

Worthwhile entry in the Hammer Dracula franchise

[7/10 · 16 November 2004]

The fifth episode in the legendary Dracula franchise is far from the best (the original is, of course) but it does prove that the Hammer studios never stopped being creative in their ideas. This is yet another entirely new variant on the classic tale of the blood sucking Count, in the same delicious Victorian setting. * * * small spoilers * * * Early in the film, we see how Dracula is dying and how his blood clots into some sort of powder. Cut to a small Victorian community where 3 prominent townsmen are searching for thrills and therefore join a diabolical Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates from 'Horror of Frankenstein') in a resurrection-rite in order to bring Dracula back. When Courtley (who's actually Dracula's servant) dies in the ritual, the count avenges him by seducing and abusing the townsmen daughters… * * * end spoilers * * * Settings and scenery are terrific, as usual in Hammer films, and I thought the story was well presented and a neat new addition to the cycle. The 'horror', however, is a bit tame and Dracula himself doesn't seem all that impressive anymore. He doesn't do much killing himself and it looks like it's becoming more and more easy to destroy him. Oh well, Christopher Lee is always worth checking out in this role, so who's complaining? 'Taste the Blood of Dracula' is imaginative entertainment and the criticism towards the hypocrite Victorian life-style is very efficient. Aside from Christopher Lee, this flick also has a decent supportive cast including Ralph Bates and – especially – Linda Hayden. If you were enchanted by her cherubic appearance in this film, make sure you check out 'Blood on Satan's Claw', in which she plays an evil character.