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Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Andrew Keir, Francis Matthews, Suzanne Farmer ... see more see more... , Charles 'Bud' Tingwell , Thorley Walters , Philip Latham , Walter Brown , George Woodbridge , Jack Lambert , Philip Ray , Joyce Hemson , John Maxim

Christopher Lee dons the evil Count's cloak once again after an 8-year hiatus for this first "authentic" sequel to Hammer Studios' Horror of Dracula (the literal 1960 follow-up Brides of Dracula did n... read more read more...ot feature Lee). The story begins when two stuffy vacationing couples make an ill-fated stopover at Castle Karlsbad in the Carpathian mountains -- despite the warnings of the mysterious Fr. Sandor (Andrew Keir) and the near-destruction of their coach when the terrified driver runs for his life. After a slightly tedious stretch, one of the men (Charles Tingwell) is sacrificed in a bloody Satanic ritual, orchestrated by the Count's loyal manservant Klove (Philip Latham) to bring the legendary vampire back to life. The revived Count immediately sets his sights on the man's wife (Barbara Shelley), making her his undead bride; the surviving pair seek refuge in Fr. Sandor's abbey, with the undead bloodsuckers in hot pursuit. This stylish and chilling production is imbued with Gothic atmosphere by director Terence Fisher (one of his last films for the studio) and remains one of the classier entries from Hammer's heyday. Also known as Revenge of Dracula. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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64% liked it

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83% liked it

12 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Terence Fisher

Release Date: January 12, 1966

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DVD Release Date: May 26, 1998

Stats: 265 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (265)

  • mjgildea
    March 17, 2011
    mjgildea
    Dracula-Prince of Darkness isn't a bad movie about the world's most famous vampire, but its definitely not the greatest either. Having Terence Fisher in the director's chair is definitely a plus, but the story's kind of weak. The ritual by which Dracula is resurrected was probab... read morely the highlight but unfortunately it took its sweet time happening 45 minutes in. Lee does an always-superb job as Dracula and Andrew Kier was great as the badass cleric. Barbara Shelley's subtle foxiness was wasted on a whiney role and how Dracula is... stopped this time was kind of weak. Not the best Dracula movie ever, but not the worst either...
  • matertenebraum
    February 10, 2011
    matertenebraum
    Dracula (Christopher Lee) rides again in yet another Hammer entry in the Dracula franchise. This film is enjoyable horror hokum, but it has an awfully shallow story, fleshed out with a slow opening stretch and some amusing vampire lore in between the sporadic vampire attacks.

    Fo... read moreur British travellers are journeying through the Carpathian Alps in the 1800s. They are repeatedly cautioned to steer clear of Carlsbad Castle but, being typically stuffy and stubborn, they end up going there anyway. The castle is deserted apart from a rather zombified manservant. During the night, one of the travellers is slain by the manservant, and his blood is used to resurrect the long-dead Count Dracula. Time for another bout of blood-sucking mayhem....

    Christopher Lee has a small role this time around, but gets across a good performance due to his commanding presence in the title role. Andrew Keir is also good as a priest-cum-vampire-slayer, though he has to overcome some dumb dialogue. The slow build-up is rather damaging, as it generates more tedium than chills. The opportunities for real terror are somewhat fudged too, since most would-be "shock" moments are telegraphed too far in advance. However, Hammer buffs and vampire addicts will doubtless feel more than satisfied.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    October 29, 2008
    cancercapricorn2002
    This film is not quite the kind of sheer perfection that you find in "Horror Of Dracula" or " The Brides Of Dracula" but is a good 3rd film in the Hammer films Dracula series

    As is usual for Director Terrence Fisher, the movie is extremely atmospheric and creepy. Fisher doesn... read more't rely on quick cutting or sudden close-ups to frighten the audience. He is conservative with those kinds of techniques and the film is mostly built on long takes from distant angles with the frame being menaced by hideous shadows and unsafe corridors. A large portion of the film takes place out of doors, and there are many wonderful scenes set in a shadowy wood with the sun about to fall. Dracula's Castle itself is rather charming compared to most other films (this is also true in Horror Of Dracula). The interior's are lushly decorated, colorful, bright and in good repair... but you still get a sense of something unhinged.. A sense of wrongness about the castle. I think this is because the castle is so barren with only a single inhabitant (the zombie-like caretaker Klove).. It's somehow surreal for such a large empty place to be so cheery. It's a more subtle way of making the castle frightening than filling it with cobwebs and rotting woodwork. The pacing is deliberate, giving the film a hypnotic quality. At times it can be too deliberate and that is one of the movie's main flaws.

    I thought the fact that Christopher Lee didn't speak in this film was interesting. I read somewhere that Lee thought the Dracula's lines were just so bad in the script that the just decided to have Dracula stay silent, I will say this turned out to be a good choice. the silent Dracula featured in this film is somehow more ghostly and eerie than most depictions? You really get the sense of `undead'. Andrew Keir was also great as a practical, no-nonsense priest. The rest of the acting is pretty good with Barbara Shelley being the only other stand out and Charles Tingwell being the only performance that was lacking (although his part is so small it doesn't really matter).

    Compared to the first film, this film is darker and a bit more violent. A little less safe overall. Because it isn't directly based on the novel, it's slightly less predictable than `Horror Of Dracula'.. We don't know how the story will ultimately end up. I liked it a lot. Despite its flaws it's a classic in it's own right and a must see for any horror movie fan
  • harrycaul
    October 21, 2007
    harrycaul
    Second sequel to "Dracula" which picks up where that film left off. It even begins with the final fight between Dracula and Van Helsing, a misty halo disguising the disparity between aspect ratios. Cushing does not star here and would not return to do battle with the arch-vampire... read more until "Dracula A.D. 1972".
  • drblood
    June 24, 2007
    drblood
    This version is not much more than a remake with some different actors and the names of the victims changed. Still good in places though, and the ending isn't bad either.
  • HenrikSchunk
    March 21, 2011
    HenrikSchunk
    An early incarnation of survival horror, the sequel to Hammer's classic Dracula pits four people against the dark overlord in his castle. Obviously, the circumstancs under which the four are "trapped" in the castle in the first place are ludicrous. Someone told them not to go the... read morere, so they went, end of story. Now, they are at Dracula's mercy. What follows is an opera of scream queens and dodgy fight scenes, Dracula hissing (Lee refused to say his lines, he deemed them too awful) and determined priests talking of the undead. While those movie follows the basic structure of all Dracula / Castle movies, the absence of a suitable Nemesis for Christopher Lee makes this movie below average. Peter Cushing is nowhere to be seen and there is nobody to replace him. The cast (except for the priest) is very weak, bordering on silly and I found myself wishing for Dracula to finally get it over with and slaughter those bloody fools. The sets and costumes look as nice as ever, a Victorian fairy tale with lush colours. All in all a must for collectors and connossieurs of classic horror and Hammer Horror, but on its own, not a good move. The ending is terribly scripted so do not look forward to that.

    HX
  • littlecharmer1959
    February 16, 2009
    littlecharmer1959
    A decent Hammer Horror and sequel to Horror of Dracula. Christopher Lee returns as the count, this time virtually mute (Lee hated his lines so much he chose to play his character dialogue free). Barbara Shelley's character only became bearable after her vampire transformation. Ye... read mores, she was the only one who caught on that something wasn't right, but damn did she complain alot!
  • mpghoul1973
    September 29, 2010
    mpghoul1973
    Christopher Lee returns as the Count in the direct sequel to Horror Of Dracula. Even though this is the third film in the series. Dracula- Prince Of Darkness is a darker-creepier horror film than the previous two. Christopher Lee's performance is more beastly and animalistic than... read more his take on the character in Horror and he has no dialogue. And he's scary! As always the sets and exterior shots are magnificent. And the always incredible talent of Terrence Fisher directs another fast, brutal and elegant film.
  • alicerose07
    April 16, 2009
    alicerose07
    this movie begin with a porno and then something happens but you have no idea whats happening, if you really a vampire freak, sure go ahead but for me no thanks
  • saltersheppard
    September 4, 2007
    saltersheppard
    Lee was the perfect Dracula. Saw him in "...has Risen from the Grave" and loved him since then. he looks like Dracula should have looked.

View All Dracula - Prince of Darkness Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

The thrills do not arise sufficiently smooth out of atmosphere. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
October 2, 2010
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Average made Hammer horror pic about Dracula's resurrection. Full Review

Steve Biodrowski
November 25, 2008
Steve Biodrowski, Cinefantastique

Probably Hammer's last great Dracula film %u2014 a solid, sometimes imaginative effort. Full Review

Tim Brayton
October 12, 2008
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

Perhaps Hammer's most effectively horrific Dracula movie. Full Review

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Full of the sensual mysteriousness which Hammer used to achieve so effortlessly during their long occupation of Bray Studios. Full Review

Nick Schager
May 3, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

The least effective Hammer horror film featuring Christopher Lee as the fly-by-night Count. Full Review

Ken Hanke
July 21, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Another Hammer vampire flick. About average for the series.

Emanuel Levy
August 20, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Carol Cling
August 29, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Nicolas Lacroix
November 12, 2002
Nicolas Lacroix, Showbizz.net

No review available.

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