DVD Review: Dracula A.D. 1972

The film marked the sixth time Lee donned the cape to play the famous vampire Dracula, and featured Cushing returning to his role as Dracula’s enemy Van Helsing- although this time he plays a descendent of the vampire hunter.The movie’s actual plot is a bit corny with its use of ‘70’s lingo, fashion and music. It is also a departure from the period feel of the other Hammer Dracula/vampire films that has made the studio famous.The movie begins in 1800s with Dracula and Van Helsing in a fight to the death on a runaway carriage. After the two are thrown to the ground, Van Helsing finds the vampire impaled on a wagon wheel, and quickly dies from his own injuries. From there we skip to 1972 and follow a group of friends as they roam London looking for the next fun psychedelic party. The group’s leader, Johnny Alucard (spell his name backward), tricks his friends into a dark ceremony at an old church – that just happens to be the place where the graves of Dracula and Van Helsing are located.

After a very hokey ceremony (where Johnny and his friends where black cloaks and chant), Dracula is raised from the grave and begins his hunt for fresh victims to feed on. Once the police involve him, Van Helsing’s descendent picks up the family cause and the two characters square off again.

Lee’s Dracula is snarling and vicious

At the same time, Lee and Cushing bring the feeling of “old school” to the movie, and even seem a bit out of place in the film. Both do an excellent job in their roles, and I still say that Lee’s version of Dracula is one of the best ever brought to the screen.I know it is a debate as to what actor has played the best Dracula, but Lee’s snarling and animal version of the character adds terror that lacks in other actors’ performances – even the great Bela Lugosi.Even in this film, Lee manages to bring a calm and quiet to the character that is often quickly followed by a snarl and look of pure evil. With his desperation and determination to stop the vampire’s evil, Cushing plays the perfect foil for Lee’s Dracula, and it is easy to see why audiences loved seeing the two actors in the roles.

Cushing returns as Van Helsing to fight Lee’s Dracula

The DVD has no special features, but does have the film’s theatrical trailer. It would have been nice to have some kind of special features that tied the movie to the other Hammer Films’ Dracula movies or some kind of documentary on the studio.Overall, I would recommend the movie to any fan of Hammer Films or of horror movies in general. It has all the elements that helped make the studio’s films cult favorites, and still manages a few jumps despite its dated feel.I don’t think it is a good place to start for people who have never seen a Hammer movie or Lee’s version of the Dracula character. Even with a clunky plot, Lee and Cushing deliver solid performances in the characters that they helped define, and that helped make them legends in the horror genre.Dracula A.D. 1972 is now available at Amazon and available for pre-order at AmazonUK.Visit the DVD’s database for more information.