Movie Info
Movie Name: Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
Studio: Hammer Studios
Genre(s): Horror
Release Date(s): November 7, 1968
MPAA Rating: G
Ouch….I think I still have a cross in my back!!!
A Monsignor named Ernest Muller (Rupert Davies) tries to end the horror of Dracula (Christopher Lee) once and for all with the help of a village priest (Ewan Hooper). When the priest is secretly captured by Dracula as his thrall, the Monsignor heads home believing Dracula is gone. Dracula finds himself expelled from his castle and sets out for revenge on the Monsignor. Following him back to the city, Dracula plots revenge by going after the Monsignor’s niece Maria (Veronica Carlson). Now the Monignor must stop Dracula to save Maria, and his only hope might be Maria’s atheist boyfriend Paul (Barry Andrews).
Directed by Freddie Francis, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave is a Hammer horror production and the fourth film in Hammer’s popular Dracula line. Following the events of Dracula: The Prince of Darkness in 1966, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave is the direct follow-up and received positive reviews mostly for its look rather than its story. The film also hold the distinction of being the first film rated by MPAA and received a G rating.
At least she died happy…
The Hammer Dracula films always were kind of freaky, but didn’t really scare me as a kid. The stodginess of the movies negated the horror for me…I’ve never found Victorian horror as scary as some of the more modern styles of horror (though I admit, it usually is classier).
Hammer always had a real style, and Dracula Has Risen from the Grave is no different both in sets and make-up. The look and style of the film is very distinctive. I love about fifty percent of the sets (the castles and rooftops) and the other fifty percent are rather cheesy (the dungeons and bars). The make-up on Christopher Lee also helps…his red eyes (especially when they are bleeding) are rather terrifying and the gore level of these films are actually quite high with festering neck wounds and gushing blood from Dracula’s impaling.
Don’t cry Dracula…you’ll be back!
Christopher Lee is a good Dracula, and it is funny now to see him rather young. He’s quick, imposing, agile, and strong and it is such a contrast to his portrayal of in The Lord of the Rings series. I don’t love the heroic, young Paul, but Davies makes a nice Van Helsing stand in (though I would rather have seen back).
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave is a must for fans of Christopher Lee, Hammer Horror, or vampires. The movie has what you’d expect from a horror film at the time and you can also seeing edging up to what it becomes in later films. Dracula Has Risen from the Grave followed by the R-Rated Taste the Blood of Dracula in which continues the storyline.
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Related Links:
Dracula (The Horror of Dracula) (1958)
