Movie Info
Movie Name: Taste the Blood of Dracula
Studio: Hammer Studios
Genre(s): Horror
Release Date(s): May 7, 1970
MPAA Rating: R
I think the next logical step for this group is to drink the blood of Dracula…
A salesman named Weller (Roy Kinnear) witnesses Dracula’s death upon the cross and collects his belongings and blood. When a group of wealthy businessmen who like to dabble in the occult are contacted by Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates) who offers them a new extreme involving the blood of Dracula, is beaten and left for dead after the ceremony. is transformed into Dracula who vows revenge on the men.
Directed by Peter Sasdy, Taste the Blood of Dracula was the fifth film the Hammer horror Dracula series. Following Dracula Has Risen from the Grave in 1968, Taste the Blood of Dracula was released in a double billing with Crecendo. Originally rated PG, the movie has been re-rated R due to the nudity and horror.
We got Sunny-D or Dracula blood…which do you want?
This film picks up immediately where the previous Hammer Dracula film left off. Dracula is dying on a cross and melting away (very graphically). It is seen by Weller (Veruca Salt’s father from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) who decides to scrapes up pieces of Dracula and takes his belongings. This rather makes me laugh due to the fact it means that he did this while Maria and Paul (the characters from the previous film) were kissing and holding each other right above him.
The movie originally wasn’t even going to star Christopher Lee. He was tired of playing Dracula at this point and if he hadn’t agreed, Dracula would have just possessed Lord Courtley (the man killed) and he would have taken over the popular franchise. The movie also was allegedly going to have Vincent Price as a character in the rich circle, but the movie couldn’t afford him. Despite this, the movie does muster a good cast with Lee and a number of nice British actors which includes Geoffrey Keen of James Bond’s supporting cast as one of Dracula’s victims.
I still really just want some Visine…
The movie really does feel more dangerous and gory than the previous entries. The R-Rating really seemed to free up the movie to push the boundaries a little more. I have never been very afraid of the Hammer vampire movies, and this one is no different, but I do like the stylish look of them which does provide a nice creepy atmosphere.
Taste the Blood of Dracula feels like a real change in the Hammer Dracula series and is different feeling than the previous entires…the darker style and look of the film feels much more horrific. The gore level is amped up and the nudity of the strange orgy scene almost feels out of place as the film tried to fit in to the more modern horror that was occurring in 1970. Taste the Blood of Dracula was followed by Scars of Dracula later that same year.
Related Links:
Dracula (The Horror of Dracula) (1958)
