Netflix and the bbcs threepart dracula series revitalises a literary icon who has had a foot inside the grave for years. With hugh jackman starring as a mercenary version of dracula s nemesis, stephen sommers directed with all the noise and overwrought cgi an elephantine budget could buy. Dracula, pages from a virgins diary 2002 guy maddins ballet version of dracula. Although it started life as dracula iii, this is the first of hammers vampire films to dispense with dracula, van helsing. It was written by don houghton and stars christopher lee, peter cushing and stephanie beacham. Oct 26, 2015 hammer s dracula films ranked from best to worst from the great classic movie and tv guide david peel as baron meinster. In a desire to reach the young market, hammer films put out the movie that many consider an atrocity in the hammer dracula series. May 12, 2014 it is a wellknown and documented fact that cushing gained most fame at hammer studios, and hammer s impact on the history of horror films is just as well known.
Oct 25, 2016 the 15 most iconic movie draculas, ranked worst to best. It was directed by terence fisher, and stars christopher lee, peter cushing, michael gough, melissa stribling and carol marsh. What i love about hammer is that they arent afraid to take an existing story. Jonathan harker john van eyssen journeys to castle dracula, where he is turned into one of the undead by the famous vampire lee. Prince of darkness 1966, dracula 1958, scars of dracula 1970, the brides of dracula 1960 and dracula has risen from the grave 1968. Number five in hammers frankenstein series saw cushings increasingly deranged scientist finally slipping over.
Count dracula, or just dracula, is the titular main antagonist of the hammer series of dracula films, starting with the 1958 horror film, horror of dracula. Jun 19, 2015 so heres a 100 percent onepersonsopinion rundown of the many christopher lee dracula joints from worst to best. With hugh jackman starring as a mercenary version of draculas nemesis, stephen sommers directed with all the noise and overwrought cgi an elephantine budget could buy. Prince of darkness 1966 monsignor ernest mueller visits the village to ensure that all is well. Because so many scary movie fans love hammer horror as much as the universal monsters, i believe it is only fair to look at the top 10 best hammer horror films.
Shock takes a brief, critical look at hammers original 9picture dracula film series. These monsters were essentially relayed to british film company, hammer films. Professor van helsing cushing arrives and drives a stake through harkers heart, but must then pursue dracula to london, where the count intends. Hammer change the publics perception by changing tack from universals earlier approach to sequels, resurrecting not the creature but the baron himself.
Brides of dracula overrated and uneven as i find it, its probably the best of the sequels because of its great visual style and strong. Ive seen the series again fairly recently so currently i would rank them something like this. Let it be known that i have not seen every one of hammer s films, so the following list is made up of my ten favourites. Dracula has risen from the grave 1969 rotten tomatoes.
These are the known, theatrically released, featurelength films produced or coproduced by hammer productions. A list of 9 films compiled on letterboxd, including dracula. He is often killed, but comes back to life several times. This is the most complete version of dracula ever released in the uk and contains the 2007 bfi restoration plus the 2012 hammer restoration, which adds additional footage that has been unavailable for decades. Confessions of a window cleaner 1974 and the subtly titled lets get laid 1978. Jun 27, 2015 dracula has risen from the grave 1968 without doubt the most atmospheric entry in hammers dracula series, dracula has risen from the grave has been described as a minor triumph of style over content. It is the first in the series of hammer horror films inspired by the bram stoker novel dracula. Hammer horror film series 19581974 the original series of films consisted of nine installments, which starred iconic horror actors christopher lee and peter cushing as count dracula and doctor van helsing respectively. James bernards exceptional score would become very familiar to hammer fans.
Their battle royales rank right up there with the red sox vs. The series of films is part of the larger hammer horror series. Dracula has risen from the grave 1968 without doubt the most atmospheric entry in hammers dracula series, dracula has risen from the grave has been described as a minor triumph of style over content. Draculas daughter is a pretty firm example of a movie that most people like for the movie it could have been and not the movie it actually is. The studio that dripped blood, which looked at the influential work of u. When englands hammer studios invested some of their capital and produced 1957s fullcolor, full. Plus, christopher lee seems the most uninterested in this film than any other in the series. Oct 17, 2019 you guys, terrence fisher, greatest hammer director of them all, youll be seeing his name a lot on this list. Theres scriptelevating performances, distant castles. The 10 best hammer horror films funks house of geekery. Hammer horrors first foray into the vivid and bloody waters of dracula, also known as the horror of dracula to u. Halloween season as we count down the thirteen greatest hammer monsters to bite. This was the fourth entry in hammers dracula series, and the third to feature christopher lee as the titular vampire. Therefore, the following list will be a bit more subjective.
Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of gothic horror films made from the mid1950s until the 1970s. Freddie francis standing in for an ailing terence fisher brings a new visual flair to the series, opening with a shocking set piece and utilising a few tricks from the cinematographers handbook. The simplistic plot is made up for by the films beautiful color scheme. A field guide to the hammer house of horror women flashbak. The hammer dracula series trailer collection youtube. Fishers brides of dracula was a direct sequel to hammers original dracula. Historic and iconic, the classic monster has led countless stories since the late 1800s and continues to enchant and terrify horror fans to this day. Dracula prince of darkness was hammers only scope entry in the christopher lee series, but its frankly a rather dull and dragged out affair drac doesnt appear for 49 minutes and the first hour of the film could have been done much better in half the time. He is an evil vampire who preys on humans and rules the dead.
Hammer s dracula films ranked from best to worst david peel as baron meinster. Hammer films really did redefine horror films during their heyday. Dracula 3, legacy 2004 the third in the series of dracula movies that wes craven produced. Unlike earlier films in hammers dracula series, dracula a. Hammers dracula films ranked from best to worst from the great classic movie and tv guide. Andree melly as gina vampire the lovable brits and their famous pinewood studios deliver a horror film with substance. Dracula horror of dracula the only one of the series i regard as a genuine horror masterpiece. He is based on the character from the bram stoker novel. With the critical and commercial success of their latest releases, the woman in black and its sequel, it felt like now was the time to list the 10 best hammer horror movies. When two titles are shown for a single film, the first title is that as released in the uk, the second in the us. Jun, 2019 hammers dracula films, ranked from best to worst.
Whilst vacationing in the carpathian mountain, two couples stumble across the remains of count draculas castle. Unlike their dracula series, there was something of a consistent quality to all of their films so it is a bit more difficult to rank them. What we are left with is a film that cant decide whether its a teen flick or a serious horror film, but still has. This was the fourth entry in hammer s dracula series, and the third to feature christopher lee as the titular vampire. Jul 03, 2015 hammer released six frankenstein films starting in 1957 and running through 1974. While were on the subject of universals failed attempts to reanimate its iconic monster series, van helsing acted as a bigbudget attempt to breathe life into the dead genre. Many of these involved classic horror characters such as baron frankenstein, count dracula, and the mummy, which hammer reintroduced to audiences by filming them in vivid colour for the first. Classic hammer horror starring christopher lee and peter cushing. The 10 best and 2 most baffling hammer horror movies. Hammer horror film design by molly arbuthnot see more. Oct 10, 2018 boasting careerdefining turns from christopher lee and peter cushing, dracula is a sumptuous sampler plate of what hammer did best. Jun 17, 2019 hammer change the publics perception by changing tack from universals earlier approach to sequels, resurrecting not the creature but the baron himself.
You guys, terrence fisher, greatest hammer director of them all, youll be seeing his name a lot on this list. Hammers dracula films, ranked from best to worst spooky. Hammers dracula films, ranked from best to worst spooky isles. On the contrary, its light years better than son of dracula and feels fresh compared with most other entries in the series. In 2018 how would you rank the hammer dracula films.
These are ranked based not only on lees performance, but also on the ability of each movie to keep the formula fresh. The hammer horror series brides of dracula curse of the werewolf. Nov 04, 2017 the hammer dracula series trailer collection horror of dracula aka dracula brides of dracula dracula, prince of darkness dracula has risen from the grave taste the blood of dracula scars of. This imbued the legends with newfound gore, sensuality and lush color schemes. Brides of dracula 1960 the hammer dracula movie peter cushing as van helsing again. Oct 24, 2012 hammer horrors first foray into the vivid and bloody waters of dracula, also known as the horror of dracula to u. Sequels are mostly decent and enjoyable, maybe with exception of satanic rites of dracula which is kinda bad and the legend of seven golden vampires which is very specific film which combines hammer vampiric horror with kungfu cinema. Hammer released six frankenstein films starting in 1957 and running through 1974. The hammer dracula series trailer collection horror of dracula aka dracula brides of dracula dracula, prince of darkness dracula has risen from. Oct 30, 2019 the gothic continuation of german expressionism was wellperformed, and smartly written. Though not as memorable as some of the other installments in hammers lengthy dracula series, dracula has risen from the grave makes for an entertaining horror film and it proves that even sequels to incredibly successful films. Dracula prince of darkness was hammer s only scope entry in the christopher lee series, but its frankly a rather dull and dragged out affair drac doesnt appear for 49 minutes and the first hour of the film could have been done much better in half the time. Though some of the sequels took a bit of a nose dive, this film starts the series off right and sets the standard for further hammer vampire films. Hammers frankenstein films, ranked from best to worst.
Hammers dracula films ranked from best to worst david peel as baron meinster. For me, they were one of my earliest introductions into the genre, and as a kid i would watch them whenever they aired on tv. So today, i count down the top 10 hammer horror films. Dracula is a 1958 british supernatural horror film directed by terence fisher and written by jimmy sangster based on bram stokers novel of the same name. On may 26th, dracula day demanded that people celebrate the quintessential spellbinding genius of dracula in his many forms. The 15 most iconic movie draculas, ranked worst to best. It was still a shock to many that frankenstein was the name of the creator, rather than the creation. Hammer films made nine films based on bram stokers dracula.
Which is the best christopher lee hammer dracula movie. Taste the blood of dracula, the fifth installment of hammers dracula series, is a well made but unfortunately routine affair. Sporting the ultra camp title dracula has risen from the grave, this is a solid entry in hammers dracula series. My only complaint is that the pacing drags in the middle when the action shifts to england. Dracula has risen from the grave obviously taste the blood of dracula scars of dracula dracula 1972 ad the satanic rites of dracula dracula and the kung fu boys never seen count dracula, but its not hammer, anyway. Dracula ii 2003 a sequel to wes cravens dracula 2000. When i was 11 or 12, and went with groups of friends to see certain films, if we saw the logo of hammer films we knew it was a certain kind of film. However, despite a certain lagoon creature, the series trailed off. My ranking of all the dracula films in the hammer series from 1958 to 1974.
This early extendeduniverse also featured incredible effects and set design. When englands hammer studios invested some of their. Still, it set the standard not only for the rest of the dracula series, but for all the hammer vampire films that followed it. Sir christopher frank carandini lee may 27, 1922 june 7, 2015 was an english actor, author and singer.
The counts trusted servant kills one of the men, suspending the body over the counts ashes so that the blood drips from the corpse and saturates the blackened remains. Christopher lee as dracula in hammer horror movies. The 1958 classic from hammer film productions, dracula is the first in hammers series of films inspired by bram stokers novel. Taste the blood of dracula 1970 the following year, linda bared all in the nonhammer horror flick blood on satans claw 1971, then continued the trend of disrobing in a series of raunchy british comedies.
Its just that some people say this is among the best vampire movies ever. I am aware that lately the studio has experienced a resurgence but for the sake of keeping things. Which onscreen dracula was the most terrifying, the most enthralling. Shorter works and television productions are listed separately. The first in the series of hammer horror films starring christopher lee as count dracula, the film also features peter cushing as doctor van helsing, along with michael gough, melissa stribling, carol marsh, and john van eyssen. Keep reading for a look at the 10 best hammer horror movies as voted on by. The varied and eclectic adventures of dracula in the series not only introduced the character to the modern era of filmgoers, but also helped cement hammers place in the history of horror. Dracula hammer series ranked, a list of films by darren. Horror of dracula 195758released 1958 the first and considered by most all hammer aficionados to be the best of the series. As a vintage horror fan, i find nearly all of hammer s films a pleasure to watch, so i thought that today i would rank some of their movies. It nonetheless got things off with a bang and solidified the cushing and lee team up previously laid down in hammers groundbreaking the curse of frankenstein 1957.