The Brides of Dracula

Hammer Studios was a studio that produced dozens of horror films during the 1950’s to late 1970’s. Their stable of movies involved classics such as The Mummy (1959), The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960), and the movie in this review The Brides of Dracula.

The Brides of Dracula was a direct sequel to the Christopher Lee film, Horror of Dracula. The cast for this film did not include Christopher Lee, but Peter Cushing reprised his role as Dr. Van Hesling. Horror Queen Yvonne Moniar stars as the young school teacher Marianne. David Peel plays the evil Baron Meinster, a follower of now dead Count Dracula.

The movie starts with us finding out, through a narrator, that we are still in Dracula’s home country of Transylvania. Marianne is traveling to her new position when to her dismay s he becomes stranded at an inn after her coachmen leaves her before sunset. Marianne is invited to stay at a local home in which she finds Baron Meinster imprisoned by the Baroness who offered her a place to stay.
Marianne unfortunately releases the Baron believing he is a sick man that was wrongly being held. As happens in many of these films things take a turn for the worse at this point of the movie. The movie has some great moments to it and Peel is a great villain. Peel uses more of a snake type charm to get what he wants and this works great as the film continues moves forward.

There are moments of horror and comedy in this film and due to the gorgeous settings the movie is that more believable. A great example of the comedic, yet horrific, moments is when the housemaid Greta confronts Marianne. Greta gives Marianne her thoughts on how foolish it was to let the Baron go from his cell. However, as Greta talks she begins to laugh and you wonder is she loosing it? It’s almost like Greta is being set free from a long held secret, but the laughter begins to change and become more maniac. So as you laugh at the moment you can feel yourself start to wonder what is going on and what has possessed this woman.

The film has a great gothic set and with the addition of the Dr. Van Helsing character the movie is really well done during a period in which Hollywood put out tons of dime a dozen horror films. This movie shows us why the Baroness holds the Baron captive and at times you may even feel some sorrow for her. The townspeople live in fear and there are plenty of reasons on why they do and you get that through the movie. This is one of those movies that fans of 1960’s horror will truly love and even though it is older looking compared to modern films one that I believe many will enjoy.

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