Horror of Dracula (1958)
In the multitude of films dedicated to the legendary neck-biting villain lies Terence Fisher's Dracula, also called the Horror of Dracula, This film marks the first of the Hammer Film Production series.Fisher presents us with a new look at Dracula performed by Christopher Lee, who, with his darkly handsome features, compels audiences with his monstrous nature.
Also influenced by the novel, Horror of Dracula depicts a Count Dracula who is more human-like than its 1931 on-screen counterpart. However, it does not fail to portray Dracula as a vicious monster. The film opens up at Castle Dracula with Jonathan Harker arriving at the scene and coming across a desperate woman asking for help. Harker is then greeted by Dracula, gets locked inside a room and later tries to kill Dracula after staking his bride in the coffin. Harker's plan fails and he becomes the victim instead.
Horror of Dracula is a close interpretation of Stoker's novel with a few twists. For example, In Fisher's version of the story, Van Helsing makes his appearance as a dedicated vampire hunter who wants to get rid of the plague once and for all.
The film carries a number of memorable qualities, which makes it a must-see for vampire enthusiasts. Compared to the silent Nosferatu and Browning's version, Horror of Dracula gives audiences a rather vivid and bold presentation. It is partly homage to the classical portrayal of Dracula and partly a reinterpretation.