I've been a Dracula fanatic for decades, and with the new NBC series starting tonight I've been looking back over the history of the character in film.
We've probably all seen the great versions (Nosferatu, Lugosi, Lee etc) but with a character this old you can't help but have more than a few losers in the bunch.
So just for laughs, what are some of the worst Dracula movies/shows you've seen?
Here's just a few of my "favorites"
"Die Hard Dracula" (pointless, plotless and completely amateurish, but hysterical)
"Billy The Kid vs Dracula" (legendary crapfest. Just as bad as you've heard)
"Dracula vs Frankenstein" (oh, so bad. sad to see Lon Chaney jr and J. Carrol Nash in such crap)
"Satanic Rites Of Dracula" (Lee's last Dracula film.What a sad way to go)
"Dracula In Istanbul" (Turkish vampire film. Dear gods, what were they on)
" Bram Stokers Dracula" (I know, lots of people love this film, but I personally loathe it)
and my personal favorite:
"Dracula's Dog" (The name says it all)
I haven't seen "Argentos Dracula" yet, but I hear it's pretty bad.
I know there's lots more out there, so lets get the lists going!
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Dracula's Dog. But honerable mention should be given to Coppola's Dracula for Keannu Reeves "Raspberry" worthy performance.
Quote from: Haunted hearse on October 25, 2013, 02:19:30 PM
Dracula's Dog. But honerable mention should be given to Coppola's Dracula for Keannu Reeves "Raspberry" worthy performance.
So true. I forgot (mercifully) about "Dracula 3000". This one howls at the moon, it's such a dog.
Anthony P. Mann's "Terror of Dracula," Canadian-lensed micro-budgeter with a Count that looks like the Pillsbury Doughboy with fangs.
"The Curse of Dracula," a direct-to-VHS piece-o-crap from the mid-90s, not to be confused with the Michael Nouri serial from "Cliffhangers" (1979). It seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth. I watched & reviewed it for Joe Bob Briggs' Board of Drive-In Experts: Horror Committee, around 1996.
"Bram Stoker's Dracula": Always found Gary Oldman's performance weak and unconvincing.
"Count Dracula": The BBC adaptation had a lot of good things going for it, but Louis Jordan's lackluster Count and those silly video effects really detract from it.
"Dracula 3000": Pinhead in space, Leprechaun in space, Jason in space, Critters in space, now Dracula in space. Yawn!
"Saint Dracula in 3D": Dracula goes Bollywood.
Still waiting to see Thomas Kretchman as a giant praying mantis in Dario Argento's "Dracula 3D."
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I feel fortunate that I have not seen any of those movies.
Lugosi is THE count Dracula. 'Nobody else workin' that gig shall I watch.
Just like Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman.
Just like Christopher Reeve as Supes.
Just like Shatner as Kirk.
Just like Harrison Ford as Solo or Carrie as princess Leia.
Just like someone other than Carloff to play Frankie.
There is no one else for those roles.
cheers 8)
Does the new Dracula TV show count as a "Worst Dracula Film"? (Never get that hour back!)
Quote from: Mike Scott on October 25, 2013, 11:38:41 PMDoes the new Dracula TV show count as a "Worst Dracula Film"? (Never get that hour back!)
It was a beautifully shot hodge-podge of crap. They're just stealing ideas from everywhere, tossing it against the wall oh-so elegantly, and seeing what sticks. This Jonathan Rhys-whatshisface may be the most poorly cast Dracula since Gary Oldman and Anthony P. Mann, combined! The guy elevates Louis Jordan, incongruous French accent and all, to the level of Christopher Lee!
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"Guess What Happened to Count Dracula" is also kind of a moon-howler--although, I have on occasion enjoyed watching it, just as I enjoy "Dracula vs. Frankenstein" and certain other howlers.
"Guess What Happened" was also filmed largely inside the Magic Castle in Hollywood, a fact that they do not hang out on a shingle. But...you know what? Just like "Dracula vs. Frankenstein," it made the cover of Famous Monsters once!
Satanic Rites of Dracula. What a sad, piece of crap that was. Even with Cushing and Lee in it it still stank.
Quote from: The Batman on October 25, 2013, 11:30:42 PM
I feel fortunate that I have not seen any of those movies.
Lugosi is THE count Dracula. 'Nobody else workin' that gig shall I watch.
Not even Christopher Lee? :o You are missing out!
Quote from: jimm on October 26, 2013, 12:26:18 PM
Not even Christopher Lee? :o You are missing out!
Hammer's Dracula (The first being the best) had also the benefit of Peter Cushing, who I really liked as Van Helsing. The other Hammer Dracula films with Lee go from so-so, to abysmal.
I love Cushing as Van Helsing. And while I think Van Sloan owned the role in the original as well, I think it would have been cool to see Cushing and Lugosi battle it out at some point.
Quote from: Haunted hearse on October 26, 2013, 02:22:24 PM
Hammer's Dracula (The first being the best) had also the benefit of Peter Cushing, who I really liked as Van Helsing. The other Hammer Dracula films with Lee go from so-so, to abysmal.
Mybe so but ya gotta give 'em a watch at least ::)
Quote from: Illoman on October 26, 2013, 12:02:44 PM
Satanic Rites of Dracula. What a sad, piece of crap that was. Even with Cushing and Lee in it it still stank.
[/quote
Omg! The film is beyond horrible.
Quote from: Count_Zirock on October 25, 2013, 03:53:18 PMStill waiting to see Thomas Kretchman as a giant praying mantis in Dario Argento's "Dracula 3D."
Honestly, I expect that film to be better than that crap NBC is putting out. Count Dracula turning into a giant praying mantis makes more sense to me than Count Dracula getting giddy over becoming a shareholder of British Imperial Coolant Company.
Vampirella(1996)
Rock legend Roger Daltrey plays Vlad of Draculon (aka Dracula) in this truly awful made for cable tv movie based on the classic comic book.Talisa Soto plays the title character. It's an embarrassment to all concerned.
Quote from: Phantom Stranger on October 27, 2013, 12:21:02 AMVampirella(1996)
Rock legend Roger Daltrey plays Vlad of Draculon (aka Dracula) in this truly awful made for cable tv movie based on the classic comic book.Talisa Soto plays the title character. It's an embarrassment to all concerned.
Yup, it was utter crap.
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Wish the originally planned Hammer 'Vampirella' had seen production in`78, the Talisa Soto version we got later just made me angry.
Quote from: Mike Scott on October 25, 2013, 11:38:41 PM
Does the new Dracula TV show count as a "Worst Dracula Film"? (Never get that hour back!)
That's one hour of life I gratefully chose not to throw away. Was watching 'Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things' at that time.
Quote from: CreepysFan on October 27, 2013, 01:15:22 AMWish the originally planned Hammer 'Vampirella' had seen production in`78, the Talisa Soto version we got later just made me angry.
As well it should, because once it was made, Harris Comics couldn't get anyone interested in a decent Vampirella film. Maybe the revived Hammer Films could tackle it?
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Likewise I haven't seen most of the posted films, thankfully I guess.
I have been a Drac fan since I saw Lugoisi define it for me.
I did see some of Dracula 3000 and promptly changed the channel.
Dracula in that Van Helsing movie was past lame, including his fake pimp nail.
Satanic is saved (sort of) by Cushing but it has to be one of the worst deaths for Drac. The alternate title is the best part of this movie.
Quote from: The Batman on October 25, 2013, 11:30:42 PM
I feel fortunate that I have not seen any of those movies.
Lugosi is THE count Dracula. 'Nobody else workin' that gig shall I watch.
Just like Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman.
Just like Christopher Reeve as Supes.
Just like Shatner as Kirk.
Just like Harrison Ford as Solo or Carrie as princess Leia.
Just like someone other than Carloff to play Frankie.
There is no one else for those roles.
cheers 8)
By that logic, Adam West is the only man who should ever play Batman. ::)
Um, Ok. . . I see what you mean. ;D
Seriously: If you're cutting your options to only watching the
original actors, you are really missing out.
There are good remakes and or reinterpretations of roles. This is out of the genre, but Jeff Bridges was a much better Rooster Cogburn than John Wayne. One could act and the other could play John Wayne ;)
Christopher Lee's interpretation of Dracula, to me is as interesting as Lugosi's. In fact, I found Carlos Villerias' Dracula quite amazing. Glen Strange was a fine a Frankenstein's Monster as
Karloff, and Oliver Reed did a rather convincing and sympathetic Wolf Man. Christopher Reeve was an OK Superman, but George Reeves was better, IMHO
There is also a lot of crap out there. However, that is part of the game here. Seeking something we like and which speaks to us. Locating those diamonds in all the crap makes the gems seem all the more shiny. But then, something can be said for the crap movies too. There is a certain charm in low budget, B movies.
Oh, and my nominees for bad Dracula movies?
How about the original
Bram Stoker's Dracula(1973)? Script by Richard Matheson and directed by Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis. With Jack Palance in the title role.
Its really pretty good--even if it was infested with Dark Shadows tropes.
Dracula (also Dracula's Curse)--an Italian 2 part TV-miniseries, directed by Roger Young. Starring Patrick Bergen as an updated Vladislav Tepes.
And my favorite:
Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002)directed by Guy Maddin, (CBC) as a dance film! The Royal Winnipeg Ballet adapted Bram Stoker's novel. Dracula played by Zhang Wei-Qiang. Chinese Dracula and interpretive dance--what's not to love?
"Dracula And Son" (1976)
-Christopher Lee
French comedy that apparently was heavily re-edited when released in America. My memories of this film are pretty vague, I only saw it once, but what I do remember is not good. Sadly, another Lee film on the list.
Quote from: Fester on October 28, 2013, 03:12:03 AM
Oh, and my nominees for bad Dracula movies?
How about the original Bram Stoker's Dracula(1973)? Script by Richard Matheson and directed by Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis. With Jack Palance in the title role.
Its really pretty good--even if it was infested with Dark Shadows tropes.
Dracula (also Dracula's Curse)--an Italian 2 part TV-miniseries, directed by Roger Young. Starring Patrick Bergen as an updated Vladislav Tepes.
And my favorite: Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002)directed by Guy Maddin, (CBC) as a dance film! The Royal Winnipeg Ballet adapted Bram Stoker's novel. Dracula played by Zhang Wei-Qiang. Chinese Dracula and interpretive dance--what's not to love?
Now, I've got to take exception to Dan Curtis' "Dracula." That's actually a pretty good film, which holds up well after 40 years. Dracula was the only role that really disturbed Jack Palance, so much so that he refused to ever play it again, even though he was asked. Matheson was the first author to marry the factual elements of Vlad Dracula to the fictional Count Dracula (the book "In Search of Dracula", by Raymond T. McNally & Radu Florescu, having been published in 1972), and add in the theme of reincarnated love (Lucy, not Mina, in this case). The only real exception I take with Curtis' version is the omission of Renfield; otherwise, it's a highly entertaining take on the story.
"Dracula's Curse" and "Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary" I've yet to watch.
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Well, it has been years since I last saw the Palance/Curtis version of Dracula. And as I was 18 when I first saw it, my recollections are probably (read: no doubt) somewhat distorted. As I remember the movie, they dropped Renfield out entirely; killed off Jonathan Harker; and had some Dark Shadows-esque storyline of Dracula, like Barnabas, searching for his reincarnated lost love who just happens to be Harker's fiancee.
As I respect Count_Zirock's taste in movies, I'll have to revisit it.
Quote from: Fester on October 28, 2013, 03:44:31 PMWell, it has been years since I last saw the Palance/Curtis version of Dracula. And as I was 18 when I first saw it, my recollections are probably (read: no doubt) somewhat distorted. As I remember the movie, they dropped Renfield out entirely; killed off Jonathan Harker; and had some Dark Shadows-esque storyline of Dracula, like Barnabas, searching for his reincarnated lost love who just happens to be Harker's fiancee.
As I respect Count_Zirock's taste in movies, I'll have to revisit it.
No, it was Lucy that was his reincarnated love. He kept calling her "Lucia," which is the Romanian version of the name. When she was destroyed, he targeted Mina out of revenge. Van Helsing was able to use this to his advantage, hypnotizing her and discovering Dracula's retreat to Transylvania.
Harker's vampirism and destruction was lifted from "Horror of Dracula," almost verbatim.
You can get a DVD of both "Dracula" and Curtis' earlier "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" (also starring Palance, with awesome make-up by Dick Smith) for around $15.
Thanks for the vote of confidence in my taste--despite my love for "Star Wars"!
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Well I was a know-it-all 18 year old when I first saw it. And the intervening decades have distorted more than a few brain cells.
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll look up that double feature.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence in my taste--despite my love for "Star Wars"!"
Well, I have many fond memories of that movie!
This was my favorite scene--I remember it well!
(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9260/sfjc.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/sfjc.jpg/)
Quote from: The Batman on October 25, 2013, 11:30:42 PM
I feel fortunate that I have not seen any of those movies.
Lugosi is THE count Dracula. 'Nobody else workin' that gig shall I watch.
Just like someone other than Carloff to play Frankie.
There is no one else for those roles.
cheers 8)
I'm sorry, but as good as Carloff may have been, I'ld still perfer to see Karloff in the role! :P
Back in the late 70's I saw Old Dracula at the movies. Dracula was played David Niven. The plot was that Dracula's wife's skin color changed from white to black and Dracula tried to find who she bit so he could change her skin color back. It was supposed to be a comedy but I didn't laugh too much.
Quote from: Zackuth on October 29, 2013, 07:17:42 PMBack in the late 70's I saw Old Dracula at the movies. Dracula was played David Niven. The plot was that Dracula's wife's skin color changed from white to black and Dracula tried to find who she bit so he could change her skin color back. It was supposed to be a comedy but I didn't laugh too much.
Not a high point in Niven's career, certainly. I vaguely remember seeing it on TV.
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Quote from: CreepysFan on October 27, 2013, 01:15:22 AM
Wish the originally planned Hammer 'Vampirella' had seen production in`78, the Talisa Soto version we got later just made me angry.
Talisa Soto couldn't even fill out a proper Vampi costume. When the Hammer version fell through it was a black day for horror and Hammer Hotties. Barbara Leigh is the gorgeous Hammer Hottie who almost was. I'm still bummed about it, and I'll still be pissed about it when they put me in the friggin' ground. >:(
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/barbaraleigh-photoshoot.jpg)
Quote from: horrorhunter on October 29, 2013, 09:58:38 PMTalisa Soto couldn't even fill out a proper Vampi costume. When the Hammer version fell through it was a black day for horror and Hammer Hotties. Barbara Leigh is the gorgeous Hammer Hottie who almost was. I'm still bummed about it, and I'll still be pissed about it when they put me in the friggin' ground. >:(
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/barbaraleigh-photoshoot.jpg)
Caroline Munro was first offered the part, but she objected to all the nudity. Valerie Leon bowed out for the same reason. So, that's how Barbara Leigh got the part. She paid for that costume & wig herself, by the way. When the movie fell through, James Warren hired her to do some photo shoots for "Vampirella" magazine covers.
The Showtime/Roger Corman-produced film was a mess that was rushed into production so that director Jim Wynorski wouldn't lose the film rights. Soto had a no-nudity clause in her contract, and she kept popping out of the original costume made for the film. That's why we got that weird, red vinyl diaper-bra she wore. Harris Publishing was trying to pitch a proper Vampirella film at the same time, as the film rights would revert to them if Wynorski couldn't get his version made. Unfortunately, the crapmeister won out. How he convinced Roger Daltry to debase himself by playing Vlad/Jamie Blood is anyone's guess. (*Sniff* *sniff* *SNORT!*)
(http://home.windstream.net/wbittle1/talisa.jpg)
What we were supposed to get.
(http://jmount43.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/2081375oirrpkktj1lezuyz0rduzcbnkpnwabzbfhbrqelut0n4yh5dzgfraqsztuop7g8e2ngelzdyrhtixcijjumzxq.jpg?w=1014)
What ended up on film.
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Quote from: Count_Zirock on October 29, 2013, 10:19:22 PM
The Showtime/Roger Corman-produced film was a mess that was rushed into production so that director Jim Wynorski wouldn't lose the film rights. Soto had a no-nudity clause in her contract, and she kept popping out of the original costume made for the film.
(http://home.windstream.net/wbittle1/talisa.jpg)
What we were supposed to get.
I don't see how Soto had enough "goods" to even pop out. ???
Maybe she was embarrassed about her lackluster figure and pressured Wydoofusky to allow her to dress in that dreadful Depends-strapped-to-two-sandwich-bags ensemble from Fashion Hell. >:D :laugh:
(http://jmount43.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/2081375oirrpkktj1lezuyz0rduzcbnkpnwabzbfhbrqelut0n4yh5dzgfraqsztuop7g8e2ngelzdyrhtixcijjumzxq.jpg?w=1014)
Back! Accursed costume from hell!
(http://foesofreality.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Peter-Cushing-Van-Helsing.jpg)
(http://jmount43.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/2081375oirrpkktj1lezuyz0rduzcbnkpnwabzbfhbrqelut0n4yh5dzgfraqsztuop7g8e2ngelzdyrhtixcijjumzxq.jpg?w=1014)
What a great thread! It is funny seeing folks hate Dracula movies that I love! I love the Oldman Dracula, but my favorite is Dan Curtis's take on the count. I realize this thread is about the worst Drac films. I would have to put Dracula vs Frankenstien at the top of my list of suck-o-rama Drac films.
Blood Of Dracula's Castle
Blade: Trinity
Dracula vs. Frankenstein
Dracula 2000
Van Helsing
Billy the Kid vs. Dracula
Legend Of the Seven Golden Vampires
Count Dracula's Great Love
Dracula, Prisoner Of Frankenstein
Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat
Return Of Dracula
Quote from: Type3Toys on October 30, 2013, 04:39:34 PM
What a great thread! It is funny seeing folks hate Dracula movies that I love! I love the Oldman Dracula, but my favorite is Dan Curtis's take on the count. I realize this thread is about the worst Drac films. I would have to put Dracula vs Frankenstien at the top of my list of suck-o-rama Drac films.
I was just about to post something to this affect. Not all of the Hammer Dracula flicks are perfect but I would hardly place any of them on a worst list. But that's me.
Quote from: horrorhunter on October 30, 2013, 04:23:47 PM
I don't see how Soto had enough "goods" to even pop out. ???
Maybe she was embarrassed about her lackluster figure and pressured Wydoofusky to allow her to dress in that dreadful Depends-strapped-to-two-sandwich-bags ensemble from Fashion Hell. >:D :laugh:
(http://jmount43.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/2081375oirrpkktj1lezuyz0rduzcbnkpnwabzbfhbrqelut0n4yh5dzgfraqsztuop7g8e2ngelzdyrhtixcijjumzxq.jpg?w=1014)
Yuck! That is one UGLY outfit.
Quote from: Haunted hearse on October 31, 2013, 09:44:12 AM
Yuck! That is one UGLY outfit.
Hmm . . .I wonder if it comes in XL?
Blade Trinity is the worst 15 dollars I ever spent.
Quote from: Gills on October 31, 2013, 04:10:55 PM
Blade Trinity is the worst 15 dollars I ever spent.
I saw that on one of the movie channels, and still felt cheated.
Twilight
All of them!
Quote from: BigShadow on October 31, 2013, 07:24:39 PM
Twilight
All of them!
That would make sense, if only Dracula were actually in "Twilight". He's not, though.
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Many years ago I used to belong to an organization called "The Count Dracula Society", the club was an off shoot of. "The Academy Of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror" (the folks who produce the annual Saturn Awards). One of the perks of being a member was seeing sneak previews of movies. We saw a lot of great films, "Dawn Of The Dead ('78), Love At First Bite, The Muppet Movie", etc , all before the general public. Unfortunately, we also saw our share of losers too.Including the stinker:
Nocturna, Granddaughter Of Dracula (1979)
A truly awful piece of cra..err, comedy. Terrible acting, direction and writing. A sad way to see John Carradine and Yvonne DeCarlo. Avoid at all costs.
Hey, I was in The Count Dracula Society, too. Still have my bat pin, but I seem to have lost my membership certificate and card.
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Quote from: Count_Zirock on October 28, 2013, 03:16:00 PM
Now, I've got to take exception to Dan Curtis' "Dracula." That's actually a pretty good film, which holds up well after 40 years. Dracula was the only role that really disturbed Jack Palance, so much so that he refused to ever play it again, even though he was asked. Matheson was the first author to marry the factual elements of Vlad Dracula to the fictional Count Dracula (the book "In Search of Dracula", by Raymond T. McNally & Radu Florescu, having been published in 1972), and add in the theme of reincarnated love (Lucy, not Mina, in this case). The only real exception I take with Curtis' version is the omission of Renfield; otherwise, it's a highly entertaining take on the story.
"Dracula's Curse" and "Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary" I've yet to watch.
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Agreed entirely.....I love Curtis' take on Drac, and feel that Palance made one menacing vampire!
Dracula 2000 was a colossal waste of time. I can't believe I sat through it.
Quote from: LundyAfterMidnight on November 18, 2013, 11:05:24 PM
Dracula 2000 was a colossal waste of time. I can't believe I sat through it.
The two sequels were even worse! I had to watch & review them for VideoScope.
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Dario Argento's Dracula
Phantoms Review: I honestly don't know what Argento was thinking of when he made this film, but dear Gods, it was awful. Not an ounce of suspense or thrills, acting on par with a high school play (my apologies to high school plays for the comparison) and the worst CGI FX outside of a Syfy channel film.
I really did try to enjoy this, I like. fun, schlocky movies, but this was just a shambles from start to finish.
Quote from: Phantom Stranger on March 06, 2014, 02:40:39 PM
Dario Argento's Dracula
Phantoms Review: I honestly don't know what Argento was thinking of when he made this film, but dear Gods, it was awful. Not an ounce of suspense or thrills, acting on par with a high school play (my apologies to high school plays for the comparison) and the worst CGI FX outside of a Syfy channel film.
I really did try to enjoy this, I like. fun, schlocky movies, but this was just a shambles from start to finish.
Oddly enough, I still want to see it for myself. But, even the trailer for it is bad!
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Quote from: Count_Zirock on March 07, 2014, 03:09:31 AM
Oddly enough, I still want to see it for myself. But, even the trailer for it is bad!
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Oh yeah, you gotta see it. For those of us who are Dracula fanatics, it doesn't matter if the film is awful, just knowing it's out there, means you have to see it.
Quote from: Phantom Stranger on March 07, 2014, 06:52:26 PM
Oh yeah, you gotta see it. For those of us who are Dracula fanatics, it doesn't matter if the film is awful, just knowing it's out there, means you have to see it.
QFT
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Quote from: Phantom Stranger on March 06, 2014, 02:40:39 PM
Dario Argento's Dracula
Phantoms Review: I honestly don't know what Argento was thinking of when he made this film, but dear Gods, it was awful. Not an ounce of suspense or thrills, acting on par with a high school play (my apologies to high school plays for the comparison) and the worst CGI FX outside of a Syfy channel film.
I really did try to enjoy this, I like. fun, schlocky movies, but this was just a shambles from start to finish.
I Don't remember hearing about this movie, but I did some checking on line and watched two trailers. I see what you mean by poor effects, the one that I saw about a female vampire on fire--those flames were right there with syfy movie effects. Yikes!! I think they might have done cartoon flames with better results, certainly no worse. One scene Dracula bit some woman's neck, and I swear the sound they used for the bit was someone biting into an apple. I suppose the animals on film were the ones Dracula can change into? A wolf, on owl, and was that a giant praying mantis?
On seeing the trailers, I've decided to wait for the book.