DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS

Although not the first Hammer movie to hit the shelves on blu-ray in the UK (that distinction goes to the Oliver Reed shocker ‘Paranoiac’ from Eureka Entertainment) StudioCanal’s restored and remastered blu-ray debut of DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS is perhaps one of the most anticipated HD horror releases for Brit Horror fans.

The third film in Hammer Films Dracula series (though in fact the first direct sequel to the original Horror of Dracula movie) DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS follows a small family group of well-to-do travellers (the Kent family) as they make their way through the Carpathian Woods, stopping off en route in one village to share a laugh and yard of ale or two with the locals (as you would when travelling across Europe). When warned by all (including gun toting abbot Father Shandor) to steer clear of the mysterious castle at Karlsbad (which is oddly missing from their maps) they take note but find that’s got little worth when their carriage driver swiftly dumps them not far from said chilling abode (seemingly he spent too long changing a wheel earlier and wanted home in a panic before it got dark, in turn leaving the poor tourists to fend for themselves). Thankfully (or perhaps not) a driverless carriage shows up and seeing an opportunity to not have to spend the night in a tatty old woodsman’s shack the witless Kent’s climb on board only to be whisked away to creepy old Castle Karlsbad.

On arriving, the Kents find themselves being made welcome to stay the night by stereotypically sinister manservant Klove who feeds them some broth and wine under the guise that his late departed master (one Count Dracula) had left instruction that he make sure to welcome all wayward strays into his home. Needless to say, even the most mentally challenged horror fan with no sense of imagination can hazard a guess as to where the plot’s heading but rather than denounce DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS as an uninspired cash cow sequel what we in fact have here is a sublime snapshot of gloriously gory classic Hammer Horror entertainment.

Whilst DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS opens with an extended reminder clip of the finale of the first movie, truth be told it doesn’t really need it as the film is a wonderfully charming shocker that works perfectly well as a standalone movie. Having been brought up on repeated viewings of Hammer movies from childhood (via late night double bill screenings on BBC TV) I have always felt that I knew films like DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS like an old family friend. Revisiting it in high definition on blu-ray though is a revelation giving it an exciting fresh vitality that’s like watching it for the first time.

Most interestingly, is the realisation that Christopher Lee (as the Count) says nothing throughout the running time of the movie, his menace generated through posturing with his cape like an old school silent movie ghoul (the reasons for this dialogue free scenario are often under debate depending on who you’re listening too, which will bring a wry smile when watching the accompanying new ‘making of’ documentary).

What makes DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS doubly gratifying for me personally though is that this was the Hammer movie that gave us one of my favourite genre characters – Father Shandor (played to perfection by Andrew Keir of Quatermass fame). Unlike your usual holier than thou religious zealot we’d see in movies of the period, Keir plays Father Shandor as an angry wine swilling rifle wielding abbot who has little to no tolerance of the superstitious villagers who want to stake a young woman regardless, his brashness making for a welcome break from the often sombre gothicness of such fare. Father Shandor (although listed in the end titles as Sandor, even though called Shandor throughout) later went on to make regular appearances in comic book form in magazines such as House of Hammer, Halls of Horror and Warrior thanks to Brit comic legend Dez Skinn (which will hopefully someday be collected in a long overdue graphic novel edition).

Visually, the film is a treat. Rich colours saturate the screen, highlighted with great style when the blood literally flows during some of the death scenes. A lot of work has clearly went in to the remastering here, as can be seen in the accompanying ‘making of’ documentary when we’re taken through the rebuilding process of the opening titles sequence (the film was remastered from scratch utilising the original negatives and various other original print sources). Also included in the excellent new half hour long documentary 'Back to Black' are interviews with surviving cast members and various respected Hammer aficionados.

Other extras included here will be familiar to folk that owned previous releases such as Anchor Bay’s US release (and rightly a welcome addition they are too) including ‘on-set’ super 8 set footage, an audio commentary featuring Christopher Lee and others, the World of Hammer Episode ‘Hammer Stars: Christopher Lee’, a couple of remastered vintage trailers and all rounded off with some restoration comparison footage and the variant vintage opening titles.

With their debut Hammer Horror blu-ray edition, StudioCanal have struck Kensington Gore High Definition Gold – an essential purchase not just for Hammer Films fans but for any self-respecting fan of the horror genre. Buy!

Review by Alan Simpson