‘Brides of Dracula’ One of the best from Hammer Horror – Goomba Stomp

After the success of Horror ofDracula(1958), it only made sense to make a sequel.The Brides of Draculatells the story of a young Marianne who happens to stay the night at a baroness castle only to discover her hosts dashing son is locked up in an adjacent wing. Feeling sorry for Baron Meinster, she releases him from his bonds with no clue that she just unleashed a vampire to wreak havoc on all the ladies of Transylvania. Its a psycho-sexual scenario peppered with mommy issues that Hitchcock would certainly appreciate his filmPsychowas released the same year asBrides.

David Peel doesnt have the same animalistic ferocity as Christopher Lees Count Dracula, instead, he plays Baron Meinster as the Prince Charming-type who is probably slipping Rohypnol in your wine cooler as youre checking your Facebook. While this is a more than apt characterization for a lady killing creature of the undead, it doesnt quite have the same sense of menace that Lee had. Its also quizzical that a sequel to Dracula, which even has the name Dracula in the title, doesnt feature Dracula at all. Come to think about it, I dont think anyone gets married either so there arent even any brides. Perhaps The Booty Calls of Baron Meinster was already taken? While Christopher Lee didnt feel the script was up to snuff and passed on the film, Peter Cushing reprises his role and even had a hand in reshaping some of the script to fit his tastes. With the return of Van Helsing maybe its best to think ofThe Brides of Draculaas expanding the cinematic universe of the Dracula franchise.

Terence Fisher and the Hammer technical crew still construct a visually appealing film. I could probably watch the film again just to look at everything in the background. There are fascinating paintings and sculptures and other assorted props that give the environment a sense of depth and history. After watching enough Hammer Horror films, I start to wonder if these background actors actually just lived at Bray Studios, that sense of continuity and life is certainly one of the charms of Hammers output. Fisher also experiments with the way he stages scenes inBrides, utilizing more movement with his camera as well as consolidating more information within the frame. In a fairly straightforward scene, in which Marianne meets the Baroness at a local pub, Fisher uses a very simplistic shot-reverse-shot set up between the two speakers. However, for the Baroness, we can see the pub owner and his wife in the background and slightly out of focus, listening in and showing concern that Marianne and the Baroness are getting too friendly. This is a novel way of streamlining the information, without an added cut of the owner and his wife looking fearful, while also creating depth in the frame that engages the audience. Though its a very theatrical shot, which is par the course of Fishers other films, he does utilize some nice pans and tracking shots to break up the stationary perspectives creating some nice sense of dread.

WhileTheBrides of Draculamay feel like a bit of a letdown, in the same way, that the Michael Meyer-less Halloween 3 disappointed that franchises fans, it still manages to tell an interesting story about a serial cheater and the women who fall for him, with the expected stylistic flair and some pretty fun action. The final image, a burning windmill turned improvised crucifix, is particularly memorable, and Peter Cushings throwdown with the Baron is a fun bit of retro staged combat. Its certainly one of the more complete visions from Hammer Horror with little to complain about outside of possibly some false advertising.

Written by Jae K. Renfrow

Editors Note: This article was originally published under our old brand, Sound On Sight.

See original here:
'Brides of Dracula' One of the best from Hammer Horror - Goomba Stomp

Related Post

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero
This entry was posted in Christopher Lee. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.