ZOLTAN… HOUND OF DRACULA (1977) Reviews and now free to watch online – MOVIES and MANIA

The Blood Lusting Killer

Zoltan Hound of Dracula is a 1977 American horror film co-produced and directed by Albert Band(I Bury the Living; Ghoulies II) from a screenplay by Frank Ray Perilli (Mansion of the Doomed). Also released as Draculas Dog

The movie stars Reggie Nalder(Mark of the Devil;Salems Lot), Michael Pataki (director of Grave of the Vampire; Mansion of the Doomed) and Jose Ferrer.

Although generally credited as a 1978 film, the American Film Institute indicates that the EMI financed film was completed in1977 and US rights were then sold to Crown International Pictures.

On October 22nd, 2019, Kino Lorber Classics issued the film on Blu-ray scanned from a new 4K master. Special features:

Audio Commentary by Film Historians Lee Gambino and John HarrisonRadio SpotReversible Draculas Dog ArtTheatrical Trailer

Plot synopsis:A Russianroad crewaccidentally blasts open a subterraneancrypt, and the captain of the road crew, fearing looters and criminals, stations a guard near the site.

Late in the night, an earthquake shakes loose one of the coffins, which slides down and lands at the feet of the confused guard. Curious as to what has fallen before him, the guard opens the coffin and discovers the body of a dog, impaled by a stake. He removes the stake, which revives the vampiric hound Zoltan.

Zoltan opens another coffin shaken loose from the crypt, this one holding the body of an innkeeper (Reggie Nalder), who once owned the crypt. The heinous hound removes the stake from the innkeepers chest, reanimating the innkeeper

Review:

Okay, so Zoltan Hound of Dracula is technically a pretty bad film. The budget is very low. Director Albert Band doesnt really bother much with things like subtext or suspense. With the exception of the genuinely intimidating Reggie Nadler, the actors pretty much just go through the motions. However, with all that in mind how can you not love a film called Zoltan, the Hound of Dracula?

Its fun because the film is just so ludicrous. Criticising a film like this for being bad ultimately feels like being way too much of a scold. Add to that, theres a vampire puppy! And yes, he is just adorable!

Lisa Marie Bowman, guest reviewer via Through the Shattered Lens

Other reviews:There are several scenes most notably the one in which Drake and Branco are besieged in a tiny cabin by Zoltan and his pack that come very close to working, only to implode in disgrace when the viewer suddenly remembers that these are vampire dogs were dealing with, and vampire dogs who are trying to get themselves adopted by an unwilling descendant of Count Dracula, at that. 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting

the film is inventive and crudely but effectively staged, with Nalders cadaverously ravaged features promising much menace. But the effort seems to have exhausted both writer and director, who can dream up nothing better than to have Nalder moon about endlessly intoning Soon! to an impatient Zoltan The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror

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most of the movie is unconsciously hilarious, from the cheap synthesized score to the obvious and juvenile shots of the dogs heads against black backgrounds, their eyes aglow. Note also how the moon is full for an entire week. David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers

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The biggest problem is the rather silly plot, though its not appreciably sillier than the title would lead you to believe. Theres a scene of a dog having a flashback, lots of close-ups of Reggie Nalder [] a side character whose only purpose in the movie is to be torn to shreds, lots of glowing dog eyes, and a twist ending that wont surprise anyone Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings

Michael Pataki is solid as Michael []Jose Ferrer does some good stuff as the Inspector and Reggie Nalder is creepy as Zoltans owner Veidt It all moves along at a nice swift pace and the legend Stan Winston himself provided the good quality makeup effects work. Halloween Love

For something with as absurd a premise as this, its really not too bad. My biggest problem is with the pacing and length; the first hour keeps a decent pace as it builds up to the climax; however, the subsequent half-hour transforms into a Night of the Living Dead-stylesiege as Michael Drake and Inspector Branco struggle against Zoltan and the other vampirized dogs.Radiation Scarred Reviews

Enjoyable fun, this picks up steam with the second half. Theres some great dogs on rampage sequences, including the nighttime entrapment of Drake in a woodshed as well as the showdown climax with Zoltan. Oh, and just a helpful hint: when a dogs eyes begin to glow a luminous white, turn and walk slowly away The Terror Trap

The film is simply awful but the vampire dogs are sometimes a tiny bit scary andthe film has considerable accidental humor in its favor.Its odd to realize the director didnt think vampire puppies would be funny but they are, andthe abject ridiculousness of much of the goings-on makes it a fun film to watch with fellow bad-movie devotees. Weird Wild Realm

Cast and characters:

Michael Pataki Michael Drake/Count DraculaJos Ferrer Inspector BrancoJan Shutan Marla DrakeLibby Chase Linda DrakeJohn Levin Steve DrakeReggie Nalder Veidt SmithCleo Harrington Pat ParksTom Gerrard Maslov, the guardBob Miller LieutenantGordon McGill Second OfficerAl Ferrara Al, the deputyRoger Pancake SheriffSally Marr CamperMerryl Jay CamperJackie Drake CamperJohn Kirby TravellerDarlene Craviotto TravellerLou Schumacher Customs InspectorCarl Morrison Customs InspectorDimitri Logothetis CorporalChris George SoldierDwight Krizman SoldierRoger Schumacher HikerDominic Ferlan VillagerKatherine Fitzpatrick Draculas VictimJoan Leone Car Rental AgentArlene Martel Major HesselSimmy Bow FishermanJoJo DAmore Fisherman

Technical details:1 hour 27 minutesAudio: MonoAspect ratio: 1.66: 1

Trailer:

Full film free to watch online on YouTube

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ZOLTAN... HOUND OF DRACULA (1977) Reviews and now free to watch online - MOVIES and MANIA

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero