There's something compelling about this vampire movie that I find kind of hard to explain. One reason for that is that in some significant ways the movie isn't very good. The rock bottom budget is really evident in a number of scenes, from the lighting to the sloppy camera work. It's also kind of slow and surprisingly dry with its tone. Yet here and there one can find some competence, some of which is intriguing enough that you keep watching the movie despite its shortcomings. Actor Robert Quarry, for one, makes a pretty good vampire, giving his character intelligence and elegance while at the same time showing he is a formidable threat. The climax is also pretty memorable, and there are a few other scenes (like when the protagonists try to keep Yorga around for sunrise) that come across as pretty original. While I wouldn't call this a classic vampire movie, it does have enough offbeat touches to make it worth a look for B horror fans.

Bulgarian vampire Count Yorga (Robert Quarry) arrives via ship in Los Angeles harbor in a coffin-shaped crate, moves into a quaint country mansion, finds himself a facially-scarred, back-snapping henchman named Brudah (Edward Walsh) and immediately gets to work collecting brides for his cellar harem of bloodsucking babes. Getting caught up in all of this are two couples; Paul (Michael Murphy) and Erica (Judith Lang) & Mike (producer Michael Macready) and Donna (Donna Anders), who first make the Count's acquaintance during a séance meant to call up with the spirit of Donna's recently-deceased mother (Marsha Jordan), who mysteriously died after a three-week courtship with Yorga. Little does anyone realize, but ma didn't quite die; she was just transformed into a vamp who now resides in the vampire's home, and the Count has similar designs on both Donna and her female friend. The Count starts out by putting the bite to the flirtatious Erica, who suddenly takes a turn for the weird. After she grows ill, distant and listless, starts looking a little pale and is finally caught feasting on a dead kitten, Paul and Mike consult blood specialist Dr. James Hayes (Roger Perry) for help. Blood tests reveal she's low a few pints and is in desperate need of a transfusion. That, combined with the fact she now has two small puncture wounds on her neck, means the diagnosis is pretty obvious. After both Erica and Donna vanish, and the police prove to be of no help, the guys are forced to confront Yorga all on their own. Though this plot sounds rather simplistic, there aren't many surprises along the way and parts are a bit awkward, the film itself is fairly well done using the most modest of resources. A clever scene where the heroes attempt to keep the vampire up until sunrise utilizing casual conversation as a form of entrapment highlights just why this film manages to be successful despite budgetary limitations. This scene relies only on the dialogue and the actors to carry it and manages to be both humorous and suspenseful.The best thing this film has going it though is certainly Quarry. He's extremely charismatic and magnetic as the count, brings an air of class and sophistication to the film and holds his own with many more famous actors who've played vampires over the years. After years of toiling away in Hollywood, often playing bit roles and parts on TV, this part finally elevated him to star status in the horror genre. Alas, it would be short-lived as the days of the marquee 'horror star' were on their way out. Quarry's career also suffered several setbacks due to an accident where he was hit and seriously injured by a drunk a driver, and another where he was beaten and mugged. It wouldn't be until the late 80s that he staged a comeback by appearing in films for director Fred Olen Ray, which seldom made full use of his talents though he was always a welcome presence in whatever film he appeared in.Originally conceived as a soft porn vampire film to be titled "The Loves of Count Iorga, Vampire" (a title some prints still retain), this production underwent numerous changes along the way. Quarry stated in later interviews that he only agreed to play the vampire if the sex scenes were removed and it was made as a straight horror film, which is exactly what ended up happening. Distributor AIP went even further by pushing for a GP rating (which was the only alternative to an R or X back then), so numerous scenes had to be trimmed to secure that. I'm not quite sure what exactly WAS filmed, but what remains are some bloody moments (the one involving the cat being the most graphic) and major cleavage from most of the females in the cast. The film was later re- rated PG-13, which is appropriate.All of the alterations to the original concept (plus the fact this was one of the first films to transplant a vampire into a modern day, non- Gothic setting) turned out to be wise from a lucrative standpoint as the film became a huge and unexpected hit and was immediately followed by the higher-budgeted sequel THE RETURN OF THE COUNT YORGA (1971), which brought back Quarry, Perry, Walsh and familiar character actor George Macready (who is the father of co-star / producer Michael and narrates this beginning and ending of this original).

Personally I found Count Yorga, Vampire a breath of fresh air. For one thing it actually makes vampires creepy and disconcerting again. And if you disagree, fine, but just think about my little cat reference in the summary.Robert Quarry was at one time being groomed by American International Pictures to replace the Merchant Of Menace himself, Vincent Price. And it's clear from this movie why they thought so highly of him. Quarry makes a terrific vampire Count, capable of a charming urbanity that Hammer Films rarely allowed Christopher Lee to display; and fully portraying the demonic fury bit that Lee was so good at. For me this is a much better film than Hammer's Scars of Dracula and The Vampire Lovers from the same year, and I say that as a Hammer fan! The movie does have some flaws, of course. Not all the actors are good and Yorga's comedy servant could have done with a, er, revamp. The photography, especially at night, is a little on the murky side. Perhaps this was just the print I saw.And of course in a way, the vampires win. Which must be a first. This is a good little low budget horror movie that deserves to be better known.

Robert Quarry stars as Count Yorga, a ruthless vampire who meets two couples at a séance where he is trying to contact his old love, who is the mother of one of the women. After one of the couples takes the Count home, the woman is attacked, and becomes a vampire herself. The other two men later decide to confront Yorga in his castle, and if necessary, destroy him, though they seem unprepared for his many brides...Mean-spirited and excessively violent film generates some suspense, but has a nasty air of nihilism about it, leading to a downbeat(and dead end) conclusion that makes this a futile & joyless viewing experience.