This 1966 movie was, you might say,an official sequel to Terence Fisher's 1958 "Dracula", opening as it does with the ending of the earlier film and there are some who think it's the superior picture. In the interim, films had become just that little bit more explicit so that this time round Fisher could up the ante, at least in terms of violence, if not sex.Peter Cushing's Van Helsing was no longer on hand, being replaced by Andrew Keir's somewhat gruff priest but Hammer had found a new Queen of Horror in Barbara Shelley and she's excellent as the latest addition to the count's harem. The difference here is that this time Dracula never speaks which, in a way, makes him all the more terrifying; the real stuff of nightmares. As well as Lee, Shelley and Keir there is a good supporting cast including Francis Matthews, Charles Tingwell, Thorley Walters and a suitably menacing Philip Latham as Dracula's faithful manservant.

Christopher Lee was really a good actor at playing as Dracula but he wasn't more talked about or more successful as Bela Lugosi was. I mean, Christopher Lee has the sense of being the Count but at the same time, he wasn't that good at the same time. Lets just say, he was just an alright actor but I don't think any actor will replace Lugosi's fame of being the ultimate Dracula.The setting for the film was good, it actually did give me chills and I mean, chills that you normally wouldn't feel unless it is a freaky movie. Yeah this is a bit of freaky movie like Dracula did kill a couple and was trying to kill the other couple. The horse carriage with no one on it and the couple staying in a weird looking shed was sorta creepy.Good film but not a favorite Dracula film of mine.......

Dracula: Prince of Darkness is the second Hammer Dracula film to star legendary actor Christopher Lee as the iconic Dracula, although The Brides Of Dracula was the first sequel to Hammer's 'Dracula' (a.k.a. 'Horror Of Dracula') but since that film only had Peter Cushing reprising as Doctor Van Helsing and completely lacked the character of Dracula, Dracula: Prince of Darkness is the first direct sequel to feature the famous vampire in the Hammer Dracula series.Unfortunately it didn't quite turn out the way it should have, the biggest major fault with this film is that Dracula doesn't actually say anything apart from hissing, supposedly this was because Christopher Lee hated the dialogue in the film's script so he refused to say any of it and Hammer had no choice but to just go with it. But never the less when Dracula does finally appear at the half way point of the film, he pretty much steals the show. Acting wise I thought it was fine for 1960's standards and the movie has some real nice practical effects.Granted that the film could have been better if Dracula actually talked but with that said it's still a decent classic.

Full of the Expected Lush Stets and Striking Color that Hammer Fans Appreciate, This Sequel to Horror of Dracula (1958) had Horror Fans Waiting 8 Years. The Anticipation was High and the Wait Was Not Without its Disappointments.Peter Cushing's Van Helsing was Absent, Christopher Lee's Dialog was Absent, and Count Dracula Himself Would Not Appear Until the Halfway Mark.But Even With Those Letdowns the Film Manages to be Quite Good. If the Slow Start is Unimpressive at Best, there is Always Those Detailed and Gorgeous Sets to Admire and the Music Score is Sharp.The Dull Characters that are on a Path to an Unmapped and Unacknowledged Castle are Not That Engaging but Once They Arrive at Dracula's Lair Things do Get Really Creepy and the Thrills from There On are Non Stop.Given the Aforementioned Disappointments, Hammer Fans Still Rate This One High and it's Not Without Merit Because After the First Half This one Rarely Fails to Impress. Lee Would Return Again and Again Playing the Count and One Would Have Hoped that in the Sequel He Would Have Been More Involved Artistically. Still, his Silent Portrayal Here is Gripping and Visceral Pantomime.