Direct sequel of "Horror of Dracula" from 1958. abounds in clichés in story that switches from predictable to already seen and back. Also it has serious lack of suspension and horror atmosphere. Though, if I didn't see all Dracula movies to date, this one would probably leave better impression, because it brings some completely new moments. At one hand, coachman leaving passengers in the middle of nowhere because he's afraid to go near the castle during the night is scene everyone know by heart, at the other hand, passengers that steal a coach to continue their journey, and then realize they can not control horses that run straight to the castle is pretty much original approach. Scenes in tavern, table made for them when they arrive in castle, their luggage waiting in made rooms, scenes with Dracula and his helpers, clichés ragged long time ago. And then great scene of chase and completely original and unexpected way to defeat Prince of Darkness. Movie is full of unconvincing scenes with counterweight in fantastic Barbara Shelley, whose beauty and acting are, in my opinion, highlights of this feature. I really like Christopher Lee, but to me he's ridiculous in this role. Few times during the movie I was thinking about giving up on it, and yet I'm very glad I did not miss awesome ending.I have really mixed impressions. Anyway, it's surely better than its prequel from 1958.6/10

The story takes a while to set things up but once the guests arrive at Castle Dracula, things take a quick and nasty turn. I thought the revival of Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) was quite creatively done, brought forth from his own ashes and mingled with the blood from the slit throat of Alan Kent (Charles Tingwell). You know, it's probably a good thing that the principals in these movies never take the advice of the one rational member of their entourage. Had everyone just listened to Alan's wife Helen (Barbara Shelley), things would have been okay but then we wouldn't have had a story.Most of the typical Dracula myth elements are provided here like the fear of a crucifix and the curse of daylight, but I was really scratching my head over the moving water business; I'd never heard of that one before. I guess if one wants to get technical, the moat around Castle Dracula wouldn't have been flowing water, but that's probably just being picky. Who wants to see Dracula flame out in daylight at the end of every picture?Hammer Films did a pretty good job with this installment of their Dracula franchise. I didn't really think about it till the end of the story, but Christopher Lee didn't speak at all in the picture, relying more on that nasty hiss as his calling card. He had that one great scene when his eyes popped while waking up in his coffin, and there was a great shot of his billowing cape down in the courtyard of the castle. Considering he had a ten year dirt nap waiting for his time to come around again, it might have been a good idea for Klove (Philip Latham) to pick up a bottle of Murine during one of his trips into town.

One of the more peculiar incarnations of the Dracula legend has a silent Christopher Lee once again playing the crazed bloodsucker. Two couples, refusing to heed the warning of wily priest Andrew Keir, find themselves in Dracula's Carpathian castle. Mayhem ensues. This classic has it all --- a creepy man-servant, a bloodletting, a bug eating lunatic and Barbara Shelley as a sexy she-vampire. It's all topped off with Lee's astounding work. He has no dialog but commands the screen with his presence. He always played Dracula as a deranged lunatic & it's very effective. Although Lee does not appear until 45 minutes into the film, director Terence Fisher keeps things moving briskly. The supporting cast, particularly Keir, Philip Latham (as Dracula's creepy henchman) and Thorley Walters as the loony Ludwig, is great. Hammer regular James Bernard supplied the suitably grim music score.

You know the song and dance: people are warned not to go up to that darn castle! British travelers are going through the countryside, and they hear about this castle up on a hill. They're told not to go there - why, exactly, maybe it's not entirely clear as "His" name is not invoked. But, alas, they do go there, and after being welcomed in an eerie way (everything at the table is all set up for them, and they're served by a sorta creepy butler), they stick around. Needless to say, after a ritual that involves a LOT of blood from a man hung upside down, Dracula rises from his grave - or, I should say reforms out of like the dirt and blood and ash and whatnot. Take it away, Christopher Lee, with your seductive-monstrous self! Hammer horror here, and it's fun, if not really that great. But it was the first sequel to Horror of Dracula, the film that first brought Lee to Hammer's world of Stoker, and made him iconic for millions across the world. This time he doesn't have a word of dialog - whether this was by design of the script or Lee being a (rightful) primadonna and ordering cuts, who can say, legend-fact-print-legend sort of thing - but no matter. He's still creepy and in his pacing of taking his time to reach his victims terrifying (geuinely so, there's no cheese here, not a shred). And in his way he's also kind of seductive... yes, even with those red eyes.The rest of the movie around Lee and his assistant is alright. Barbara Shelly makes for a good female foil and is beautiful. And the sets and music are spot on. Perhaps it's worth noting that characterization for the humans isn't that strong, but then is it necessary? The beats are here - the crosses, the discount Van Helsing who knows all and leads the hunt against the Prince of Darkness - and it's hard to feel much suspense in the climax when you know how it's going to go down. But it's still classy filmmaking from Terence Fisher, and it's refreshing to see a horror movie that takes its time, gives characters and sets room to breathe in shots, and you'll want to keep watching for when the Count appears.The parts are much greater than the whole... but what bloody parts!