Dracula's dog, Zoltan (a Doberman), and his servant, Veidt (Reggie Nalder) are on a mission. Since Count Dracula and all the other Dracula family members are dead and gone in Romania, they're coming to the United States in search of Michael Dracula to make him the next vampire. However, Michael has changed his name to Michael Drake and wants nothing to do with drinking the blood of the innocents. All the while, a once well-respected American actor (José Ferrer) is pursuing both them AND the complete destruction of his career.The problem I had with this film wasn't just the ridiculously dumb premise but the atmosphere of the film. It lacked that wonderful old black & white look and seemed more like a cheap made for TV movie. I think if they couldn't have replicated this look, then they should have had more fun with the film...such as having Zoltan played by a Toy Poodle or Yorkie! Well, at least they DID have a cute little puppy vampire. Or, perhaps if they'd had Zoltan sport a cute Dracula cape...that would have been so adorable! Regardless, the film is silly and best for lovers of camp cinema. Anyone wanting a serious vampire film should keep looking.

Unfortunately I never caught this pic as a youngster, to have that nostalgia glow, the memory bank igniting to recall a time when Zoltan scared one to tears. I have plenty of those type of movies, where I ask understanding about why a cheese laden film from my formative years still holds a piece of my psyche in the grip of fear.So watching Zoltan now as a middle aged adult, for the first time ever, is just painful. It's a simply awful film, the film makers dragging the dead carcass of the Dracula name through a sewer of foul smelling waste. Nothing happens really, some bloke and his dog is awoken by an explosion, they search for the last remaining Dracula descendant and find him in the big modern America. Lots of people stand around talking, dogs come and go, bark a lot, Zoltan's eyes glow and a camping trip gets ruined. The End!I don't mock or pour scorn on anyone who has that childhood jolt to look back on fondly, I have them myself. However, for those not avowed to Zoltan's fangy nostalgia? Stay away! 2/10

People of a certain age will remember the good old days in the late 1970s and early 80s when BBC2 used to show horror double bills on Saturday nights during the Summer months . We all had our favourites that we're shown and by the same token there would always be a movie that stuck out in its mediocrity . I can't remember the exact details of when it was broadcast but ZOLTAN was the movie that had the distinction of being the worst film of the season when I first saw it and the passage of time hasn't improved it in anyway The reason I originally disliked it was because it didn't feel like a cinematic film , more like one of those made for TV productions and rewatching it again the feeling still remains with the very static camera and the entirely cheap feel to everything . Not only that but we get some cute all American family that only exist in TVMs and add to this some uber-sweet puppy and the illusion is complete .This sets up another problem and that is film gives the impression it doesn't know what its market is . Family friendly entertainment or straight forward horror . There is a scene involving a death of a trekker but is graphic enough to alienate anyone thinking this is a tame TVM and jars with the rest of the film . Some of the other scenes that are trying to be scary and horror orientated just come across as silly There is another flaw and there's a considerable amount of obvious plot holes . The message boards point them out such as a servant of Dracula being resurrected , sailing to America and yet arrives in America before a Romanian detective who leaves the next day in an aeroplane . There's also an unanswered question as to why the servant and his hound need to find the Dracula descendant in America when the original Dracula remains in his tomb . One plot hole I noticed myself is how likely is it for someone to escape from the Stalinist regime of Romania and arrive in America without being caught by the authorities of either country ? In summary ZOLTAN is a lame and dumb horror movie that won't appeal to anyone who has no interest in the genre . Horror fans will find it slow and boring and think they're watching something from the Hallmark Channel . If it was a dog it'd probably end in up in a refuge or failing that taken to the vets to be put to sleep - a fate it also bestows on the audience

A different sort of twist on the Dracula tale, the premise nevertheless wears thin by the second half, and overall the film is not too good either, despite having a degree of eeriness to it. The cheap special effects are hardly special, the dialogue is full of dud lines, and the quirkiness of the plot gives way to some awkwardly goofy silly moments. The dogs are the main aspect of interest here, better trained than what one would expect. Still, that is not quite a good enough reason to watch it. Some of the music is effective, and overall it is a bearable watch. It is a very trashy film and not at all very good, however it is still okay viewing if one is in the mood for some B-grade horror fluff.